By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

It made sense to Scott King to consolidate his resources.

After a disappointing run in the TD Banknorth 250 last year, King decided to have more of a behind-the-scenes role. Instead of racing, he’ll be one of Denny Hamlin’s biggest supporters.

“Last year, we got all built up,” said Joe King, Scott’s father. “Everything went well. We had all new tires. First corner, this guy puts us into the wall. This year, Scott was more excited to do this.”

Scott King has two cars, but one hasn’t been running as well as he would like. When he was contacted about providing a car for Hamlin, King put his efforts into just one machine.

“We have enough stuff for two cars, but we only have enough good stuff for one car,” said Scott, who has been racing regularly this season, but will just skip the 250 this year.

King, of Livermore Falls, has been a long-time Hamlin fan. So the opportunity to put Hamlin into the 250 was a welcomed chance.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Scott. “That was before he started racing real good in the Winston Cup. It’s a chance of a lifetime to put this all together, and we’ll see what happens.”

Hamlin won the Pennsylvania 500 and the Pocono 500. He’s been in the top 10 in 10 other races. It just so happens that he races with No. 11.

“That’s the same number we run,” said Joe. “All we have to do is stick a little H’ on it so we can tell them apart.”

For nearly two months, the Kings have worked feverishly to prepare Hamlin’s ride. Scott says the experience has been more fun than anything, but his father says it may have required even more work than if Scott were racing himself.

“It’s nerve-wracking but exciting,” said Joe. “I think it’s more pressure. Scott is like, It ain’t me in there. You’ve got a Winston Cup driver.'”

The Kings have had no contact with Hamlin himself. They were given his height and weight and have been trying to set up a seat based on those measurements and the fact that Scott is a little taller and heavier than Hamlin.

A member of Matt Kobyluck’s crew was on hand this week for a practice session with the car.

“We had the track for four or five hours,” said Joe. “He suggested a bunch of stuff to do, and we still haven’t got it all done, yet.”

Hamlin has people coming from North Carolina to make up his crew. Scott and Joe will be on hand to help out Sunday.

“We’ll just stand back and watch the action,” said Scott, who intends to race the car through the rest of the season. “I’ll do anything they need me to do. I’m just going to be out there having fun. My dad and I will be out there pacing in the infield if he’s doing good.”

While setting up a car for a Nextel Cup driver is a new experience for King, it is an annual event for Whorff Motorsports of Topsham. After providing a car for Matt Kenseth the last two years, J.J. Yeley will be the beneficiary.

“It’s great to be involved with these guys that want to come up and run with us,” said Bill Whorff Jr. “They want good equipment, and I think we put a good package together for Kenseth the last couple of years.”

The car Yeley will drive is, in some respects, the same car Kenseth had, but the Whorff’s have done significant tinkering and added a number of new parts. They’ve tested it numerous times, including in a race at Oxford.

“It ran real, real good,” said Whorff. “I was really pleased with the car. It’s actually really fast. We’re looking forward to having him drive one of these cars. From what I understand, he has not driven a Super-8 model. I know he’s going to do great. I can’t wait to see him in it, and I can’t wait to race with him.”

Kenseth went from 41st place to third in 2004 and finished 16th last year. When he had other commitments and didn’t return, it was natural to pair one of the Nextel Cup drivers with the Whorff team.

Whorff got Yeley’s height and weight but hasn’t conversed with Yeley. In other years, he’d only talk to Kenseth by phone a day or two before the race. Having done it twice already, Whorff says it is getting a little easier to prepare a car while also setting up rides for himself and his son Jeremie, but it can still be a challenge to juggle it all with a full-time job.

“It was definitely easier this year,” said Whorff. “We’re getting into a rhythm of what we need to do. We’re lucky. I don’t really have to build a new race car.”