Wimmer allowed to continue after DUI arrest.

Scott Wimmer will be able to make his Daytona 500 debut next weekend, despite suspicions that his full-time graduation to the Nextel Cup was about to put on hold due to a drink-drive conviction.

The Bill Davis Racing rookie was charged following a hit-and-run incident between the team's factory and his North Carolina home on Saturday and, once police had tracked him from the overturned pick-up he had been driving to his house, found to have a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 - nearly twice the legal limit. No other cars were involved in the incident, which occurred when Wimmer hit a rock and road sign, and the driver himself was unhurt.

As a result of the incident, however, Wimmer has had his driving licence withdrawn pending a court hearing next month. He will, however, be allowed to take up his place in Bill Davis' eponymous team, and drives the #22 Dodge in the 500 next weekend.

"All I can say is that I made a bad decision and embarrassed a lot of people, embarrassed Bill Davis Racing, my sponsor Caterpillar and NASCAR, family and my wife," Wimmer told journalists at NASCAR's pre-season media day at the Speedway, "We've got a court date, and I really don't have any further comment until then.

"But I'm not backing away from anything. I'm taking full responsibility. I'm going to work through it, and I'm going to be strong. I know my team's behind me and my sponsor's behind me, and most importantly, my car owners."

NASCAR vice-president Jim Hunter also said that the governing body won't be making any further moves on the matter until after the 10 March hearing.

"We're going to let the judicial process run its course," he confirmed, "We view this seriously, but we're not going to speculate on what may or may not happen. We'll handle it as it unfolds. There are all sorts of things that we can do, but we want to have command of all the facts before we do it. We want to be fair."

Wimmer and the #22 Caterpillar team are taking chassis #62 to Daytona next weekend, the same car that was raced in last year's Daytona 500. Now with a brand new body fitted, it was the better of the two cars that the team tested at the Speedway last month. Car #77, the machine that was raced in last year's Budweiser Shootout, will serve as the back-up.

"Bill Davis Racing has a tremendous [restrictor] plate programme, their engines are always stout and the cars are very competitive, so I think we are in good shape. Obviously the #22 won the race a couple of years ago, so that gives us some confidence too. I've never been to Daytona or any other plate race in a Cup car, so it was really important for me to get in the car [at the circuit], even if it was just for one day, just to get a feel for the car."

The Busch Series graduate hopes to be fighting for rookie of the year honours as part of a six-strong newcomer contingent in 2004.

"One of our goals for the 2004 season is to win the rookie of the year title," he confirmed, "I believe there is some really tough competition in the rookie class this year, but I still think we have just as good a chance to win the title as anyone else does.

"We were able to get a jumpstart on this year by running the last four races of 2003 together, and we tested twice before the year was over. We got a top ten finish in our second race together and then ran very well at Homestead, so I think we all have the confidence that is needed to get the job done. I think it is a realistic goal of ours, but I also think that the winner will have to be a contender most of the year - maybe even win a race or two. I wouldn't count a rookie out of the top ten in the final standings either."