Mike Bliss has a win and a Busch Pole in October. Credit: Autostock

Bliss on Busch pole, hopes to stay with JGR

Mike Bliss might not be back in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 20 Busch Series Chevrolet in 2005, but he's giving it quite a ride as this season comes to a close.

Bliss won his first NASCAR Busch Series race two weeks ago at Lowe's Motor Speedway, beating a Nextel Cup driver-laden field in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 300.

Aaron's 312 Lineup 1st Practice Speeds Entry List

Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway -- a twin to Lowe's -- Bliss was out front again, this time winning the Bud Pole for Saturday Aaron's 312.

Bliss' top lap of 188.867 mph knocked points leader Martin Truex Jr. off the pole late in the qualifying session. Truex Jr., who leads Kyle Busch by 207 points, went 188.642 mph.

Kevin Harvick was third, with Busch fourth and Casey Mears fifth.

Bliss' status with JGR is up in the air, and Bliss admitted Friday he's shopping around for another ride. But knowing how strong his team has become, Bliss is hedging his bets in the hopes of staying with Gibbs.

"I do have some other opportunities," Bliss said. "But to be quite honest, I am thinking about some other things, but do I put this one No. 1?

"I'd be a fool in some aspects to go (to another team) and give up on this. We've got a lot going. Our team is phenomenal; they all get along. It kind of breaks my heart a little bit that I might not be back.

"But I can't do anything about it. If they decided tomorrow, I would sign in the dotted line. But I hope it's not too late that I have to go do something else."

The pole was Bliss' third of the season, adding Atlanta to poles at Daytona and Vegas.

But Bliss is looking forward, despite not knowing his future. He said Friday JGR officials haven't indicated anything, even after the victory.

"As far as everybody upstairs making the decision, I don't know if that's helped or hurt," Bliss said. "I haven't heard anything. It couldn't have been a better win.

"Everybody was there, being at home. Our whole team was pretty excited, and I was, too.

"But I haven't seen anything better out there as far as my future."