KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Bill Lester's bid to become the first African-American driver to compete in NASCAR's top series since 1986 will be delayed until next season.

Mike Brown, general manager for Bill Davis Racing, had said the team hoped to have Lester compete in select races this season, depending on sponsorship. Brown said Friday at Kansas Speedway that Lester's debut likely will take place early next year. It could happen at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a track Bill Davis Racing excels.

"We do have some plans for Lester in '06,'' Brown said. "Right now, it's hard to say what it will be, one or two races or as many as 10.

"It just hasn't really come together as fast as we hoped. The key is we want to do it right. Another six months is not going to make a huge difference to try to do it the right way.''

The 44-year-old Lester competes in the Craftsman Truck series for Bill Davis Racing. He ranks 18th in the points.

No African-American has competed in the Cup series since Willy T. Ribbs. He drove in three races in 1986.

Shedding image

NASCAR chairman Brian France says in a "60 Minutes'' piece slated to air Sunday night that he's against the Confederate flag, which some fans fly by their RVs in the infield or outside race tracks.

"It's not a flag that I look at with anything favorable, that's for sure,'' France tells correspondent Lesley Stahl. "I can't tell people what flag to fly. I can tell you the flag we get behind, it's the American flag.''

Wimmer staying

Mike Brown said Friday that Scott Wimmer will remain with Bill Davis Racing next season. Wimmer's contract goes through next season. There had been speculation that Wimmer, 33rd in the point standings, might not remain with the team after this season.

Brown also said that Johnny Benson will drive a second team at Atlanta.

Hearing set

Car owner Richard Childress said the team's appeal of NASCAR penalties issued to crew chief Todd Berrier has been set for Oct. 19.

NASCAR suspended Berrier, crew chief for Kevin Harvick, two races, fined him $10,000 and placed him on probation until Dec. 31. Officials found that Harvick's car had an unapproved aerodynamic modification and fuel cell at Talladega.

Tire test

Ricky Rudd estimates he ran 700 laps in two days of tire testing for Goodyear at Martinsville on Monday and Tuesday. Rudd, Brian Vickers and Ken Schrader tested.

Greg Stucker, director of race tires sales and marketing for Goodyear, said the test was done to consider different compounds for next season.

Fast times

Elliott Sadler was the fastest in Friday's final practice session with a lap of 179.372 mph. Qualifying is today.

Carl Edwards was second quickest at 179.319. He was followed by Matt Kenseth (179.004 mph), Jeff Gordon (178.826) and Kurt Busch (178.690) as cars with Roush-Yates engines took four of the top five spots.