Bill Lester will attempt to become the first African-American to qualify for a NASCAR Nextel Cup race since 1986 this weekend at Atlanta, it was announced Tuesday.

Lester would become the sixth black driver to compete in NASCAR's top series since the sport's inception in 1949.

The late Wendell Scott drove in 495 races from 1961-73 with one victory at Jacksonville (Fla.) Speedway in 1963. No other African-American has competed in more than three races. Willy T. Ribbs was the last African-American to race in the Cup series, competing in three races in 1986.

The 45-year-old Lester will drive a third Cup entry for Bill Davis Racing with sponsorship from Waste Management. He will have to qualify on time and is not guaranteed a starting spot as the top 35 in car-owner points are, including teammates Dave Blaney and Michael Waltrip.

Lester drives for Davis in the Craftsman Truck series. He has competed in 105 truck series races with three poles, two top-five finishes and six top-10 finishes.

Lester was the first black to compete in a Busch series race in 1999 and the first to win a pole for a NASCAR event in the modern era, starting first for the truck race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 2003.

Tickets on sale

While tickets remain on sale for the DirectTV 500 at Martinsville in three weeks, the track will begin selling tickets to its fall race today online on its Web site at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

Tickets can be purchased at the track's office beginning Saturday, which also is the track's open house for fans.

Struggling

Dale Jarrett's frustrations grow after another average finish Sunday at Las Vegas.

Jarrett finished 19th -- the 14th consecutive race at an oval 1.5 miles and larger without restrictor plates that Jarrett has placed outside the top 10.

"It's what we've done for the last, well, all this year and about the last six months of last year, so we've got to find something," Jarrett said after the race. "We're getting our tails kicked."

Testing continues

Two tests for NASCAR's car of tomorrow, which will debut next spring at Bristol, are scheduled in the next month. The car will test at Bristol the day after the Cup race there in March. The Martinsville test is set for the day after the Cup race there next month.

East exposure

Bobby East, a heralded 21-year-old open-wheel driver , is set to make his truck series debut at Atlanta in the Wood Brothers/JTG Racing entry.