Roush talent contest underway.

Bubba Pollard wasn't sure what to expect at Martinsville Speedway on Tuesday. He certainly didn't expect to be the centre of attention so early in the first day of Jack Roush's talent search for talented young drivers.

Pollard, who normally drives Late Model Stock Cars in the Southeast, was the driver picked to take the track first in Roush's "Gong Show" on Tuesday morning.

"He (Jack Roush) called out a few names to go out first and I was the first one he called out," said the 18-year-old driver from Senoia, Georgia. "I was pretty shocked. I didn't now what to think.

"In a way it (going out first) puts pressure on you because you have to set the tone for everything, but the pressure is off after you get it done. But you still have the pressure knowing how you did and what everyone things about you."

Roush, whose teams have won the last two Nextel Cup titles, is conducting what has become an annual talent search. This year a different twist has been added though, reality television. The entire process is being filmed to be aired later this year on The Discovery Channel in the United States.

The competition continues Wednesday and Thursday at Martinsville Speedway. The field of 25 young drivers from all across America and two foreign countries will be trimmed after Thursday and the competition will resume at Darlington Raceway in two weeks.

The winner of the competition is guaranteed a ride with Roush Racing on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2006.

Ten drivers were put through the paces Wednesday in what turned out to be a much longer-than-expected day, with action not winding down until almost dark. But the long hours and torrid temperatures could not wilt the spirits of the young drivers.

"It was just a total awesome feeling just to feel it," said 25-year-old Scott Lynch of Burley, Idaho. "Now not only have I see Martinsville with my own eyes, I've actually been on the track. That's something I'm proud to say. I think that's pretty cool."