Wisconsin natives seek to continue winning trend (cont'd)

"I know that race means a lot to Todd since it's close to home, so we're going to do everything we can to make it a good weekend," added crew chief Eddie Pardue.

Mauston native Kelly Bires will be making just the third Busch Series start of his career by again filling in for Jon Wood. It will be his first NASCAR start at The Milwaukee Mile, although he has won at the track before in the American Speed Association Late Model Series.

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Scott Wimmer is on the comeback trail, rebuilding his career at RCR. Now he heads home to Wisconsin.

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Bires said he can't wait to get back on the racetrack, but his main focus is continuing what Wood started earlier this season with his family's team, Wood Brothers/JTG Racing.

"I know it's not easy dealing with a rookie, but they've been real patient and that makes my job a little easier," Bires said. "We don't worry about going to the racetrack and trying to find speed. Our biggest challenge is to keep me under control.

"I have a lot of youthful enthusiasm, but so far they've done a great job keeping me from over-driving the car. That's going to be important this Saturday at Milwaukee."

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Frank Kreyer, a 37-year-old from Lyndon Station who has plenty of Late Model experience but will be making his Busch Series debut. He ran two Truck Series races at Martinsville and Mansfield to get certified to drive in the Busch Series.

"I don't feel any added pressure simply because I'll be racing at my hometown NASCAR track," said Kreyer, who said the Busch car handles much better than his Late Models or the trucks. "I've been racing long enough to handle the moment."

It's that moment that these Wisconsin natives seek -- that moment in the spotlight, winning at their home track in front of their hometown friends and family

"You name someone in racing and I watched them race there and win," Wimmer said of The Milwaukee Mile.

Now he wants someone else to say that about him.

"It would really be neat to win a race there," Wimmer said. "I think that any Wisconsin driver, no matter what series, wants to win there."