Kvapil, Kyle and a possible Kup debut

It's not often that it all works out like this, so it's why I'm glad for Travis Kvapil.

Usually, when a driver is out of a ride in the Nextel Cup Series and opts for a Craftsman Truck Series slate the following season, he can kiss his Cup career goodbye faster than a Morgan Shepherd start-and-park. Ricky Craven tried it and hasn't landed in a Cup seat since, ditto for others like Ron Hornaday and Johnny Benson, who haven't found reliable Cup employment either.

But it's all working out nicely for Kvapil, and the he is also getting what he really wants -- a Cup ride and a chance to go racing. Kvapil will drive Yates Racing's No. 88 Fords in 2008. Not only that, but according to a report on Jayski today, he'll also get to run some Busch Series races, too.

Last year, when Kvapil was driving for Cal Wells, he said he wanted to run more than just a Cup schedule -- but sponsor Tide wouldn't allow for extra-curricular racing. Now, he's not only returning to Cup but he'll get to keep racing and keep improving, too. I say, good for him.

Kvapil is 3rd in the Truck standings and has won 3 of the last 8 races heading into Saturday's New Hampshire 200.

* Kyle Busch will pull double-duty this weekend. He's obviously entered in the Sylvania 300, but he's also going to drive the No. 51 truck in the New Hampshire 200.

* With the Indy Racing League season complete, Sam Hornish Jr. is concentrating on NASCAR. He'll attempt to make his Nextel Cup debut this weekend by qualifying for the Sylvania 300 -- 1 of 49 teams expected to be on hand. Though Penske isn't saying exactly which races Hornish will enter, they know that the 28-year-old former IRL champ won't run more than 7 events between now and the end of the season as he seeks to protect his rookie status for '08.

There are no concrete plans for Hornish next season.