Travel becomes tough for drivers in both Cup, Busch (cont'd)

The vagaries of the weather, at least on Friday, enabled some drivers who are without full-time driving jobs to get some seat time.

Nashville area natives Chad Chaffin and Casey Atwood, Brandon Miller, Auggie Vidovich, Chad Blount, Carlos Contreras, Scott Lagasse Jr. and Matt McCall are among that group, lined up to substitute for the Cup Series primary drivers, as necessary.

Mark Green, a veteran of all three NASCAR national series and a spotter for Michael Waltrip Racing, subbed for Reutimann in his usual Waltrip Racing ride, the No. 99 Toyota.

Miller was the best sub at Nashville, sixth in Bowyer's car, while Green was 13th on the sheet and Atwood, who drove the No. 37 Brewco Motorsports Ford earmarked Saturday for Greg Biffle, in 14th.

Stremme's change of plans apparently messed up Bliss, who was hustling out of the garage, he said, to meet the Ganassi Racing driver on a helicopter to go to the airport. According to team and NASCAR representatives, Stremme canceled the trip to Nashville Friday evening.

Bliss, whose Cup team, BAM Racing, failed to qualify at Pocono, was reportedly forced to scramble on his own to get to Nashville.

While Yeley didn't plan to go to Nashville on Friday, he was far from idle.

Pocono might be one of the best lairs yet for diehard racers. Yeley, who is running his second consecutive year of concurrent seasons, opted to race open-wheel USAC dirt cars -- a Sprint Car Thursday night and a Midget Friday evening -- at Big Diamond Raceway outside Minersville, Pa.

The plan on Saturday for most of the commuters was to complete the two Nextel Cup practice sessions, scheduled for 10 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. ET.

Busch Qualifying in Nashville is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET, with the race scheduled at 7 p.m. ET.

Edwards, who won Tony Stewart's charity special event, the "Prelude to the Dream" dirt Late Model race at Eldora Speedway in Ohio on Wednesday night, put the perfect postscript on what would seem an ordeal to others.

"It's fun, really," Edwards said. "Everybody acts like it's some big deal. It's not, really.

"It's not like I'm pedaling a bicycle there. I get to ride in the back of an airplane, usually they have food; it's pretty fun."