by FOXSports.com

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Chad McCumbee will step into the No. 45 this weekend according to a release sent out by the team Monday. This will not be the first time McCumbee drives for Petty Enterprises. Last season, the Supply, N.C., native took over for two races as Petty tried his hand in the broadcast booth. In those two races, McCumbee netted a 25th-place finish in his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Pocono International Raceway in June and a 41st-place result at Michigan International Speedway in August.

"I feel comfortable around the No. 45 team," McCumbee said in the release. "Billy Wilburn (No. 45 crew chief) and I work well together. We had a great race last year at Pocono. I'm hoping for more of the same this weekend. Kyle is going to be there, giving me advice and pointers. That means a lot to me. I've learned a lot from him already."

This has been a trying year for Petty. In the first five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races of 2008, the third-generation racer finished 30th or worse in four races and was only able to muster a best finish of 28th at Bristol Motor Speedway. As a result he fell out of the top 35 in owner points, which forced him to qualify by time into the Martinsville Cup race — a feat he was unable to accomplish.

While McCumbee has yet to race in the Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway, he has competed in three events there in the Truck Series, finishing ninth, 13th and 13th respectively in two starts in 2006 and one in 2007. In 50 career Truck Series starts, the 23-year-old has an average finish of 20.2 with one top-five finish and six top-10s to his record.

"Everyone at Petty Enterprises believes in Chad and his abilities," said Petty. "Texas gives us a chance to get another good look at Chad without throwing him to the wolves. He should be relaxed because he knows he can get the job done there."

In an effort to familiarize himself to the new car, McCumbee and the No. 45 team will test at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday.