MARTINSVILLE -- Rusty Wallace was back in a stock car Thursday for the first time since last year, but he won't be running Saturday's Goody's 250 Busch series race at Martinsville Speedway. Or any other NASCAR race.

Wallace attended Thursday's test session to help son Steve, who has never competed at this track. Rusty Wallace drove some laps, which he said were his first in a stock car since last year's Nextel Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Wallace also said that he's been contacted about returning to the Cup series next season. There will be at least seven new rides next season, creating questions on if there are enough talented and experienced drivers for all the available Cup rides. Bill Elliott, who last drove fulltime in 2003, could be headed to Team Red Bull. Ward Burton, who last raced full time in 2004, also is looking for a ride.

So, why not Wallace?

"There's a lot of offers for big money to come back," Wallace said. "I made my decision, and I'm sticking to it. My six-year contract with ABC Sports forbids me from driving."

Fast times

Jason Leffler was the fastest in Thursday's seven-hour test session with a lap of 95.213 mph.

Steve Wallace, benefiting from his father Rusty's help, was second fastest with a lap of 94.552 mph. The rest of the top five included Johnny Sauter (94.538 mph), Mark McFarland (94.510) and Paul Menard (94.359 mph). Points leader Kevin Harvick (94.336) was sixth.

Stacy Compton of Grit, Va., drove the most laps at 266. Rookie David Gilliland was next at 222. Rookie Matt McCall was next at 202. Reed Sorenson was the only other driver to run more than 200 laps at 201.

Eric McClure was the only driver to crash. He was uninjured but said he anticipated his team would withdraw. That would leave 46 cars for 43 spots.

Show of support

A good crowd Saturday could help keep the Busch series at Martinsville Speedway after this weekend.

The Busch series returns to the historic half-mile track for the first time since 1994. The race was moved from Pikes Peak (Colo.) International Raceway to Martinsville after International Speedway Corp. purchased the Colorado track and moved the race date.

The Craftsman Truck race drew an estimated 43,000 in the spring but that ran the day before the Cup race, helping boost the crowd. With no other race this weekend at the track, Saturday's crowd might not be that large. If ISC officials see a chance for growth, the company could bring back the event.

"Our overall strategy is to be able to run the event as successfully as possible to have a long term value of the event whether that means hosting it there or hosting it at another facility where better potential growth opportunity," said Lenny Santiago, spokesman for International Speedway Corp., which owns Martinsville Speedway. "We think it's going to be a successful event."

Who's that?

All eight Nextel Cup regulars competing in this weekend's Busch event will be at Pocono today for Cup qualifying. All eight will have substitute drivers for today's practice sessions at Martinsville.

Two-time Busch champion Randy LaJoie will drive for Kevin Harvick, David Ragan will drive for Carl Edwards, Brandon Miller for Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola for Denny Hamlin, Casey Atwood for J.J. Yeley, Jason Keller for Greg Biffle and Dennis Setzer for Kyle Busch.

Changes

The Wood Brothers have changed crew chiefs with their Cup and Busch teams.

Michael McSwain will replace David Hyder as crew chief for Ken Schrader's Cup team. Hyder moves to be Jon Wood's crew chief. Ernie Cope will leave his position as Stacy Compton's crew chief to assist McSwain. Jay Guy, who had been Wood's crew chief, becomes Compton's crew chief.

The decisions are meant to help Schrader and prepare Wood for Cup racing next season. Wood said Thursday that he's unsure if he'll attempt to make the field at Indianapolis next month. He recently tested there. He said he anticipates running a Cup car at Martinsville in October.

Special day

Three children from the Victory Junction Gang Camp will serve as grand marshals for Saturday's race. They are Will "Cheese'' Kwapil, 12, of Greensboro, N.C.; Nick Chase, 13, of Clemmons, N.C., and Danielle Bolick, 11, of Stoneville, N.C.

Kyle and Pattie Petty created the camp for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. The children visited the track Thursday and were given pace car rides around the track and tours of some of the race haulers.