Coach driver Sid Beckham (left) and team manager Clayton Rees, both of Tullahoma, Tennessee, get a birdseye view from atop their motorcoach as their driver, Steadman Marlin qualifies for the Kroger 300. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        SPARTA, Ky. — Kroger 300 polesitter Scott Riggs became a first-time father Tuesday, when wife Jai gave birth to 8-pound son Lane.

        “Let me tell you, you take winning a race, just multiply that by about 100 and you'll know how wonderful it is to have a baby,” Riggs said, shortly after winning the pole at Kentucky Speedway on Friday night.

        Riggs, 31, is a native of Bahama, N.C. He won last year's NASCAR Craftsman Truck race at Kentucky and moved up to the Busch Series in 2002. He is the leading candidate for Busch Rookie of the Year, standing third in the season points race.

        Riggs answered the usual race-speak questions about what line he took around the race course, etc., but was happiest when discussing his new son.

        “People think that's a lot of distraction, but getting away from the race track actually cleared my head,” Riggs said. “I've been overdriving the car lately. Now I know to just slow down’— and go fast.”

        Riggs also is a typical first-time parent, with new babies often a 24-hour proposition.

        “Last night was the first night I got eight hours' sleep,” Riggs said, smiling. “You almost have to leave home to get some sleep. But I'd much rather be home with the baby.”

        HARVICK COMING: Kevin Harvick, who won Kentucky's inaugural Busch race last June, will attend tonight's race as grand marshal.

        Harvick drove both Busch and Winston Cup circuits in 2001, winning the Busch points title. Best known for replacing the late Dale Earnhardt in the Goodwrench Chevrolet, Harvick now drives exclusively in Winston Cup. He will fly back to Michigan tonight for Sunday's Winston Cup race.

        LEAVE EARLY: As always, fans are advised to arrive early for tonight's Busch race, which starts at 8 p.m. Cincinnati-area residents probably should leave home by early afternoon at the latest.

        Traffic jams are a given with nearly 70,000 people converging on Sparta, although a new I-71 interchange — 2 miles south of the track — should make things flow more smoothly than last year. The new interchange opened last month.

        Pre-race activities include a concert by Dishwalla (5:45 p.m.) near the Turn One concourse.

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