Teenager Howard to make NWC debut in Atlanta.

Bill Davis Racing has entered its No. 27 Chevrolet into the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 NASCAR Winston Cup event this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway with ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Shelby Howard behind the wheel.

Howard, a native of Greenwood, Indiana, started racing at the age of 11 in Junior Sprint cars. From there, Howard competed in Mini-Cup, Modified Midget, 600 Mini Sprint, Jasper Modified and Kendall Late Model before taking on the ARCA RE/MAX Series at age 16, becoming the youngest driver ever to enter an event.

2003 was Howard's second full-season running the ARCA RE/MAX Series and the 18 year-old driver posted three wins and set the record for the youngest driver to win an ARCA RE/MAX event.

Bill Davis, known for having an eye for young driving talent, has signed Howard to a driver development deal and is excited about Howard's first laps in a Bill Davis Racing machine.

"I've been very impressed with what I've seen in Shelby in a race car, so I wanted him to bring him to Bill Davis Racing and let him grow with us," said Davis. "Scott Wimmer tested this car at Atlanta a few weeks ago and the team felt it was a competitive piece. We thought this would be a good opportunity to get Shelby some seat time and see what he can do."

Howard is thrilled about the opportunity to become a part of a winning organization at Bill Davis Racing.

"Racing is what I have been brought up to do," said Howard. "It's all I've ever known. My whole family has been involved as well. They are so supportive that they home schooled me so I could go racing. My entire life has been built around this sport and it is all I have ever wanted to do. I'm so excited about the opportunity that lies ahead of me at Bill Davis Racing. I just want to make them proud that they've given me this chance."

Although this weekend's event at Atlanta will be Howard's first turn in a Winston Cup car, he has three ARCA RE/MAX starts at the 1.54-mile tri-oval. In last year's event he started fourth and finished second.

"I am definitely a little bit nervous about running at Atlanta in the Winston Cup race," said Howard. "It is a huge jump for me. My focus is to just go there and have some fun and stay out of trouble. If I can do that, then I will have accomplished all my goals for my first Winston Cup race. This is all I've dreamed about since I was a kid growing up. It is going to be nerve racking, but it is a lot going to be a lot of fun."

Mack Trucks will serve as the primary sponsor this weekend on No. 27 Chevrolet.

Elsewhere in the BDR camp, Wimmer will move to the #22 CAT Dodge for the first time in his career following the departure of Ward Burton to Haas CNC Racing. Kenny Wallace will continue to pilot the #23 Stacker 2 Dodge.