Kevin Ray plans to jumpstart his driving career less than five miles from where he grew up. Ray, who has five starts at Talladega Superspeedway on his resume, has teamed with Sadler Racing to compete in at least five NASCAR Busch Series events in 2003. Rays return to competitive racing will be in the Busch Series Aarons 312 at Talladega on April 5. Ray will drive the #95 car on John Deere Qualifying Day, Thursday, April 3, in an attempt to make the 43-car field. Its been really hectic, but its also been very nice to be back in this situation, said Ray, who grew up in Eastaboga, Ala. Ive spent the last year sort of re-organizing myself and my family for a return to NASCAR Busch Series racing as a competitive driver, said Ray. The program at Sadler Racing has allowed me to fulfill the next part of my career. Ray drove for Sadler Racing in 1999, competing in the Busch Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Ray blew an engine that year at Talladega in the ARCA RE/MAX Series event and finished 29th. His best finishes at Talladega are fourth in 1995 and sixth in 1998. We dont have any sponsorship right now, but were all committed to making this happen, said Ray. We have another test session next week, and were working on a backup car. Ernie Elliott is making us an engine. Theres a lot to be excited about.” Ray was testing at Talladega on Tuesday along with five other teams. Lyndon Amick with Team Amick; C.W. Smith with Smith Brothers Racing; Justin Ashburn with Day Enterprises and Rich Markle and Larry Holenbeck with Rich Markle Racing were also testing Busch Series cars at the track on Tuesday. Doug Hubert with High Rollers Racing and Keith Segars with Keith Segars Motorsports were at Talladega testing ARCA cars. Segars won last years ARCA Food World 300 at Talladega Superspeedway.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(3-19-2003)
