RICHMOND -- Bobby Hamilton Sr., who is sitting out the Craftsman Truck series as he continues cancer treatments, says he'd like to return to racing at Atlanta in late October.

It was at Atlanta in March that Hamilton announced he was stepping out of his ride because of cancer in his neck. He said at the time he hoped to return by the season finale in November.

Hamilton said that doctors have sped his treatments.

"We took a very slow step forward as far of regiments of treatment, and it wasn't working quite as fast as we wanted it to,'' Hamilton said. "So, I wasn't even set up for radiation until May 30, and I'm on my second week of radiation. Almost by the time I was going to start radiation, I'm going to be done.''

Hamilton said rehabilitation is scheduled to last two to three months.

"I would love to come back at Atlanta where I got out of the truck,'' he said.

Hamilton's son, Bobby Jr., has replaced him until he returns.

Hamilton says this experience has changed him.

"There is one thing that I have learned about all of this, everybody is going to deal with this at some point in their life,'' he said. "I look at human life different. I talk to patients every day. I had the hospital call me and want to give me VIP treatment because they had race fans as patients talking about me. I said, 'I don't want you to touch me. I want to sit right out there with them. Leave me alone. I'll learn a lot. I just want to sit with the rest of the folks.''

Hamilton will host a charity event, called "Craftsman for a Cure,'' May 23 at the NASCAR Speedpark in Concord, N.C. Fans can purchase dinners with drivers or race drivers in a go-kart race. Among those scheduled to appear are Ryan Newman, Darrell Waltrip, Kyle Petty and Ken Schrader, along with several drivers in the truck series. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-866-227-3264.

Still talking

Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, says he last talked to NASCAR officials about a month ago on complying with NASCAR's four-team limit.

NASCAR announced last year that they would limit organizations to four teams. Roush fields five teams. Roush officials say contracts with sponsors and drivers go through the 2009 season. Smith says he's hopeful the organization can fulfill those contracts before downsizing.

"They've made it pretty clear that they don't want an indefinite window,'' Smith said about NASCAR. "Philosophically, it seems like we're on the same page. I expect ... we're going to do this on a year-to-year basis with the view that if we can get it done before then we will.''

Smith also said that the team is in talks with the National Guard about returning as a sponsor. The National Guard is scheduled to be the primary sponsor in 22 races for Greg Biffle this season.

Boys will be boys

J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, said Saturday that while the team prohibits its drivers and even pit crew members from taking part in some activities, there's little to do about Denny Hamlin cutting his hand while running around the team's hauler this week.

"Our two rules at JGR are just use common sense and don't embarrass the team,'' Gibbs said. "On that one there, it's one of those things where guys are guys; they're going to fool around. It's just a freak thing that happens. You can't rule out everything.''

Anniversary

Monday marks the 30th anniversary of Sterling Marlin's first career Cup start. Marlin made the start at Nashville because his father, Coo Coo, had a broken shoulder. Marlin started 30th and finished 29th.

Marlin, who made his 685th Cup start Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway, has 10 victories, including two Daytona 500 wins. His last victory was at Las Vegas in 2002.