J.J. Yeley Credit: Autostock

Notebook: Yeley enters Cup event at Fontana

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- J.J. Yeley turned a lot of heads Friday at Michigan International Speedway in his debut Nextel Cup Series practice.

But Yeley, who posted the 11th best time in the rain-abbreviated session in Joe Gibbs Racing's Chevy, was hanging his head when Bud Pole Qualifying was rained out, relegating Yeley's team to DNQ status.

JGR president J.D. Gibbs didn't have to wait long to make a decision on a replacement event, as he said Saturday that Yeley would race in the Pop Secret 500 in two weeks at California Speedway.

"After California he has Talladega, Homestead and I believe Atlanta, which we had already planned at the beginning of the year," Gibbs said. "He only got a handful of laps in there (Friday) and it was frustrating, because you would have liked to have seen what he could have done.

"I'm sure he would have, too, with the whole practice time and qualifying and the race -- the whole deal. It's encouraging, for sure, for everybody."

Tom Baldwin services are set on Long Island

Tommy Baldwin Jr. Credit: Autostock

Visitation and funeral service arrangements for NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series owner/driver Tom Baldwin, the father of Nextel Cup crew chief Tommy Baldwin Jr., have been set near the elder Baldwin's Long Island home.

The visitation and service will be held at Lucia & Orlando Funeral Home; 326 East Main Street; Patchogue, N.Y.

Visiting hours are Monday from 7 - 9 p.m. ET and Tuesday from 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 p.m. The service will be Wednesday morning at 10.

Baldwin Jr. requested on behalf of the family that in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Kyle and Pattie Petty's Victory Junction Gang Camp.

Burton opens weekend strong for RCR

Jeff Burton Credit: Autostock

Jeff Burton so far has proven Richard Childress' move to sign him is a good one so far. In two 45-minute practices Saturday, Burton was 14th and eighth.

Due to his team's standing in the points, Burton will start only 28th in Sunday's GFS Marketplace 400.

"It drives well," Burton said of the Kevin Hamlin-tuned car. "I like the way the car drives (because) we've been working real hard to get it to turn a little better (so) it's real comfortable -- real predictable.

"It goes down the straight away well. For the first stab at it with me driving it, I'm really impressed. I think there's a whole lot to build on (and) I think we'll be better tomorrow than we were today.

"I think we'll be better next week than we are this week. We'll keep building to get better and better."

Mayfield working to retain spot in Chase for Nextel Cup

Jeremy Mayfield made it into the Nextel Cup Series' top-10 last weekend at Watkins Glen, and proved he might be a threat in Sunday's GFS Marketplace 400 when he practiced second and fifth best in Saturday morning's two sessions.

"We're happy, especially knowing we're not going to play it conservative and lay low," Mayfield said. "We're in the top-10 and we're happy about that, but we want more this weekend (because) we've got this hotrod going.

"We ran good off the truck, and we ran good in practice today. I think we're going to be in good shape. We've just got to be ourselves tomorrow. We've got to make sure we do everything we did today and get the car like it was today.

"We've just got to do what we've been doing and not beat ourselves and get another good finish."

Matt Martin on truck pole

Mark Martin made his first Busch Series start in nearly four years Saturday at Michigan, and proved he hadn't lost a step when he finished second behind Kyle Busch.

While he was in his post-race media briefing, Martin took a cell phone call in an animated manner. When he hung up, he reported that his son Matt, 12, had won the pole position for Saturday night FasTruck Racing Series feature at Auburndale Speedway in Florida.

The asphalt Auburndale short track is where Matt Martin made his debut in the series that races full-size pick-up trucks throughout Florida.

Morgan slides, avoids wall when Petty's engine expires

Morgan Shephard Credit: Autostock

Morgan Shepherd had a breathtaking escape in Saturday morning's Nextel Cup Happy Hour practice, which was a result of Kyle Petty's blown engine.

Shepherd came into Turns 3 and 4 behind Petty and got in the oil left on the racetrack from the blowup.

"I thought I was going to be OK for the longest time, even though I was sliding pretty much sideways," Shepherd said. "I got down to the apron and that thing hooked up and turned right towards the wall, so I turned left and locked her down."

The veteran Shepherd made no contact with the wall, retaining his 40th starting position and ran only six laps in Happy Hour.

No rookie contenders in 2005?

Joe Gibbs Racing J.D. Gibbs offered a revealing perspective on the prospect that the 2005 Nextel Cup Series season might have no candidates for Rookie of the Year.

JGR plans to have a third Nextel Cup Series team next season but has yet to name a driver. Yeley, whose ultimate destination should be the Cup Series, hasn't been ruled out.

"Rookie of the year is a big deal to us," Gibbs said. "But it's not the reason we'd make a decision (on a driver)."