Bill Elliott (left) with Ray Evernham Credit: Autostock

Notebook: Evernham trying to start third team

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- Evernham Motorsports is close to getting the money needed for a third full-time entry in NASCAR's top series.

The third full-time Nextel Cup entry would take over the No. 91 team that is now a part-time ride for Bill Elliott, team owner Ray Evernham said Friday.

Elliott would not be the driver, but the NASCAR veteran, who cut back to a limited schedule in 2004, can remain affiliated with the program, the owner said.

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"I would love to run a third team,'' Evernham said. "We have the infrastructure in place. We've built the new building (in Statesville, N.C). We have the people ready. We have the plan ready. But I'm not going to pull the trigger until I know the money's in place.''

Evernham said he hopes to have the finances for the third team in place by the end of July or August at the latest.

"You get past August and there's no sense in doing it,'' he said.

Evernham's two main drivers are Kasey Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield. He also has ARCA driver Erin Crocker on a developmental team, and he's working on getting her a solid Busch Series program for next year.

As for Elliott, who is racing at Michigan International Speedway this week, the former Cup champion has the choice of doing what he wants.

"I told Bill he could drive for me as long as he wants to,'' Evernham said. "You could see Bill running two or three races for who knows how long.''

Frequent flier

Rusty Wallace is staying busy in his last full NASCAR season. He's racing this weekend both at a Cup event in Michigan and in a Busch race in Kentucky.

Rusty Wallace

After Friday's Michigan practice, Wallace was scheduled to fly to Kentucky and spend the night. He expects to practice with his Busch team Saturday morning, then head back to Michigan in time for Cup qualifying at 12:10 p.m. EDT.

Once his car is qualified at Michigan, it's right back to Kentucky for race Saturday night. Then it's back to Michigan for Sunday's Batman Begins 400.

Why the double duty?

"I got tired of looking for a guy to fill in for (the Kentucky) race,'' Wallace said. "I decided to do it myself. I won't have to pay a driver this way.''

Wallace won his first NASCAR Cup pole at Michigan in 1987. In 57 career starts, he's won five times, including NASCAR races in 1988, 1996 and 2000.

His first race at Michigan was in 1980.

Edwards returns to site of series debut

Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards, coming off his second Cup win last weekend at Pocono, made his series debut at Michigan last year.

"My first race here did a lot for me as far as my confidence and my team's confidence,'' Edwards said.

Among Edwards' race highlights were passing Dale Earnhardt Jr. and running close with four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon.

"Some guys that, to me, are almost like mythical figures _ guys that you read about or watch on TV or race on a video game.''

Edwards finished 10th in the race.