Gilliland returns to series for first time since storybook win at Kentucky

NEWS & NOTES

Second City has first-rate stories ... David Gilliland is getting adjusted to
attention since he posted perhaps the most significant victory in NASCAR
Busch Series history at Kentucky three weeks ago. A part-time driver with a
start-up team, Gilliland dominated the last 10 laps of the event and held on
during a green-white-checkered finish to post his first series win in only
his seventh career start. Gilliland's story echoes that of the 2004 winner at
Chicago, Justin Labonte. Driving a partial schedule for his own team, Labonte
had a stunning win of his own after starting 34th -- the deepest in the field
for any winner at Chicago. Labonte nipped series veteran and close family
friend Jason Keller by .419 of a second, the closest margin of victory in the
history of the event. "[Labonte] did that in Chicago and that's where we're
going back for our next race, so we're looking forward to trying to repeat
what we've done," Gilliland said. "Hopefully next time it won't be such an
upset." The next week the 30-year-old from Riverside, Calif., followed his
win by qualifying for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Infineon Raceway for
another new team. He finished 32nd.

Legendary preparation ... At Chicago, Todd Kluever (No. Post It Ford), one
member of a strong 2006 Raybestos Rookie of the Year class, will take the
first step in preparation to succeed Mark Martin next season in NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup competition. Kluever, a native of Sun Prairie, Wis., will attempt to
qualify for his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event. He will drive a car previously
used by Martin. "It's hard to believe that two years ago I was racing ASA and
wondering what I was going to do next as that series began to fall apart,"
said Kluever. "Now I'm making my first NEXTEL Cup start for Jack Roush. It's
amazing how much things can change in such a short amount of time." Paul
Menard and Kenny Wallace (No. 22 AutoZone Ford) also will attempt to qualify
for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event.

IN THE LOOP: Numbers back Harvick's lead ... Through the first half of the
NASCAR Busch Series season, Kevin Harvick has built a formidable points lead.
NASCAR's Loop Data Statistics show his overall strength throughout its major
categories. Through the first 18 races, Harvick leads four categories and
ranks no lower than fifth in five others. The 2001 series champion is first
among all drivers in Driver Rating (110.6), Average Running Position (8.625),
Percentage of Laps Run on Lead Lap (96.75%) and Quality Passes (776). He
ranks third in Miles Leaders (430.19), Fastest Drivers Early in a Run (7.222)
and is tied for third among Closers(1.056), having moved up 19 positions in
the last 10% of laps of each race. Kenny Wallace leads that category with an
average of 1.722 spots gained, improving 31 positions throughout the season's
first half. Harvick also is fifth in Passes by Straightaway on both the
frontstretch and the backstretch. Jason Leffler (No. 38 Great Clips
Chevrolet) is first on the frontstretch with 340 passes, while Paul Menard is
best among drivers on the backstretch with 215 passes.

Labonte, Green team up once again ... Bobby Labonte, the 1991 NASCAR Busch
Series champion who served as David Green's (No. 27 Kleenex Ford) team owner
when Green won the 1994 title, will pair up with Green at Chicago. The
long-time friends will drive for BREWCO Motorsports with Labonte in the No.
66 Cub Cadet Ford, a car carrying a special paint scheme created by a child
who resides at Chicago's Mercy Home for Boys & Girls. Cub Cadet is partnering
with the home, a residential care facility that houses abused and abandoned
children. The winning design will be unveiled at noon (CT) Thursday at Mercy
Home's downtown campus (1140 W. Jackson Blvd.). Labonte, Scott Wimmer and
Johnny Sauter (No. 00 Yellow Transportation Chevrolet) are scheduled to
attend. "This is a cool weekend for me since my friend Bobby Labonte will be
driving [and] we'll be teammates," Green said. "I look forward to talking
race strategy and car set-up with him throughout practice and our race. We
expect to be fighting for the win, though, come Saturday." Labonte also is
scheduled to drive the No. 66 Ford at Michigan in August.

ON THE RIGHT TRACK

No winner has repeated the feat in the previous five races at Chicago. Kevin
Harvick is one of two former winners in the race; Johnny Sauter (2002) is the
other. ... Ryan Newman has two Busch Poles at Chicago -- including one last
year -- and although he's not entered in the event, Penske Racing South
teammate Kurt Busch is in the same No. 39 Penske Truck Rental Dodge for this
race. ... Five former NASCAR Busch Series champions are entered at Chicago --
Bobby Labonte (1991); David Green (1994); Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1998-99);
Harvick (2001) and Greg Biffle (No. 16 Ameriquest Ford -- 2002).

ETC.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s victory at Daytona last week was the third in a row for
Chevrolet, tying its second-highest winning streak of the season. The
manufacturer leads the Bill France Performance Cup standings with 13
victories (it won 14 last season) and 139 points. Ford remains in second
place with three wins and 107 points while Dodge is third with 96 points and
two victories. Chevrolet has won three of the five races at Chicago, a track
where each current series manufacturer has at least one win. ... Two-time
NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. will take over the No. 88 U.S.
NAVY Chevrolet for Mark McFarland, who will miss his second-consecutive race
due to an injury suffered at Milwaukee. Truex finished eighth at Daytona last
week in a substitute role. McFarland hopes to return at New Hampshire. ...
Kevin Harvick is set to make his 150th career start in the NASCAR Busch
Series at Chicago. ... Cale Gale returns to drive the No. 1 Miccosukee Resort
Dodge; he started 10th and finished 20th in his series debut last month in
Nashville. ... Ed Rensi, owner of Team Rensi Motorsports, returns to his
corporate roots in Chicago where he served as the President/CEO of McDonald's
USA for 14 years before moving into motorsports. ... Positions three through
five in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings are separated by 64 points
while seventh-place Paul Menard is just six points behind Greg Biffle who is
sixth. ... At least two NASCAR Busch Series team members are from Chicago and
will be making a trip home this weekend. Drew Blickensederfer, the crew chief
for Danny O'Quinn Jr.'s No. 50 Stonebridge Life Ford, and Kyle Harvey, the
rear tire changer for the No. 10 RVs.com Ford of John Andretti, are from the
Windy City. For more information on those who hail from the Chicago region,
log on to www.nascarmedia.com and click on the "Crew Members
Roster" link on
the home page.

QUOTEBOOK

"At the beginning of the season, if someone would've told me this was the way
we would be standing at this point in the year, I would've never believed it.
But I've had a lot of guys tell me this is the way it just seems to go
sometimes. You feel like you just can't catch a break. Our overall goals may
have changed a little, but we still go into every weekend looking to win just
like everyone else." -- Reed Sorenson (No. 41 Discount Tire Co. Dodge).

FROM THE NASCAR BUSCH SERIES "25 SEASONS RUNNING" ARCHIVES

The 2006 USG Durock 300 will be the sixth NASCAR Busch Series event held at
Chicagoland Speedway with three of the previous five races being captured by
first-time winners. Thus far in 2006, there have been four first-time series
winners -- Denny Hamlin (Mexico City), Kurt Busch (Texas), David Gilliland
(Kentucky) and Paul Menard (Milwaukee).

Jimmie Johnson won the first race held in 2001, coming from the sixth
starting spot to capture his first series victory in his 58th start. Johnny
Sauter won in 2002, coming from the 20th starting position. He beat
pole-sitter Todd Bodine to the checkered flag by a mere .420 of a second.
Second-generation driver Justin Labonte won his first series race in his 31st
career start at Chicagoland Speedway in 2004.

NASCAR BUSCH SERIES "25 SEASONS RUNNING" QUOTABLES

"Tying my dad in anything is pretty awesome for me. I'm proud of my
accomplishments in the NASCAR Busch Series." -- Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose win
at Daytona last week tied him for seventh in all-time series victories with
his father and Harry Gant. Earnhardt Jr. is a two-time (1998-99) NASCAR Busch
Series champion.

Note: A NASCAR Busch Series "25 Seasons Running" Media Kit CD is available
at-track each race weekend and also on-line at nascarmedia.com. A CD can also
be obtained by contacting NASCAR PR.

ON DECK: NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
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