Hamilton hurt in truck race

"I'm not really sure what happened," said Hamilton. "I hit the wall and it pushed me back down the track where I got hit several times." He is now expected to be out of the driving seat for three weeks and so will probably miss three or four Winston Cup rounds.

Busch series points leader Greg Biffle has been nominated to substitute for sometime race-winner Hamilton in this weekend's Winston Cup counter at the same circuit, but it's not yet clear who will stand in for the remaining races before the veteran's wrist and shoulder heal and he is fit to race again.

"I think that Biffle will do a good job for the team," said Hamilton. "I'll be anxiously watching from home."

This is the latest in a series of blows for Hamilton's team Andy Petree Racing. A sponsorship deal with Dallas Cowboys boss Jerry Jones fell through recently and Hamilton is to leave the outfit at the end of the season.