Hamilton bows out to treat illness ... 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Bobby Hamilton (No. 18 Fastenal Dodge) announced Friday that his son, Bobby Hamilton Jr. (No. 08 Corky's Ribs & BBQ Dodge), will take over his ride for the remainder of the season as the 47-year-old Nashville native begins therapy to treat neck cancer diagnosed earlier this year. Hamilton hopes to return to competition in the Nov. 17 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He finished 14th in the John Deere 200. "I'm still the owner so I plan on being there to see it all happen," said Hamilton.

ETC. ... Lumber Liquidators has signed to sponsor Bodine's team for the remainder of the 2006 season. Headquartered in Toano, Va., the company is the largest direct retailer in the United States and specializes in hardwood flooring. The company has one of the largest inventories of pre-finished and unfinished hardwood flooring in the industry. ... Chad Chaffin, who failed to qualify his No. 40 Russell E. Garwood Chevrolet, finished 21st in the No. 02 Team Copaxone Chevrolet after regular driver Kelly Sutton withdrew due to a leg injury suffered in practice. ... Former University of Michigan and Green Bay Packers football player Julius Curry will partner with Montgomery Racing to field the No. 8 Dodge in 10 races for driver Chase Montgomery. ... Three of 12 Raybestos Rookie of the Year contenders logged top-20 finishes in Atlanta. Kyle Krisiloff's (No. 15 ditech.com/National Land Liquidators/Krud Kutter Chevrolet) 16th place was the freshman's best career finish. Bobby East qualified his No. 20 State Fair Corn Dogs Ford fifth - the first Raybestos candidate to log a top-five start in 2006. ... Atlanta's green-white-checker finish marked the 59th time in 270 races that a NASCAR Craftsman Truck event has gone into overtime. It marks the second time three consecutive races have gone beyond their scheduled distance joining last year's trio of events at Kansas and Kentucky speedways and Memphis Motorsports Park. ... Bodine won his first series Bud Pole in Atlanta with a non-record lap of 181.360.

IN THE LOOP

A four-wide pass in heavy traffic gave Bodine his first victory of 2006 and effectively ended Martin's bid for three consecutive victories. Loop data showed Bodine to be the fastest driver of the night in traffic with a lap speed of 176.284 mph. Martin, conversely, ranked fourth at 175.697. ... Forty-five percent of Bodine's passes came in turns two or three. ... Joey Miller (No. 12 Curb Records Toyota) and Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) bowed out in the same accident finishing 36th and 35th. The irony is the pair ranked one-two in fastest laps recorded at 182.183 and 182.009. ... Mike Bliss (No. 16 Xpress Motorsports Chevrolet) finished seventh for the second consecutive race and led the field in quality passes with 37.

Fast Facts
What: Kroger 250 (Race 4 of 25).
Where: Martinsville Speedway.
When: 3:15 p.m. Saturday, April 1.
Track layout: .526-mile paved oval.
Race length: 250 laps/131.5 miles.
Posted awards: $485,445.
TV: SPEED Channel, 3:15 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2005 winner: Bobby Labonte.
2005 polesitter: Bobby Hamilton.

Top 10 drivers: 1. Mark Martin 560. 2. Todd Bodine 535. 3. Ted Musgrave 495. 4. David Reutimann 458. 5. Johnny Benson 433. 6. Jack Sprague 432. 7. Rick Crawford 423. 8. Erik Darnell 422. 9. Jon Wood 408. 10. Mike Bliss 389.

Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday - Practice 1:45-2:45 p.m. Rookie practice 3 - 3:30 p.m. Final practice 5:15 p.m., time approximate following NNCS qualifying. Saturday - Qualifying 12:05 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.