Notes: Busch has special scheme for Daytona

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Kurt Busch has scored half of his career Winston Cup victories driving cars with special paint schemes.

On Saturday morning at Michigan International Speedway he unveiled the four-race ride in which he hopes to pad that total.

Busch's No. 97 Roush Racing Ford will have a yellow-and blue-Irwin paint scheme for four races in the second half of the season, beginning at the July 5 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

Irwin will be the primary sponsor at Chicagoland Speedway July 13, Talladega Superspeedway Sept. 28 and Lowe's Motor Speedway Oct. 11. Busch has not won at any of the four tracks, but he scored a second place at the 2003 season opening Daytona 500.

"We'd love to have the same kind of results with the Irwin car as we have had with other special paint schemes," said Busch, who has wins at Bristol and California this year and currently is fifth in the ampionship.

Hermie using Hendrick engine

Hermie Sadler's Winston Cup season had hit more potholes this season than a Humvee in Iraq, but he sparkled in Bud Pole Qualifying Friday when he put his No. 02 Chevrolet into the field in 18th.

	Hermie Sadler

Sadler had only one previous start, at Talladega Superspeedway in April, and had five DNQs in a limited schedule.

Dale Earnhardt Incorporated engine builder Richie Gilmore said Sadler showed Friday what he could accomplish with top-line equipment as the car he drove was a former Monte Carlo from the DEI stable that had been raced by Michael Waltrip.

Gilmore, whose shop provided the engine that Sadler put into the race at Talladega as well as an engine that Sadler used to qualify third with Friday for Saturday's Flagstar 200 ARCA race, for his ARCA debut.

"Hermie got the engine he's using in his Cup car from Hendrick Motorsports," Gilmore said. "Our engine that he's using in the ARCA car is one that Dale Earnhardt Jr. used in The Winston. We just wanted to get some more mileage on some of the components."

Kenseth unconcerned by mid-pack starting spot

	Matt Kenseth

Winston Cup point leader Matt Kenseth will line up 21st Sunday, but the defending champion of the Sirius 400, who started 20th a year ago, isn't particularly concerned.

"If it goes green all day like it has, you know, three or four years ago, track position is real important," Kenseth said. "But starting 15th or 20th in a normal Michigan race, it's not hard to overcome.

"It's a real easy track to pass at. The groove is really wide. It's actually fun to race. We've had some fast cars here, so it's been a good track for us."

Not finished yet

Jimmy Spencer is adamant that teaming with owner Jim Smith's Ultra Motorsports team has revitalized his career, and the owner agrees. Spencer has scored Smith's career best starting position, fourth at Darlington; and also has a fourth place finish, in the Coca-Cola 600.

Sirius 400  Lineup  1st Practice Speeds  2nd Practice Speeds  Happy Hour Speeds

"Everybody wrote us off at the beginning of the season," Spencer said. "They said I was a has-been. They said our car owner didn't know how to win in Winston Cup.

"They said Tommy Baldwin was a hot head and we couldn't get along. Tommy has assembled a bunch of good people, and I get a lot of pleasure out of driving the car. I know we can win this season, and I really wish it could be Sunday at Michigan."

"When we start running in the top 10 consistently, that win will come," Smith said. "I'd like to think it would be sooner than later, but this is a tough sport.

"Tommy and his guys are working hard and doing a good job, and Jimmy Spencer is a class act. If this team stays together and gets a year of experience under their belts, they'll be contenders soon."

Skinner suffers first DNQ

For the first time this season, Mike Skinner had to load up after qualifying since his team was without any more provisional starting positions.

"It is a situation no one wants to experience," Skinner said. "I'm devastated. I'm proud of our engine shop and our body shop. We brought a new car here that did not have a lap on it.

"We hadn't tested it. We all thought it would be better (but) obviously it wasn't. This was a group decision made on Tuesday, so there is no one to point fingers at.

"Our cars and race team is strong enough to make races and compete (but) we have dug in a hole for points and they are not easy to dig out of. We are going to find out how tough we really are."