Carpentier to make Cup debut

The former Champ Car racer finished second on his Busch Series debut last weekend at Montreal, where he had qualified on pole position, and he will also make his second Busch Series start this weekend.

"I'm extremely excited," said the Canadian. "We've been knocking on the door for the past year and a half trying to get into NASCAR, and it's been kind of a dream."

The No 10 Gillett Evernham Motorsports car usually driven by Riggs is currently one place adrift of the top 35 in the standings, meaning that the car is not locked in the field every week.

The team will be hoping that Carpentier's road course experience will bring them a good points haul this weekend, so that they could work their way back into the crucial top 35.

"I just want to say thanks to Scott for stepping aside and giving me the support," said Carpentier. "Hopefully we can give these guys some points and they can come back to 35 th position so they have a guaranteed spot."

The 35-year-old did admit that he wasn't expecting to repeat his results from last weekend, but he is hoping to enjoy the experience of racing in NASCAR.

"I know I'm not going to win the pole and finish second every race," he added. "But I want to be up front battling with those guys and having fun.

"I want to do a good job this weekend. I had such a good time at Montreal, and I'm a believer if you have fun and enjoy what you do, it always turns out the best."