McLaughlin makes Busch Series return

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Mike McLaughlin was eating lunch on Wednesday afternoon when he got a call out of the blue.

"Can you drive at Bristol this weekend?"

Mike McLaughlin

It was Team Rensi on the other line. Rensi unexpectedly released Bobby Hamilton Jr. on Monday. They hired Jeff Green, but after his contractual disputes couldn't be ironed out, they called McLaughlin.

"I had gone to lunch with (wife) Katie and had anticipated going back to work, and ended up heading to Mooresville to see if I would fit in the seat," McLaughlin said. "They were in a pinch, and I was glad to help out."

McLaughlin hasn't made a Busch start this year, although he's been the man Roush Racing has employed to qualify for Greg Biffle when Biffle's Nextel Cup schedule gets tight.

He hasn't raced full-time in nearly two years. McLaughlin was supposed to drive in 2003 for Angela's Motorsports, an ill-fated operation that closed its doors before Speedweeks.

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McLaughlin was supposed to work with crew chief Harold Holly for the 2003 season, but the pair never got together.

At Rensi, he'll be able to.

"I've got a chance to work with Harold, something I planned on doing a couple of years ago and that opportunity went away," McLaughlin said.

This opportunity couldn't have come on shorter notice. Team Rensi hasn't even had time to stencil in McLaughlin's name above the door.

And McLaughlin knows that Bristol is a heck of a place to shake off rust and recapture a drivers' feel.

"It seems to be getting better and better," said McLaughlin. "(It's a) fine line, not overdriving this place. That is what I got to work on. I am sure I will be worn out, but I have been taking care of myself. I hope I don't let anybody down."