Busch: Bliss inks four-race deal.

Former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion and Nextel Cup veteran Mike Bliss has signed a four race Busch Series deal with SKI Motorsports and sponsors Smith & Wesson.

Bliss, who was dropped by his Nextel Cup team Haas CNC Racing at the end of last season, has already sealed a full-time Craftsman Truck Series ride with Xpress Motorsports for 2006, and will combine that with Busch outings at Darlington, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Fontana and Kansas during the course of the year.

"I'm thrilled at the chance to move forward on the racetrack with one of America's most recognised brand names," said Bliss, who was one of several Nextel Cup drivers to pilot the Smith & Wesson backed Chevrolet during 2005, and came within a lap and a half of scoring the teams best ever finish at Daytona before getting involved in a multi-car accident.

"We'll have four more chances in '06 to try and build on that almost magical night at Daytona, and hopefully we'll be able to finish the job. It's a solid programme to be a part of, both on and off the track, and I feel fortunate to be the driver."

Bliss, the 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, shared time in the #30 Chevrolet with fellow veterans Ron Hornaday, Jr., and Scott Riggs in 2005. Hornaday capped the season with a top-12 qualifying run on the mile oval at Phoenix. Riggs scored its season-high finish of 21st at Las Vegas.

"We're pleased to have Mike on board with us for '06," said Tom Taylor, S&W's VP Marketing. "He certainly gave us all a thrill last July at Daytona. We're hoping for more of the same."

"As a part-time team in NASCAR, we're up against one of the most challenging feats in all of sports each time we show up for a race," added Chris Lencheski, president of SKI Motorsports and its parent SKI & Company agency. "Our team has a long-range plan that we hope will see us racing on a full-time basis and will likely include some additional races this year, as well.

"For now, we look to our second season as another key building block to lead us to that end. With Mike Bliss in the driver's seat, and our marketing and promotional machine poised to help elevate the Smith & Wesson brand among NASCAR followers everywhere, we're looking for more good things to come."