'Shane Sieg to Pilot No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts Billy Ballew Motorsports Tundra in Kansas'

Shane Sieg will replace Kyle Busch as drive of the No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts Billy Ballew Motorsports Toyota Tundra in Kansas.  Busch, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular, has piloted the Tundra in the first four races of the season holding the Championship point lead already scoring two wins (California and Atlanta).  Busch most recently won last weekend's Natiowide race in Mexico, extending his win-streak to three in NASCAR's mid-tier series.

For the first time since the beginning of the 2008 NASCAR Season the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series have not run in companion.  After evaluating the practice, qualifying and race schedules at both Talladega and Kansas, it was evident that it was impossible for Busch to make the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 race Saturday, April 26 at 6:00 pm ET. 

Sieg comes to Billy Ballew Motorsports with three starts for the team in 2007 posting a 10th place finish at Loudon.  Sieg has 29 starts over four years and has two top-10 finishes with his prior start at the 1.5 mile tri-oval speedway finishing 16th.  Sieg piloted the No. 07 Craftsman Truck in two of the four 2008 truck races.

"It is a great opportunity for me to get back behind the wheel of Billy Ballew Motorsports equipment," Sieg said.  "I know I have big shoes to fill but I just want to bring a good finish home to keep Billy Ballew as the team owners point leader."

"With Kyle's schedule at JGR this weekend there was no way he could make the race in Kansas," Billy Ballew said.  "Shane (Sieg) has driven for us before and is familiar with the equipment, giving us a top-10 in Loudon last year.  We hope to leave Kansas still leading the owner's points and know Kyle can make up some ground in the drivers points when we race at Lowes.  I would like to thank James Finch and the Miccosukee Resorts for staying onboard with Shane and the No. 51 Tundra this weekend and I hope we can give them a good finish." 

Although Busch will miss the Kansas event and likely lose the points lead it is mathematically feasible for him to win the Championship.  Previous NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champions have come from nearly 200 points out of the lead. 
Billy Ballew Motorsports has eight previous starts at the Kansas Speedway with a best finish of ninth in 2005 with John Andretti behind the wheel.

Ballew field two teams in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Marc Mitchell making his return after Denny Hamlin piloted the No. 15 at the Martinsville Speedway.  Mitchell will be making his first start with Toyota as the manufacturer.  The truck was run as a Chevrolet in the first three races of the 2008 season.

SOURCE: Billy Ballew Motorsports Communications