Hamilton goes trucking with Square D.

Winston Cup veteran Bobby Hamilton has ruled himself out of contention for a regular NWC ride in 2003 after agreeing to do a full Craftsman Truck Series campaign with his own team and his former Andy Petree Racing sponsors Square D.

Hamilton, who has been a regular on the Winston Cup tour since 1991, will drive his own Bobby Hamilton Racing No.4 Dodge truck in all 25 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events next year. Square D, who have sponsored Hamilton for the past two years with Andy Petree Racing in the Winston Cup, have downsized from a primary to an associate sponsor on Petree's #55 Chevrolet.

Although the move may initially seem like a demotion for Hamilton, he has automatically been installed as one of the favourites to land the NCTS crown. His team, which already has an impressive record, also continues to nurture its relationship with Dodge which could lead to bigger things for the astute Hamilton in years to come.

"This just makes sense for me," Hamilton said. "I've worked with Square D for the past two years and we have a tremendous relationship. When they talked about coming on board as a sponsor of our truck, I told them without hesitation, 'If you sponsor it, I will drive it.'"

After announcing his split from APR in mid-2002, Hamilton stated that he would only continue in Winston Cup in a competitive ride. When the last two full-time NWC seats were filled by Ken Schrader (BAM Racing) and Jimmy Spencer (Ultra Motorsports), a move to his own team was an obvious choice, especially considering the sponsorship circumstances.

This paves the way for what could be Bobby Hamilton Racing's most successful year yet despite its tender age and already impressive resume.

In only four years since BHR was established, Hamilton's teams have garnered nine wins and 15 pole positions. The teams also added 37 top-five and 74 top-10 finishes to its already impressive statistics.

"I'm working hard to establish a top-notch truck program at Bobby Hamilton Racing," Hamilton said. "It's the future for me and my family. I'm happy to bring a sponsor like Square D on board. It's a first-class operation. The racing program they've built over the years is tremendous. I hope our team can help them continue to grow in 2003.

"We want to start this year out with a bang," Hamilton continued. "I anticipate the best with this package. I feel confident that with Square D, Dodge and Bobby Hamilton Racing we can win."

Hamilton, who enters his fifth year as team owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, will start this season with his sights set on one goal - to be in contention for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. In only 24 starts, he has two wins, three poles, five top-five and eight top-10 finishes under his belt.

"NASCAR has been a very effective way to reach our target audiences," said Chris Richardson, president and CEO of Schneider Electric's North American Division, best known by its flagship SQUARE D brand. "The Craftsman Truck Series sponsorship will give us the best of both worlds, prime exposure with a key audience and targeted hospitality opportunities. In addition, with Bobby Hamilton as our driver and his past success in truck racing, we'll be a real contender for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck