TESTING NOTES: what you see posted here is all I know about testing
I do not know of any other sites that have testing news or I'd post the link
Some teams test and there is no report on it, some tracks do not release speeds
How many tests can each team have?
Testing Ban in 2009: In an effort to help teams manage costs, NASCAR is suspending testing for its three national and two regional racing series for the 2009 season. Testing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as well as the NASCAR Camping World East and West Regional Touring Series at tracks hosting any of those events are included in the 2009 policy. NASCAR reached this decision following several months of discussion with the teams regarding testing, coupled with the current economic conditions. The suspension of testing should save the industry millions of dollars. "This is a significant move during an unusual time for all of us," said NASCAR President Mike Helton in making the announcement. “NASCAR has routinely adjusted its test policy over the years to reflect current conditions. This is another example of that.”(NASCAR PR)(11-14-2008)
2009 Testing News, Schedules, Results
Tire Testing: for news on tire testing, see my Tire Sponsor News and Testing page
ARCA Wraps up Three Day Daytona Test: ARCA wrapped up a three day test at Daytona Int'l Speedway on Sunday afternoon where IZOD IndyCar Driver Danica Patrick took the first step in transitioning to full bodied stock cars. Under the watchful eyes of race fans and national media, Patrick worked with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and the JR Motorsports team in the ARCA Racing Series garage to prepare for her upcoming stock car racing debut in the February 6 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. On Sunday afternoon, Patrick posted her weekend best 49.442 second/182.028 mph lap, placing her fifth among 29 drivers who participated in the Sunday afternoon portion of testing. Patrick and her team also spent portions of Sunday making simulated pit stops.
The three day test drew drivers from the world over, with Venezuela's Milka Duno, India's Narain Karthikeyan and China's Darryl O'Young joining US and Canadian drivers. Most teams used the session to prepare for ARCA's February 6 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 season opener at Daytona Int'l Speedway (live on SPEED at 4:00pm/et) while others participated primarily to gain superspeedway racing experience in anticipation of future ARCA speedway races. Mikey Kile, who plans to run the full 20-race ARCA Racing Series schedule in 2010, recorded the fastest time of the weekend with a 49.164 second/183.061 mph lap on Saturday afternoon while drafting with Venturini Motorsports teammates Steve Arpin and Alli Owens.
Owens, a Daytona Beach, Florida native, joined Patrick as one of a record ten females who participated in Daytona testing, recording the fastest time by a female driver this weekend (49.192 seconds/182.957 mph) during Saturday afternoon's draft. Fellow Floridian Patrick Sheltra, who resides in Indiantown, topped the speed charts during the Sunday afternoon portion of testing. Robb Brent, in a Mike Allgaier-owned Dodge, concluded Sunday morning's session leading the speed charts with a 49.250 second/182.741 mph lap. And Patrick Sheltra was fastest Sunday afternoon at 183.016mph. For a complete rundown of Daytona Testing Speeds, visit arcaracing.com.(ARCA/DIS PRs)(12-21-2009)
ARCA Testing Day 2: Danica Patrick Goes Drafting: During the second day of a three-day test session in preparation for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on Saturday, Feb. 6, open-wheel star Danica Patrick got a full day of on-track activity behind the wheel of the #88 Chevy for JR Motorsports. Patrick was able to work with her team and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. on adjustments to her race car as well as participate in afternoon drafting practice. “We had a good day,” Patrick said. “We got out there and we did a bunch of single-car running. At the beginning of the day, we did a bunch of 10-lap runs to just get laps and get comfortable and get the line and get everything down perfectly. Then we went to some shorter runs and then we did some group running. We actually did a 40-lap run. It was a lot of fun. It’s different than driving the cars that I drive. You can run so much closer and you can cross over each other. But you need to run really close so like there’s no room for error if someone makes a mistake. That’s going to be the challenge. But it was a productive day. I learned a lot and I feel really comfortable in the car. Tomorrow is going to be even better. Patrick was 25th fastest in Saturday morning session with a speed of 179.183 mph. In the afternoon, she posted a speed of 181.554, good enough for 19th fastest. In her other #88 Chevy in the afternoon session, she was 20th fastest with a lap of 181.375 mph.
Patrick said she gained valuable experience from the afternoon drafting sessions. “I guess you can run a lot closer than what I thought,” Patrick said. “Two car lengths up above from my spotter is like on him for me. That’s on him, you are on him in IndyCar. It was a little bit more challenging to get that last car length or get up on him. We even got to the point where they’re like, ‘give him a little bump down the straight.’ I was trying but I couldn’t catch him. It’s getting into that mode that you need to be right on him to take advantage of the situation and stay with the draft.”
Not just Patrick: While Danica Patrick’s participation in this weekend’s ARCA test is garnering plenty of national attention, there are nine other women drivers in attendance for the three-day test. The list of women drivers includes:
· Daytona Beach native and Atlantic High School graduate Alli Owens driving the #15 Venturini Motorsports Chevy
· Leilani Munter driving a Dodge for Mark Gibson Racing
· IndyCar Series driver Milka Duno, a native of Venezuela, testing the #90 Braun Racing Toyota
· Jennifer Jo Cobb in the #21 Bowsher Racing Ford
· Michelle Theriault, Jill George and Ashley Parlett are all testing Fords for Fast Track Racing
· Amber and Angela Cope, twin nieces of 1990 Daytona 500 champion Derrike Cope who are shaking down Dodges for Rick Markle Racing.
International feel: There is a strong international presence during this weekend’s ARCA test with countries such as India, China and Canada represented. Narain Karthikeyan, who is the only Indian driver to ever compete in Formula 1, is testing with Starbeast Motorsports, a newly formed team that has formed a strategic partnership with JTG Daugherty Racing for technical and marketing support. Karthikeyan is unsure of his future stock car plans but would love a return trip to the 31-degree high banks for February’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200.
Fastest of the day: Mikey Kile posted the fastest speed of the day in the #25 Venturini Motorsports Toyota with a speed 183.061 mph. The three-day test session, which runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, will conclude on Sunday and is open to the public with free access to the Oldfield Grandstands through the lobby of Daytona 500 Experience. Tickets for all Speedweeks 2010 events are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS and see )
AND The draft also produced the fastest speeds of the day with a trio of Venturini Motorsports drivers-Mikey Kile, Steve Arpin and Alli Owens--comprising the top-three positions on the speed charts. Kile's teammates, Fort Frances, Ontario's Steve Arpin and local, Daytona Beach, Florida, native Alli Owens, posted identical times (49.192 seconds/182.957 mph) while pushing Kile around the 2.5-mile track. Defending race winner James Buescher, in a Phoenix Racing Toyota, was fourth fastest in the Saturday afternoon drafting session, followed by Brandon McReynolds [Fox's Larry McReynolds son] in Eddie Sharp's #2 Toyota.
The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards will return to Daytona Int'l Speedway for a third and final day of testing Sunday. Much like Saturday's schedule, Sunday morning will feature single car runs while teams will have the option to draft on Sunday afternoon. Live timing and scoring will be available at timing1.arcaracing.com. For a complete recap of Saturday testing, visit arcaracing.com.(12-20-2009)
Ten females testing ARCA cars at Daytona: Besides Danica Patrick, there are nine other female drivers at Daytona International Speedway for the ARCA Series test. Leilani Munter, driving the #59 Mark Gibson Racing Dodge; along with Alli Owens, Milka Duno, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Michelle Thoriault, Jill George, Alison MacLoud and Amber and Angela Cope [Derrike Cope's neices].(Daytona Beach News Journal)(12-19-2009)
Three team testing at Little Rock: Three Sprint Cup teams are testing today [10-20-2009] at Rockingham Speedway's 'Little Rock', their 1/2 mile Martinsville-like short track: #48-Jimmie Johnson. #09-Sterling Marlin and #34-John Andretti.(10-20-2009)
Testing at the Rock: Some Sprint Cup tested at Rockingham Speedway's Little Rock Tuesday, including: #33-Clint Boyer, #29-Kevin Harvick, #2-Kurt Busch, #12-David Stremme, #77-Sam Hornish, #96-Bobby Labonte, #98-Paul Menard, #6-David Ragan, #99-Carl Edwards, #17-Matt Kenseth, #26-Jamie McMurry, #16-Greg Biffle and some other drivers. Testing on the "Big Rock" one mile track was the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ddoge with unknown driver and two Roush Fenway Racing Nationwide cars driven by Ricky Stenhouse, Jr and Colin Baun.(10-13-2009)
Kurt Busch testing at Rockingham: #2-Kurt Busch and crew will be testing for two days after Dover on both tracks located near Rockingham, N.C. The Miller Lite Dodge Team plans on testing at "Little Rock," the short track on Tuesday and on the 1.017-mile speedway on Wednesday.(Tom Roberts PR)(9-28-2009)
Could be minor tweaks to testing 'ban': UPDATE: At NASCAR's crew chiefs meeting here [NHMS] Saturday morning, Sprint Cup teams were given a few tweaks on the car-of-tomorrow and on testing for 2010, but it's unclear if more might be coming. NASCAR officials are apparently leaning toward okaying Greenville-Pickens Speedway [SC] for Cup testing next season, to give teams a less expensive testing venue – a track closer to their Mooresville, NC, shops. But some teams say they would continue flying/driving down to places like New Smyrna in Florida for testing anyway.
Teams report that Texas World Speedway in College Station, TX, may be ground smoother, to eliminate bumps. And if softwalls are installed there, the track could be a good testing venue too, since it's not on the NASCAR tour. Greg Biffle ran a few laps at Texas World in testing earlier this year, but he said at 218 mph, the bumps and the lack of soft walls, the track was too dangerous.(MikeMulhern.net)(9-21-2009)
UPDATE: NASCAR announced its 2010 testing policy for its three national and two regional touring series. The policy will again prohibit testing at tracks which host NASCAR national series events, by teams in the following series: NASCAR Sprint Cup; NASCAR Nationwide; NASCAR Camping World Truck; NASCAR Camping World East; and NASCAR Camping World West. In 2010, however, testing will be allowed at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks that host a regional touring event but do not host a national series event. Based on this season’s regional tour schedules, the following tracks would be eligible to host tests next year: Greenville-Pickens Speedway; Tri-County Motor Speedway; South Boston Speedway; Thompson International Speedway; Music City Motorplex; Adirondack International Speedway; Lime Rock Park; Thunder Hill Raceway; All American Speedway; Madera Speedway; Douglas County Speedway; Toyota Speedway at Irwindale; Portland International Raceway; Miller Motorsports Park; Colorado National Speedway.(NASCAR PR)(9-23-2009)
Fellows testing road course: Been told that #09-Ron Fellows is testing Tuesday at the Carolina Motorsports Park road course in Kershaw, SC in preparation for the race at Watkins Glen on August 9th.(7-28-2009)
Reutimann testing road course: Been told that #00-David Reutimann is testing Monday at the Carolina Motorsports Park road course in Kershaw, SC in preparation for the race at Watkins Glen on August 9th.(7-27-2009)
Testing at Road Atlanta: Hearing that drivers testing at Road Atlanta today include #99-Carl Edwards, #6-David Ragan, #16-Colin Braun (subbing for Greg Biffle), #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #47-Marcos Ambrose, #2-Kurt Busch, #77-Sam Hornish Jr., #12-David Stremme, #13-Max Papis and Boris Said (in John Wes Townley's #09 Nationwide Series Ford which he will run at Watkins Glen).(7-21-2009)
AND: told #7-Robby Gordon was also at the track.(7-21-2009)
- Four Cup drivers test at Infineon: Sprint Cup Series drivers #20-Joey Logano, #00-David Reutimann, #6-David Ragan and #13-Max Papis completed a two-day test session at Infineon Raceway on Wednesday to hone their skills on the challenging 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course. The drivers came to the track in preparation for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend, June 19-21 (Father’s Day weekend). Logano was coached by road-course veteran Chris Cook, who has also worked with NASCAR drivers Johnny Sauter and Los Gatos’ AJ Allmendinger. Logano will pull double-duty in Sonoma, competing in the Bennett Lane Winery 200, presented by Supercuts, NASCAR Camping World West Series, as well as the Toyota/Save Mart 350. Papis tested and also helped coach Reutimann and Ragan. The drivers all piloted late model stock cars supplied by Pioneer Motorsports out of Lake Oroville in Northern California. “Even if we drove a rental car out here it would help,” said Ragan. “I just needed to get back into the rhythm of turning left and right.”(Infineon Raceway)(6-11-2009)
- JGR's Coleman hits Coyote while testing:: Joe Gibbs Racing driver Brad Coleman cued his microphone at a test of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car at Toyota Arizona Proving Grounds earlier this week and said something over the radio he’s never said before. “Guys, I hit a coyote,” Coleman said. Coleman was running close to 200 mph around the 10-mile test track when he saw the animal wander under the outside guardrail. “I’m in the middle of the corner, and I’m doing like 190,” Coleman said Friday at Nashville Superspeedway before practicing his Nationwide Series car. “I’m just cruising. You run the high line there, because that’s where the most banking is. It’s the high-speed lane. There’s just a guardrail there like on the freeway. I see this thing, it must’ve been 100 feet in front of me, just jump out. Right when I saw it come out from under the guardrail, I was like, ‘That’s a coyote.’” As soon as he got “coyote” out of his mouth, he struck it with the nose of his Toyota. “It just started smoking like crazy,” Coleman said. “And it smelled terrible. I didn’t see anything in the mirror, so I was like, ‘I wonder where it went?’ I said, ‘Guys, I hit a coyote. I’m going to come in because I think it screwed up the radiator. I think it clogged up the grille a little bit.’” The animal went through the grille of his car and bent the radiator. Coleman said it all happened in less than a second and he had no time to react.(Scene Daily)(6-5-2009)
- Stock Cars to test at VIR Wednesday: VIRginia International Raceway's popular open Stock Car test day is coming, Wednesday, May 27. Many stock car racers will be testing and tuning their cars in preparation for the races at Sonoma and Watkins Glen. Crews and drivers alike enjoy the calm atmosphere of testing at VIR. "Bootie" Barker, crew chief for Michael Waltrip this year, says: "It's a very nice facility, nice accommodations. You have a place to stay (with the Lodge.)" Fans are admitted to the infield, all day, for only $10 in advance or $20 at the gate. Tickets can be bought on the track's web site, at www.virclub.com/buy-tickets.html. As always this year, fans ages fifteen and under are admitted free with a paid adult guest. Fans are welcome to watch from any of the many scenic spots around the track, with favorites including "NASCAR Bend" - named for the stars who failed to negotiate the turn in a race in the 60s; the approach to Turn Seven and the bridge and the top of the downhill "Rollercoaster." VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Virginia. VIR hosts a wide range of professional and amateur auto and motorcycle racing and track events, and is well established as "America's Motorsport Resort. For further information, call 434-822-7700 or visit www.virclub.com.(VIR)(5-25-2009)
- Sorenson Completes Test at Infineon Raceway: #43-Reed Sorenson visited Infineon Raceway on Wednesday to hone his skills on the challenging 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course. Sorenson came to the track for the one-day test session in preparation for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sprint Cup Series weekend, June 19-21 (Father’s Day). Sorenson has competed twice on the challenging road course (2006, 2007), with a best finish of 29th in 2006. He was joined by his crew chief, Mike Shiplett, at the test. “This is my favorite of the two road courses we visit because it’s more technical. We don’t run as fast, but it’s fun to race here,” said Sorenson. “There are a few places where we can get better on the track. I have to learn not to go too fast.” Sorenson, driver of the #43 Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports, piloted a late model stock car supplied by Pioneer Motorsports out of Lake Oroville. He was coached by road-course veteran Chris Cook and completed approximately 90 laps in the full-day test. “Reed’s only 23 years old, but I consider him a veteran. It doesn’t surprise me that he picks things up really well. We’re just trying to practice the track as perfectly as we possibly can,” said Cook, who has also worked with NASCAR drivers David Reutimann, Johnny Sauter, Paul Menard and AJ Allmendinger.(Infineon Raceway)(5-7-2009) Comment here
- Sorenson to test at Infineon TODAY: #43-Reed Sorenson will come to Infineon Raceway on Wednesday, May 6, for a one-day test session. Sorenson has a best finish of 29th (2006) in two starts on the Sonoma Valley road course. Sorenson is expected to test the challenging 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course in late-model stock cars provided by a Northern California-based race team. He will be coached by road-course veteran Chris Cook, who has also worked with NASCAR drivers David Reutimann, Johnny Sauter and Los Gatos’ AJ Allmendinger in Sonoma. Sorenson will return for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR weekend, June 19-21 (Father’s Day weekend), at Infineon Raceway. For tickets, call 800-870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway.com.(Infineon Raceway PR), also hearing other drivers will also test including: #20-Joey Logano, #47-Marcos Amrbose and #00-David Reutimann.(5-5-2009)
UPDATE: Sorenson is the only scheduled Sprint Cup driver for Wednesday's test, the others are expected to test at Infineon Raceway on June 9th and 10th.(5-6-2009) Comment here
- Testing at the Rock: Dennis Setzer tested a Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports on Rockingham Speedway's 'Little Rock' on Wednesday while three ARCA teams tested on the 1 mile track.(4-9-209)
- Tire test at New Hampshire: UPDATE: there is a scheduled Goodyear Tire Test at New Hampshire on Tues. and Wed. this week [April 7-8], with drivers scheduled being: #24-Jeff Gordon (Chevy); #18-Kyle Busch (Toyota), #6-David Ragan (Ford) and #12-David Stremme (Dodge)(4-6-2009)
UDPATE: Weather has been a real problem during the two-day Goodyear tire test at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Because of rain Tuesday, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, David Stremme and David Ragan got on to the one-mile track for only about an hour. On Wednesday, they were turning laps with winds gusting up to 25 mph and the temperature 41 degrees.(PRN Garage Pass)(4-8-2009)
- Tuesday Testing at the Rock: seven Sprint Cup teams tested at the Little Rock 1/2 mile track at Rockingham Raceway on Tuesday, March 24th: #2-Kurt Busch, #20-Joey Logano, #96-Bobby Labonte, #98-Paul Menard, #12-David Stremme, #77-Sam Horish Jr and Jamie McMurray in an un-numbered Ford.(3-24-2009)
- Testing at the Rock: six Sprint Cup teams tested at the Little Rock 1/2 mile track at Rockingham Raceway on Monday: #2-Kurt Busch, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #8 Aric Amirola (two cars), #39-Ryan Newman, #07-Casey Mears and Justin Allgaier in the #77 Dodge. Seven ARCA Teams tested the one mile track in prep for the Carolina 200 in April.(3-23-2009)
- Kahne and Setzer test at Motor Mile: Two Sprint Cup teams participated in a test this past Tuesday (March 17th) at Motor Mile Speedway. The track in Radford, VA was because of the similarities it shared with the paper-clip Martinsville Speedway short track in Henry County. Banked 15 degrees in the turns, MMS has a steeper banking than Martinsville by a mere three degrees. Certain similarities are the reason many teams throughout the NASCAR spectrum choose Motor Mile Speedway as their proving ground for waging a competitive campaign at weekend short tracks. In attendance on this particular Tuesday were Kasey Kahne, driver of Richard Petty Motorsports’ #9 Budweiser Dodge, and the #46 Romeo Guest sponsored Dodge, owned by Carl Long and driven by Dennis Setzer. It was Kahne’s first outing at the .416-mile oval. For veteran driver Dennis Setzer, the asphalt corners of MMS have become as familiar as the finish line at Martinsville. For crew chief Kenny Francis, the Radford short track could serve as a solution for more speed at the Sunday short tracks looming on the Sprint Cup schedule. “This is a pretty good track and pretty close to home. It’s got good grip and is pretty consistent, so you can learn here; you don’t have to chase the tires all day,” explains Francis. Carl Long and Setzer have partnered up in order to attempt the 500-lap event at Martinsville later this month. By the end of the test session the #46 team was a half-second off the pace set by Kahne’s #9 Dodge, with a top time of only 16.5.(MMS site)(3-22-2009)
- Testing at "Little Rock" Getting ready for the next two weeks of short track racing at Bristol and Martinsville, no less than eight Sprint Cup teams tested this week at "Little Rock". That's the nickname of the half-mile oval with concrete turns that was built adjacent to the Rockingham Speedway. The drivers turn laps there were #6-David Ragan, #17-Matt Kenseth, #07-Casey Mears, #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton, #33-Clint Bowyer, #12-David Stremme and #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
AND Testing (today) Wednesday [March 18th] at "Little Rock" were #1-Martin Truex, Jr., #19-Elliott Sadler, #43-Reed Sorenson, #44-A.J. Allmendinger and #26-Jamie McMurray.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(3-18-2009)
- Testing at the Rock UPDATE: many teams have been testing at Rockingham Speedway, have not heard much on which teams, but: #77-Sam Hornish Jr. and #12-David Stremme tested Thursday [3/12] at Rockingham Speedway in preparation for the NASCAR Sprint Cup event in Martinsville, Va. on March 29.(Richmond County Daily Journal)(3-13-2009)
UPDATE: A number of Sprint Cup drivers have spent some time testing this week at the Rockingham Speedway. Roush Fenway Racing's #99-Carl Edwards and #16-Greg Biffle were there on Monday. They were then followed by #55-Michael Waltrip, #00-David Reutimann, #47-Marcos Ambrose, #18-Kyle Busch, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #12-David Stremme, #77-Sam Hornish, Jr. and David Gilliland, who ran some laps filling in for Robby Gordon.(PRN's Garage Pass)(3-13-2009) Comment here
- Fairgrounds Speedway at Nashville offers NASCAR testing: Fairgrounds Speedway at Nashville is extending a helping hand to NASCAR race teams by making the famed 5/8ths-mile track available as a testing facility. According to the track’s new promoter, Nashville businessman Danny Denson, plans to make the facility available as a testing site for NASCAR’s top three divisions, the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, have been met with a great amount of enthusiasm by NASCAR teams. Once the site of two Cup races per year, NASCAR’s last Cup race was held at the track in 1984. The track hosted a Busch event and Craftsman Truck race each year until 2000 when the leaseholder, Dover Motorsports moved the events to their new facility, Nashville Superspeedway, located near Lebanon, Tennessee. Since then, the track has continued to host a popular weekly racing series topped by Late Model, SuperTruck and Sportsman divisions.(Middle Tennessee Racing News)(3-7-2009) Comment here
- Tire testing at Atlanta over: Encouraged by the results from a two-day Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company test session at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Greg Biffle expects old-time, side-by-side racing will be the rule of the day at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the March 8 Kobalt Tools 500. Biffle, who was testing at the 1.54-mile oval along with #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #77-Sam Hornish Jr. and #82-Scott Speed, believes Goodyear is in the process of developing a tire for Atlanta’s March race that will allow NASCAR’s top drivers to race in any groove, just like “the old Atlanta.”
“I am extremely happy with the tire that Goodyear has brought here to test,” said Biffle, who finished third in the points standings in the 2008 season. “They have a new left-side compound that puts a lot of driveability into the car.” While March 2008’s Kobalt Tools 500 was overshadowed by tire concerns, Biffle believes the new tire will allow Atlanta Motor Speedway to again be one of the most driveable, competitive, and thus entertaining, tracks on NASCAR’s 2009 schedule. “The old tire [in March] lost grip running on the bottom after five to eight laps,” said Biffle, whose best time in the test was a lap of 29.64 seconds (187.045 mph) in a fully-logoed 3M #16. “But this tire really hooks up to the bottom of the track for an extend run and you’re not sliding all over the place. It’s more like the old Atlanta that all of [the drivers] like.” In addition to Biffle’s strong endorsement of the tires used in the Goodyear test, the often outspoken Juan Pablo Montoya also had praise for Goodyear. “I think [Goodyear] has brought a lot of different tire possibilites here and each one is different, but they are all improvements in different ways” said the veteran open-wheel driver who is entering his third full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. “It is encouraging that they are doing what they can to help us and it has been really good. What we are running right now is incredibly fast. When you get here in March with the heat, you will be sliding a lot more. We are just trying to find a tire that is more predictable.” Great seats are still available for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and adult tickets start at just $39. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(1-23-2009) Comment here
- Biffle fast in test at Texas World Speedway: With NASCAR's ban on testing at sanctioned facilities sending its national series teams far and wide to rack up some mileage, #16-Greg Biffle's Roush Fenway Racing Ford team was the first Cup operation to test at the newly-spruced-up, two-mile Texas World Speedway, whose last Cup race was held in 1981 and won by the late Benny Parsons. Biffle, whose history includes a heavy crash in testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in December 2006, voiced his opinion on the speeds achieved at Texas World, but said nothing about a lack of SAFER barriers at the track. "[It was] very fast," Biffle said. "A little bit bumpy, which is to be expected of a race track that the pavement is that old, but just a very fast place. It's kind of a fun race track, but our cars today are probably pretty dang fast for a race track like that." Biffle said his Thursday afternoon speeds in College Station on Jan. 15 were the "fastest I've been in a race car before -- 218 miles an hour. That's getting her done, if you want to say -- 195 mile an hour average, so it was a pretty fast place."(NASCAR.com)(1-23-2009) Comment here
- Tire testing at Atlanta: In preparation for the upcoming Kobalt Tools 500 on March 6-8 at the 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company is conducting a two-day tire test on Tues-Wed, January 20-21, to ensure the preeminent tire is ready for Atlanta’s Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend. The drivers scheduleed to test: #16-Biffle (Ford), #42-Montoya (Chevy), #77-Hornish Jr. (Dodge) and #82-Speed (Toyota). This session is closed to the public.(AMS PR)(1-17-2009)
- Testing at many tracks: Sprint Cup Series teams are still testing and many with nearly the same frequency as before. They’re just getting their track time in at places other than California, Las Vegas and Daytona. #18-Kyle Busch and his Joe Gibbs Racing team is at New Symrna Speedway working on brake packages. The teams used to do this type of work at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina, but since NASCAR sanctions races there, Greenville is off the table. SPEED's Bob Dilner talked to the New Symrna track officials, who said their testing schedule is booked solid, including a visit from Hendrick Motorsports. Teams also are testing at Rockingham. Roush Fenway Racing is at The Rock this week and the Gillett Evernham/Petty team arrives next week. Teams are also going to Pikes Peak, a one-mile, somewhat D-shaped track out in Colorado.(SPEEDtv)(1-16-2009) Comment here
- Biffle to test at Texas World Speedway: on SPEED's NASCAR Preseason Thunder show on Wednesday, #16-Greg Biffle said he and his team were going to Texas World Speedway on Thursday, January 15th, to test the 2-mile superspeedway and see how it measures up for a test track in 2009. Biffle didn't say if other Roush teams/drivers would be part of the test.(1-15-2009) Comment here
- Teams test at GM Proving Grounds: Working around NASCAR's test ban, fourteen teams will wrap up three days of testing their Chevy Impala's at the General Motors Proving Grounds today in Mesa, Arizona. Richard Childress had all four of his Sprint Cup Series teams out there. #29-Kevin Harvick's crew chief Todd Berrier also told PRN's Garage Pass they will test later this month on the half-mile track built just outside the big track at Rockingham and they'll shake down their road race cars at Virginia International Raceway. Other drivers testing included Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's #42-Juan Pablo Montoya and #8-Aric Almirola and Hendrick Motorsports teams of #5-Mark Martin, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and #24-Jeff Gordon. Also the #0 Chevy tested, but no word what team or driver.(PRN's Garage Pass)(1-14-2009) Comment here
- Texas World Speedway’s Oval Update: Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas is pleased to announce that the initial phase of repair to its historical Super Oval is near completion and is expected to be completed in 7-10 days. This phase is designed to get the Oval in “test ready” condition through a combination of grinding, asphalt rejuvenation and general maintenance. TWS is now accepting rental bookings for its Super Oval and Grand Prix tracks. For more information about Texas World Speedway, see contact info at www.texasworldspeedway.com.(TWS PR)(1-3-2009) Comment here
- Texas World Speedway sits silently during testing ban: With the news that NASCAR has banned testing at its sanctioned tracks for its three national series in 2009, a few people wondered if that might mean increased curiosity in Texas World Speedway, which last hosted a Cup event in 1981. But if Sprint Cup teams have shown increased interest in testing at the 2-mile oval that is a carbon copy of Michigan International Speedway, they haven't made that known to track president Bill Mather, who hadn't even considered the idea of NASCAR teams visiting College Station until he read a recent magazine article about the testing ban. "I have been focusing on the testing business but the Autoweek story was the first time I ever thought about NASCAR," Mather said. "NASCAR's a different world to me. I've never met anybody affiliated with NASCAR. I'd like to. But I've been focused in on the road racing world. None of [the Sprint Cup teams] have set foot on the track, I can tell you that much."
Built in 1969 and repaved in 1993, Texas World Speedway mainly hosts regional sports-car events, testing for Star Mazda and American Le Mans Series teams and driver education courses. However, a portion of the superspeedway -- particularly 22-degree banked Turns 3 and 4 -- were unsuitable for high-speed testing because of bumpiness. But Mather said a recent 35-foot wide, 2,200-foot long grinding of the track surface in those areas has hopefully corrected those flaws. "Our oval will be hopefully test ready [by the first of the year]," Mather said. "We've just finished grinding [Turns] 3 and 4, which allows us to run our Grand Prix course, also. Turns 1 and 2 are in pretty good shape. The problem is that our Grand Prix course runs Turns 3 and 4. When the grinding company came in, they said to us, 'This is really good asphalt. It's amazing how good this asphalt is for its age.' And that made me happy, because I can't justify the cost of repaving it." Mather said some spot grinding was also done to Turns 1 and 2. This week, a process known as asphalt rejuvenation will be applied to the banking, a section of the road course and the paddock area.
NASCAR ran eight races at Texas World Speedway between 1969 and 1981. Three of Richard Petty's 200 career victories came on the 2-mile oval situated approximately 100 miles northwest of Houston. In 1980, Cale Yarborough won a 400-mile race that featured no caution flags. Also, Mario Andretti set the world closed-course speed record at 214.158 mph while qualifying for an IndyCar event in 1973, a record that stood for 12 years.(NASCAR.com)(12-19-2008) Comment here
- Testing at the Rock: GEM tested Tuesday and Wednesday at
Rockingham Speedway with #9-Kasey Kahne and on Wednesday, Stewart-Haas Racing was at the track with #39-Ryan Newman testing. Bill Elliott was behind the wheel Wednesday of his own ARCA car early in the test session to get a base line set up and then assumed the role of driver coach for Casey Roderick the 16 year old phenomenon who was getting his first laps on a superspeedway. Roderick is hoping to come back next spring and race in the Carolina 200 ARCA Series race on April 19th, 2009 as well as the season ending ARCA race on October 11th, 2009. The first race of the 2009 season for the Rockingham Speedway is the Polar Bear 150 on New Year’s Day. For more information visit www.rockinghamspeedway.com.(12-18-2008) Comment here
- Tire testing over at Las Vegas: #5-Mark Martin has driven a lot of different cars throughout his racing career, but the Hendrick Motorsports’ machine he’s driving in 2009 has energized the 49-year-old veteran. Martin spent Wednesday and Thursday testing tires for Goodyear at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with his new team. “The switch to a new team has certainly rejuvenated my career,” Martin said. “It’s such an honor to be wanted by this team and to be welcomed to a new team is very flattering to me. Now the pressure is really on and I will have to work hard to keep up with the other guys. It’s unbelievable to be able to work with (crew chief) Alan (Gustaffson) and (team owner Rick) Hendrick. The depth and knowledge of that group is unbelievable and I am looking forward to the 2009 season. I'm a lucky dude.” Martin was joined at the two-day test by #99-Carl Edwards, #83-Brian Vickers and #12-David Stremme. Edwards, who won this year’s Sprint Cup event at LVMS, is hoping for a repeat performance. With NASCAR’s ban on testing in 2009, Edwards hopes test sessions like these will help him back to the Winner’s Circle. “As far as testing, we would be fine if we didn’t, but it is nice to have the opportunity,” Edwards said. “Hopefully, these two days of testing will help us put on a lot of good races in 2009.” The four drivers were not only testing for Goodyear, but also looking to improve their chances at a posting a victory in the Shelby 427 on March 1. “Is it possible that this test session could be an advantage?” Martin asked. “I think that any experience you can get will be a premium factor in 2009. Drivers with experience can bring a little more to the team, test session or no test session. It’s about the time you've spent on the track.” There were no incidents during the two-day session.(LVMS PR)(12-12-2008)
- Tire Testing at Las Vegas UPDATE 2: there is a Goodyear Tire test scheduled at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on December 10-11, 2008, hearing the drivers to test will be #99-Carl Edwards, #5-Mark Martin, #83-Brian Vickers and #12-David Stremme.(12-4-2008)
UPDATE: #99-Carl Edwards, who won this year's Sprint Cup event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, will be joined by #5-Mark Martin, #83-Brian Vickers and #12-David Stremme for a two-day Goodyear tire test this Wednesday and Thursday at LVMS. For Martin, it will be a chance to get acquainted with Hendrick Motorsports' #5 Chevrolet, which he will pilot in the 2009 season. Vickers will be in the Red Bull Toyota, and Stremme will be in his new Penske Dodge. Stremme has replaced Ryan Newman in the #12 car for next season. "These two days in Vegas are going to be, quite possibly, the two most important days of our 2009 season," said Alan Gustafson, crew chief for Martin. "With NASCAR's new ‘no testing' rule, we are very fortunate to have been invited by Goodyear to this test. This gives us two extra days on an intermediate track that only three other teams are getting. We need to maximize that time all we can." The race teams and Goodyear will be testing in preparation for the March 1 Shelby 427 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The test will be closed to the public. Tickets are available for the 2009 NASCAR Weekend, more info by calling 1-800-644-4444 or logging on to www.lvms.com.(LVMS PR)(12-9-2008)
UPDATE 2: It will seem strange to see someone other than Ryan Neman driving Penske Racing’s #12 Dodge this season, but new driver David Stremme already feels at home. Stremme joined fellow Sprint Cup drivers Carl Edwards, Mark Martin and Brian Vickers for a Goodyear tire test on Wednesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “I can’t put a value on what we hope to accomplish here,” Stremme said. “We’re here testing tires for Goodyear first and foremost, but the more time I get in these cars the better. They didn’t have to try very hard to get me to come and do this test. I love coming out here, and more for the track than the rest of it.” Wednesday’s session was incident free. The testing will conclude on Thursday as teams representing all four manufacturers continue to look for the best tire combination to use in the Shelby 427 NASCAR Sprint Cup event at LVMS on March 1. The testing is closed to the public.(LVMS PR)(12-11-2008)
- Testing at Nashville: Gillett Evernham Motorsports tested Wednesday, Dec. 3rd at the Nashville Superspeedway with Reed Sorenson and Dennis Setzer as the drivers on the 1.33 mile Superspeedway. The test was closed to the public. Chip Ganassi [Earnhardt Ganassi Racing?] was scheduled to test Thursday, but it is raining at the track.(Nashville Superspeedway)(12-4-2008)
- New Smyrna track to get busy, not Disney and Texas World Speedway?: last week NASCAR banned testing at its sanctioned tracks, providing a small, silver lining to short tracks that can host NASCAR test sessions. As for Central Florida short tracks, New Smyrna Speedway is in position to gain the most. Orlando Speedworld, at 3/8 of a mile, is much too small to be useful for testing. The mile-long tri-oval at Disney World is the right size, but its surface makes it unlike any NASCAR track. Darrell Fry, sports media director for Walt Disney World, said they have neither received nor expect any requests from NASCAR teams.(Orlando Sentinel)
TEXAS? but what about Texas World Speedway a two mile "D" shaped oval with 22 degree banking turns with 8 degree banking in the front of the grandstands, it is still in operation.(11-22-2008) Comment here
- Red Bull testing at Nashville: Team Red Bull is testing Friday and Saturday [11/21-22] at the Nashville Superspeedway. The testing is closed to the public. Brian Vickers is the driver behind the wheel testing.(Nashville Superspeedway)(11-21-2008)
- NASCAR to ban testing? UPDATE 3: NASCAR executives are moving toward perhaps a virtual ban on all testing through the early months of 2009, until the economy settles down, according to NASCAR teams. That's a reversal of the plan just a few months ago to open up testing for 24 days per team at Sprint Cup tour tracks. Currently teams can test en masse at seven official NASCAR tests at Cup tour speedways. And teams can test anywhere else at any time. NASCAR could bar teams from testing at any NASCAR-sanctioned tracks, such as Kentucky.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-10-2008)
UPDATE: hearing that NASCAR told the teams at Homestead on Friday that testing in all forms would be banned in 2009.(11-14-2008)
UPDATE 2: In an effort to help teams manage costs, NASCAR is suspending testing for its three national and two regional racing series for the 2009 season. Testing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as well as the NASCAR Camping World East and West Regional Touring Series at tracks hosting any of those events are included in the 2009 policy. NASCAR reached this decision following several months of discussion with the teams regarding testing, coupled with the current economic conditions. The suspension of testing should save the industry millions of dollars.
"This is a significant move during an unusual time for all of us," said NASCAR President Mike Helton in making the announcement. “NASCAR has routinely adjusted its test policy over the years to reflect current conditions. This is another example of that.”(NASCAR PR)(11-14-2008)
UPDATE 3: Teams said they were told that the testing ban is to be reviewed in June. NASCAR president Mike Helton said that the plan is for the ban to run the entire year. NASCAR says more details will be coming.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-15-2008) Comment here
- Las Vegas 2009 Test Dates Announced: Las Vegas Motor Speedway has set 2009 test dates for both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. The Nationwide cars will test on the 1.5-mile superspeedway on Wednesday, Jan. 28 and Thursday, Jan. 29. NASCAR has not announced a testing policy for the Sprint Cup teams for next year, but LVMS will be available to all Sprint Cup teams on Monday, Jan. 26 and Tuesday, Jan. 27 if testing is allowed by NASCAR. Race teams who test at LVMS will be preparing for the March 1 Shelby 427 Sprint Cup Series race and the Feb. 28 Sam’s Town 300 Nationwide Series event. Tickets for the 2009 NASCAR Weekend are on sale now by calling 1-800-644-4444 or logging on to www.lvms.com. Passes for the Neon Garage, driver introductions and Lucky 7 Preferred parking also are available.(LVMS PR)(11-12-2008)
- Testing changes to be announced soon? UPDATE 3: NASCAR hasn't delineated the exact testing policy [for the Sprint Cup Series], but apparently it will allow teams to test at any of the tour tracks, for a total of about 24 days a team per season. There are 22 tracks on the tour, so teams should be able to test everywhere.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-20-2008)
UPDATE: NASCAR VP of Communications Jim Hunter said the sanctioning body is rethinking the 24-day testing schedule given the current economic conditions. Testing has to make financial sense for the haves as well as the have-nots.(FoxSports)(10-26-2008)
UPDATE 2: The talk in the garage is that testing at Cup tracks next year, which NASCAR floated out the idea of about 24 days, could be reduced to about 12-16.(Roanoke Times)(11-1-2008)
UPDATE 3: John Darby, Sprint Cup series director, spoke with the media at Texas on Saturday:
Q: WHAT KIND OF A RESPONSE ARE YOU GETTING FROM TEAMS ON A TESTING POLICY FOR NEXT YEAR? IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TARGET NUMBER IS 12-16 DAYS NEXT YEAR.
DARBY: "I think you've got to look from when we started talking about testing back in June and everything that has happened up to today. The very first meeting in New Hampshire in June, it was guys we can do zero or we can make it wide open. Everybody went Aaargh! And they came back with all the different versions and a month later we kind of settled in on like 24 days. Now we're in early July and that's when Wall Street started going wham. And more importantly the teams within the last couple of weeks have got their planner boards out and started penciling in their 24 days and stood back and said, 'Holy Cow, how are we going to do this?' First of all, the test policy is probably the most team-controlled policy that NASCAR has. In other words, we're pretty much just the organizers and managers of it. We'll give the garage, for the most part, what they want. But this is a year in looking at '09 where zero isn't completely off the radar. It may be just to help the industry. I think we're pretty secure in the fact that 24 days is too much… if you've got zero here and our original 24-day plan, the likelihood of landing somewhere in the middle is pretty good. Testing is a year-by-year deal. Let's say it was nothing, it maybe for only '09. Everything starts coming back, looking ahead to '10, we might get it back. That's the most fluid policy we have. Something changes on it every year.(Roanoke Times)(11-2-2008) Comment here
- NASCAR testing proposal gives 24 tests to each organization: NASCAR handed teams a draft of a new testing policy Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway. The sanctioning body will take more input from teams before finalizing it. The proposal gives each organization 24 test days at tracks where the Sprint Cup teams compete, with a maximum of two cars per test. All of the team’s drivers can test, but no driver can test for a team for which he does not drive. New teams would get test days depending on how much they race. There is typically a week blackout period before a race and a blackout period from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15. The Daytona tests will remain and not be included. There is no rookie provision.(SceneDaily.com)(7-13-2008) Comment here
- NASCAR considering open testing policy: John Darby, NASCAR's Sprint Cup director, had a nice surprise for the series crew chiefs Saturday, offering them the opportunity to guide the sanctioning organization in setting next year's testing policy. "NASCAR's the policy-maker, but one thing that's really reliant on the teams' input is what we test, how many times we test and where we test," Darby said after a brief meeting with the crew chiefs in the garage area at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "In the past, it's just been a matter of, 'Here, select your race tracks and let's go.' This year, I felt it was time that we just sat down with everybody and talked and said, 'Look, we're open to any suggestions you have,' from leaving our testing policy exactly like it was in '08, all the way to going to what I'm going to call wide-open testing, no limits -- any track, any week, any time, as many times as you want to go. We're prepared for either way, it doesn't matter to us. We'll listen to what all of the teams come back with for suggestions and formulate a test plan for '09 and go forward." Darby said his offer was met with some disbelief from the assembled crew chiefs. "There was a pretty good gasp of air when you got to talking about wide-open testing because the immediate perception is, 'Holy cats, we're going to be testing 38 weeks a year,' " he said. NASCAR officially allowed seven open tests this season at tracks where the Cup teams race. The teams can also opt to hold private tests as often as they like at tracks where the Cup cars do not race. Darby said he expects the crew chiefs to go back to their teams and talk to the owners and others in their organizations to come up with their own ideas.(ESPN/Associated Press)(6-29-2008) Comment here
