Conway takes over JGR Busch ride

California Dreamin' finally turns to racing reality for driver Kevin Conway this weekend as he straps himself behind the wheel of Joe Gibbs Racing's (JGR) No. 18 Z-Line Designs Chevrolet for Saturday's Sharpie Mini 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. A month ago this weekend at California Speedway, Conway watched from the sidelines as NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series star Tony Stewart wheeled the Z-Line Designs car to an 11th-place finish in the Stater Bros. 300. It was a bittersweet day for Conway as he enjoyed the thrill of seeing the Z-Line sponsorship deal he personally worked so long and hard for take to the track for the very first time. But deep down inside, his mind was already focused on Bristol, where he'll get his first chance to drive the Z-Line Designs Chevrolet at one of the most action-packed venues on the NASCAR circuit. The 28-year-old from Lynchburg, Va., is something of a modern-day racing renaissance man, having left his mark in AMA Motocross, the World Karting Association, USAC Midgets, Late Model Stocks, the American Speed Association, ARCA and NASCAR's West Series since becoming the youngest driver to win a Legends national title at the age of 15. He's also logged thousands of laps at NASCAR tracks all over the country as a test driver for various Nextel Cup teams and as a Richard Petty Driving Experience instructor. In addition to his vast array of racing experience, Conway credits his marketing degree from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte for making this opportunity a reality. A mutual friend led him to Z-Line Designs CEO Jim Sexton several months ago, and the two began exchanging e-mails as Conway set out to reveal the benefits of using NASCAR to market the highly successful but relatively little-known brand leader in the ready-to-assemble furniture marketplace. When asked about tackling Bristol, Conway responded "It's a challenge that I'm very, very excited about. Bristol is a race track that I love, and it's very exciting. You have a 50-50 shot that you're going to come out unscathed. And usually, if you survive, you're going to have a good finish. Going there and knowing that we have the resources of Joe Gibbs Racing behind us, and everything Z-Line Designs has provided for us, it's really exciting because you know you're going to have equipment and a team that's capable of winning the race."