Ward Burton is ready to slap the helmet back on in his native Virginia. Credit: Autostock

Ward Burton to run Cup race at Martinsville

Former Daytona 500 champ to driver No. 4 Chevy in Subway 500

CONCORD, N.C. -- After nearly a two-year absence, Ward Burton will return to the Nextel Cup Series next weekend at Martinsville Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 4 Chevrolet for Morgan-McClure Motorsports.

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"He expressed a lot of interest in driving," said Chris Carrier, crew chief of the No. 4. "He's a Virginia driver and we're a Virginia team. That makes for a great combination at Martinsville."

Scott Wimmer started the season in the No. 4 but was replaced by Todd Bodine after he failed to qualify for the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway. Bodine failed to qualify for the following week's race at Talladega, but he did start 14th in the No. 4 for Saturday's Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

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With the tight practice schedule next week at Martinsville, Bodine, the current Craftsman Truck Series points leader, felt more comfortable missing the Subway 500 to concentrate on his championship run.

Burton, an 11-year NASCAR Cup veteran, spent his glory years with crew chief Tommy Baldwin at Bill Davis Racing. The pair finished in the top 10 in points twice and won the 2002 Daytona 500.

Burton parted ways with BDR after the fall Martinsville race in 2003 and joined Haas-CNC Racing, where he competed in the No. 0 but was plagued by six mechanical failures in 34 races during the 2004 season.

Burton will be fitted for his driver's seat on Monday. The team would like to test with Burton on Wednesday or Thursday at New River Valley Speedway in Radford, Va., a .416-mile oval track similar to Martinsville.