CONCORD, N.C. | Jon Wood is getting more comfortable in a Sprint Cup car and feeling more energized as he helps lead Wood Brothers.
Before the Las Vegas race in March, Wood gave up his seat to Johnny Sauter, who failed to qualify. Wood ran at Talladega last month, finishing 36th, and failed to qualify at Richmond last week.
The Stuart, Va., native said he chose not to drive at Las Vegas to show the team it wasn't just him in case the car did not qualify. Wood said he feels more comfortable with what he can do with the car since Mike Smith became crew chief earlier this season.
"Things have gotten a lot better with the cars," Wood said during a break in testing Tuesday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "We weeded out some negativity within the upper management of that race team and the new crew chief has just been superb. It's made me want to literally get on my knees and beg to drive each week."
Key for Wood have been the phone calls to test for the team.
"It's very tough to maintain focus and interest in something that you really have no involvement in," Wood said, alluding to his limited duty with the team earlier this year. "Now that I'm getting the calls to go do the testing.... Just the fact that the crew chief and the guys want me to do it over whomever else, that's all it took for me to jump in. And, then next thing I know, subconsciously, without effort, I'm showing up at the shop every day early."
Wood will miss the Darlington race because Bill Elliott is scheduled to compete. Wood can't run in the all-star events because he wasn't in the top 50 in driver points as of March 10.
He'll continue to drive in the truck series and return to Cup at the Coca-Cola 600. He said he's also scheduled to drive for Wood Brothers - ranked 44th in car owner points - in the Cup races at Dover and Pocono in June.
FEELING SECURE
Although car owner Rick Hendrick said Tony Stewart won't drive the No. 5 car Casey Mears pilots for Hendrick Motorsports, talk remains that such a scenario could happen.
Stewart has a contract with Joe Gibbs Racing through the 2009 season, but reports on the Internet last month stated that he might leave the team after this season.
So how does Mears feel,
"I feel good," the defending Coca-Cola 600 champ said. "We're solid for next year and definitely focused on moving forward. "
Mears ranks 23rd in the points standings.
THE FAVORITE BUSCH
Fans might boo Kyle Busch, but somebody is buying his merchandise.
Mark Dyer, president and CEO of Motorsports Authentics, said Busch merchandise has seen among the biggest increases in sales from last year.
Part of that, no doubt, relates to M&M's, which is Busch's sponsor. The candy product is a popular souvenir item.
Busch is in the top 10 among drivers but hasn't cracked the top five, which typically includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson.
Said Dyer of Busch: "He's captured the imagination of a lot of fans with his aggressive style and winning races. He's been way up this year. It's been exciting to see."
PIT STOPS
Brad Keselowski, who ranks seventh in the Nationwide series for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team, tested for Haas CNC Racing on Monday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Johnny Sauter drove the car Tuesday.... Jimmie Johnson has eight top-10 finishes, including two wins, in nine starts at Darlington.... Jeff Burton remains the lone driver who has completed every lap this season (3,297).