Derek Hayes in NASCAR Busch!

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from http://www.crash.net


ASCAR Days of Thunder Series star Derek Hayes will make his NASCAR Busch Series debut in this weekend's Sam's Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park, becoming the second driver from the UK based oval racing series this week to make the leap stateside.

With inaugural ASCAR Champion John Mickel preparing to drive in select NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races for the newly formed Torquespeed Carter team in 2004, Irishman Hayes, who finished 20th in the final Days of Thunder standings after a limited campaign, will pilot the #77 Moy Racing Ford in this weekend's event in Memphis.

The 25 year-old, who currently holds the Formula Three lap record around the prestigious Macau street circuit, has been racing in the all-oval ASCAR Series for two seasons and becomes the second Irishman to race in NASCAR's secondary division in recent years after Kieran Dynes, who now manages Hayes.

Although the Team Moy Ford has struggled throughout the 2003 season with a number of drivers, including Dana White, Brad Teague and Bruce Betchel, team owner Joe Reilly crucially sits inside the top 25 in Owner's points, which virtually guarantees Hayes a maiden Busch Series start in Saturday's race.