Lance Norick was scheduled to make his Busch Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway, however plans have changed and Kevin Grubb will drive. A variety of circumstances led to Norick postponing his first Busch race until next week in Texas. Norick has been in Texas testing this week and due to the weather conditions stayed an extra day to finish up the test session in preparation for next week’s O’Rielly 300. In addition, the construction at Bristol Motor Speedway did not allow the Lance to test the Dr Pepper Dodge at the half-mile high-banked concrete oval. Norick also felt that it would be in the best interest of his team with regards to their standings in the point series to swap his Bristol seat time with Grubb in a future race. “This Dr Pepper Team has strung together some quality finishes. We are in the Top-10 early and its best to keep things consistent when you have momentum on your side,” commented Norick. “We’ve been testing here in Texas and it is important for me to get comfortable with this track and the Busch car before bringing the #90 Express Personnel Dodge out here next week. I would have liked to run Bristol, but with the track construction we never got the opportunity to test there and believe it is best for me to wait another week.” The Carroll Racing Team is still searching for either sponsorship to field a second car or to find Kevin Grubb a ride for the ten races he is scheduled to sit, so that he will not be affected in the Drivers Points Standings. Norick wil substitute the Bristol race that he is missing with another race to be determined later in the season. The #26 Dr Pepper Dodge currently resides in the 9th position of the Owners Points Standings.(SportsONE, Inc PR)(3-20-2003)
