Leffler would become the fourth driver in recent years to attempt an Indy-Charlotte double on Memorial Day weekend, although Leffler's attempt would not be as strenuous as those preceding. Busch team owned by Andy Petree, Petree revealed Friday. Calif. Petree was not happy with the performance of Sprague, defending Craftsman Truck Series champion and CTS regular this year, last week at Texas. Sprague, unhappy with the car's handling, reportedly refused to drive it when the Busch race at Texas resumed after the red flag for rain. The car is sponsored by Albertsons, which also was title sponsor of the Texas Busch event.
Skinner is down for six races, starting at California.
He also will campaign the car at Charlotte in May and October, Dover in June and September, and Phoenix in November. Derrick Gilchrist, recently named interim driver of Felix Sabates' No. 82 Busch car, will take over at Milwaukee in July, due to the fact that Skinner will be running the night race at Daytona. Elliott Sadler will try to go the distance in Sunday's Goody's 500 at Martinsville Speedway, despite painful abrasions on his left shoulder from a freakish accident last week at Texas. Sadler wrecked with Sterling Marlin, causing the left-rear tire on his car to come apart. The belt of the tire, composed in part of polymer cords, tore through the car's fender pan and slapped sophomore Sadler several times on the shoulder, creating a wound 8in long down his back.