Testing set for GM's 2003 models: General Motors Racing is conducting a test at Homestead Monday and Tuesday, giving its Winston Cup and Grand National teams an opportunity to shake down their new 2003 Chevrolet and Pontiac entries. Winston Cup teams expected to participate include Hendrick Motorsports, MB2/MBV Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Morgan-McClure Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, PPI Motorsports and BACE Motorsports.(ThatsRacin.com) UPDATE: Less than 24 hours after the 2002 Winston Cup season came to an end, testing was scheduled today for teams looking ahead to the 2003 season. GM Racing was to open a two-day test at Homestead-Miami Speedway this morning for Winston Cup teams to shake down their new 2003 Monte Carlo and Grand Prix entries. GM said those expected to take part included the Chevrolet teams of Hendrick Motorsports (#s 5, 24 and 25), Dale Earnhardt Inc. (#'s 1 and 15), Richard Childress Racing (#s 29 and 30) and BACE Motorsports (#74). Pontiac teams include MB2/MBV Motorsports (#s 01 and 10), Morgan-McClure Motorsports (#4) and PPI Motorsports (No. 32). GM said four Busch Series teams would also test: Nemco Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Innovative Motorsports and BACE Motorsports.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter), also Joe Gibbs Racing was there as Tony Stewart was at the track testing the #20 Chevy.(Speed Channel's Inside Winston Cup show, where Stewart was interviewed)(11-18-2002)
2003 GM Test Scheduled UPDATE: The GM teams will test their new cars at Homestead-Miami Speedway the day after the season finale at Homestead, Fla. No 2002 models will be allowed during the open test session. It is expected the GM teams will thoroughly test the front downforce in the new noses.(Ford Racing)(10-27-2002) UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing will be part of a General Motors test Monday and Tuesday at Homestead. For the first time since 1996, it will be as a Chevrolet team. But Jimmy Makar, who now heads the two-car program, doesn't think switching from Pontiac will make that much of a difference given the common templates NASCAR has mandated for next year. "The only difference is the nose and tail section and the window," said Makar, who helped shape the new Pontiac model this summer. The advantage to switching cars, Makar said, is to have the same equipment as other top teams. That will give Stewart and 2000 champ Bobby Labonte a better gauge.(Indianapolis Star)(11-15-2002)
Newman to test at Kentucky: #12-Ryan Newman, who enters the final event of 2002 with a 20-point lead over #48-Jimmie Johnson in rookie points, will test on Kentucky's Speedway's 1.5-mile tri-oval on Tues Nov 12th and Wed Nov 13th. Newman enters the week seventh in the series points standings.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(11-11-2002)
Testing at Talladega in Dec? According to NASCAR sources there will be a speedway test at Talladega Superspeedway for the Dodge and Ford teams in December. The test was arranged after the Dodge and Ford teams explained that theyre basically working with new cars and they should be entitled to see what effects the 2003 rules package changes have brought. The tentative two-day test is slated for Dec. 9 -10.(Ford Racing)(11-10-2002)
Homestead Testing from Tuesday: #20-Tony Stewart topped the speed charts for the second consecutive day at the final test session before Ford Championship Weekend November 14-17 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Stewart and five other drivers tested under sunny skies, temperatures in the low 80's and a slight breeze. Two other drivers tested Cup cars and three drivers tested BGN on the 1.5-mile track. The speeds:
#20-Tony Stewart, 148.670mph
#91-Casey Atwood, 147.420
#57-Robert Pressley, 147.139 BGN:
#60-Greg Biffle, 147.581
#56-Martin Truex, Jr., 145.474 (from NJ)
#18-Mike McLaughlin, 145.083.(Homestead-Miami Speedway PR)(11-6-2002)
Testing at Homestead UPDATE Stewart fastest: #20-Tony Stewart is headlining a group of ten drivers who will test at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Monday, November 4 and Tuesday, November 5 from 9:00am - 5:00pm/et each day. Admission is free to the public for the test sessions with seating in the Speedway Club level. Driver participation is subject to change. Drivers scheduled to test:
#20-Tony Stewart, 149.354mph
#57-Robert Pressley (Team CLR), 147.312
#91-Casey Atwood, 146.500
#29-Kevin Harvick, no speed listed
#30-Jeff Green, no speed listed BGN
#31-Dave Blaney, 147.420
#60-Greg Biffle, 147.059
#40-Brian Vickers, 146.500
#18-Mike McLaughlin, 145.357
#56-Martin Truex, Jr. 143.426
(HMS Site - Speeds from NASCAR.com) NOTES: Track Qualifying Record is Steve Park, Nov 2000, 156.440mph and the 2001 Pole Sitter was Bill Elliott at 155.226.(11-5-2002)
Martin Tops Homestead Test: #6-Mark Martin posted the fastest lap as a two-day test session wound up Wednesday at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a lap of 149.089mph. Second among the seven Winston Cup cars testing was #40-Jamie McMurray at 147.945. Scott Wimmer was the faster of the two BGN drivers testing at 146.381.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter) and
#6-Mark Martin, 149.089
#40-Jamie McMurray, 147.945
#45-Kyle Petty, 145.592
#23-Kenny Wallace, 145.513
#21-Elliott Sadler, 145.474
#88-Dale Jarrett, 144.811
#43-Kyle Petty, 144.115
#09-Geoffrey Bodine, 142.593
BGN
#23-Scott Wimmer, 146.381
#92-Todd Bodine, 143.847 (HMS site)(10-31-2002)
Homestead Testing: Seven Cup and Four BGN Teams Have Begun a Two Day Test at The Homstead-Miami Speedway. Kyle Petty Is Turning Laps in his #45 Car and Teammate John Andretti's #43. Andretti Is In Pennsylvania Where His Grandmother Is Gravely Ill. Also at Homestead, #25-Joe Nemechek, #6-Mark Martin, #88-Dale Jarrett, #21-Elliott Sadler, #23-Kenny Wallace, and #40-Jamie McMurray.(PRN's Garagepass Radio Show)(10-29-2002)
Phoenix Testing and Fittipaldi to run #44 next week UPDATE: Out West #24-Jeff Gordon Was Practicing at Phoenix along with #10-Johnny Benson, #49-Derrike Cope, and CART driver Christian Fittipaldi, Who is going to attempt to qualify the Petty Enterprises #44 Georgia Pacific Dodge there next week.(PRN's Garagepass Radio Show)(10-29-2002) UPDATE - Teams Complete First Day of Testing at PIR: Four Cup Series teams and one BGN team rolled into Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) on Tuesday for the first of a two-day test session. #24-Jeff Gordon, #10-Johnny Benson, #44-Christian Fittipaldi, #49-Derrick Cope and [BGN] #97-PJ Jones all took to the one-mile oval in preparation for the NASCAR Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil Weekend, November 7-10. Gordon turned the fastest time of the day with a speed of 130.910mph, followed by #49-Cope at 129.032. Both #10-Benson and #44-Fittipaldi tested in race trim and had best speeds of 128.571. Fittipaldi will attempt to qualify the car for the November 10th Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil. Meanwhile, PJ Jones was the lone Busch Series competitor testing at PIR today in the new #97 Tuttle Motorsports entry. Jones lapped the track in 125.000mph. Testing for all teams will conclude tomorrow.(PIR PR)(10-30-2002)
2003 GM Test Scheduled The GM teams will test their new cars at Homestead-Miami Speedway the day after the season finale at Homestead, Fla. No 2002 models will be allowed during the open test session. It is expected the GM teams will thoroughly test the front downforce in the new noses.(Ford Racing)(10-27-2002)
Rusty Tests at Gateway: Testing for Phoenix and Homestead, but not at Phoenix and Homestead. #2-Rusty Wallace and crew tested Tuesday & Wednesday (Oct 22nd & 23rd) at Gateway International Raceway, the 1.25-mile track near Madison, Ill., in preparation for the upcoming races at Phoenix and Homestead. "We were out of tests and it was a logical alternative," reports Penske Racing South shop foreman Gary Brooks. "Rusty and the guys are testing today (22nd) for Phoenix and tomorrow (23rd) for Homestead. They carried the (PC-) 51 car and the (PC-) 27 up there. The plan is to race the 51 at Homestead and we'll run the 49 at Phoenix. We used the 49 at Martinsville on Sunday and couldn't get it turned around in time, so we sent the Martinsville backup (27) to the test. They're saying that St. Louis (Gateway) has similar characteristics of both Phoenix and Homestead, so we'll see how it benefits. On thing for sure is that testing there is better than no test at all, isn't it?"(Tom Roberts PR)(10-24-2002)
Testing at the Rock: North Carolina Speedway Testing: The following drivers will be at North Carolina Speedway. Tuesday - Wednesday, October 22 23 testing for the upcoming NASCAR weekend November 2 - 3...2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series: #24-Jeff Gordon; #45-Kyle Petty; #40-Jamie McMurray; #25-Joe Nemechek (listed as in a Chevy and a Pontiac); #4-Mike Skinner; #16-Greg Biffle and #91-Hank Parker, Jr. Grandstand gates are open 9:00am 4:00pm/et, General Public is invited to view the test session from the grandstand.(Catchfence via PR)(10-23-2002)
Schrader fastest at Homestead: ESPN2's RPM2 Night reported Tuesday that #36-Ken Schrader was the fastest car at Homestead testing on Tuesday with a speed just over 148mph.(10-23-2002)
Harvick to test at Kentucky: Kevin Harvick will prepare for the race at Atlanta at Kentucky Speedway on Tuesday, October 22, and Wednesday, October 23. In three career Winston Cup starts at Atlanta, Harvick has earned his first career series win, a third-place finish and a 39th place finish. Fans can view all tests sessions from the area outside of the speedway's Turn 3 Fan Center.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(10-22-2002)
Homestead Testing: Some Cup drivers will be testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Tuesday, Oct. 22 and Wednesday, October 23, from 9 am - 5 pm each day. Admission is free to the public for the test sessions with open seating in the Speedway Club level. Drivers scheduled to test: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #99-Jeff Burton, #97-Kurt Busch, #32-Ricky Craven, #1-Steve Park and #36-Ken Schrader. The drivers and teams will be preparing for the first-ever Ford Championship Weekend, the season-finales for the NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series, November 14-17, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Additional test sessions will take place Oct. 28-30 and Nov. 4-5 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Drivers expected to participate in the upcoming tests include #6-Mark Martin, #20-Tony Stewart, #40-Jamie McMurray, #25-Joe Nemechek, and #23-Kenny Wallace.(HMS PR)(10-20-2002)
Testing at the Rock: The Following Drivers Will Be Testing At North Carolina Speedway: Monday - Tuesday, October 14 - 15 testing for the upcoming NASCAR weekend November 2 - 3, 2002. NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Jack Sprague - #160 Chevrolet, Ron Hornaday - #154 Chevrolet and Mike Harmon - #193 Ford (Cup or BGN?). Grandstand gates are open 9:00am 4:00pm. The general public is invited to veiw the test session from the grandstand.(North Carolina Speedway PR via Catchfence)(10-15-2002)
Testing at Atlanta: Searching for a combination that works on Atlanta Motor Speedway's fast, high banks, Robby Gordon topped 184 mph while testing Monday for the Oct. 25-27 NAPA 500 weekend. Gordon sped his #31 Cingular Chevy around the 1.54-mile quad-oval at 184.308 mph. #81-Dwayne Leik also participated in Monday's test, running a lap of 175.387mph as he tested for the Oct. 26 Aaron's 312 BGN race.(AMS PR)(10-14-2002)
Martinsville Testing concludes Wed: Surrounded by big-budget Winston Cup teams, Brian Rose and his Ware Racing team looked a bit out of place at Martinsville Speedway Wednesday. But the 22-year-old Rose felt right at home, even though he was working onvery short notice. Rose and the #51-Ware Racing team showed up Wednesday morning for the second day of a two-day test session, joining #30-Jeff Green, #55-Bobby Hamilton, #40-Jamey McMurry and #66-Hideo Fukuyama on the half-mile oval. Rose was getting some help from his former truck owner Bobby Hamilton, who was pitting a few stalls away from the Ware team Wednesday. My relationship with Bobby Hamilton has helped a lot. Hes been helping with our shocks and springs today. Hes been a great supporter of my career, said Rose, who is the third or fourth driver to fill the seat of Wares racer this season. Some speeds: #51-Brian Rose at 90.257mph, #55-Hamilton at 90.603 and #66-Fukuyama at 88.985.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-10-2002)
Atlanta Testing Wednesday: Bobby Hamilton Jr. was fastest Wednesday during a test of three Winston Cup and Busch teams testing for the Oct. 25-27 NAPA 500 weekend at Atlanta. Hamilton Jr. improved his speeds from Tuesday, steering his #25 U.S. Marine Corps Ford at 181.530mph under Wednesday's cool, overcast conditions. #98-Kasey Kahne also improved his speeds from
Tuesday, rounding the track at 180.750mph). #27-Kirk Shelmerdine, preparing for the Oct. 27 NAPA 500, turned in the second-fastest speed of the day with his #27 Naturally Fresh/Jackaroo Sauces Ford at 180.999mph. Testing will continue next Monday and Tuesday with Richard Childress Racing driver #31-Robby Gordon.(AMS PR)(10-10-2002)
Testing at Martinsville UPDATE 3 Bliss in the #40 at Martinsville? yes, No DW: #28-Ricky Rudd is testing Monday at the Martinsville Speedway. Among those expected at the track Tuesday and Wednesday are #30-Jeff Green, #55-Bobby Hamilton, #7-Casey Atwood, #26-Todd Bodine, #02-Hermie Sadler and #28-Ricky Rudd (Tuesday only)(10-7-2002) UPDATE: Mike Bliss is testing at Martinsville in the #40 Dodge today and Jamie McMurray will be testing it on Wednesday. . Bliss is testing today because McMurray had a prior commitment with his BGN [#27] team today. Bliss could be the driver of the car at Martinsville as McMurray will not drive the #40 at that race due to a BGN race at Memphis. ANDNASCAR.com's Buzz reports other candidates for the car at Martinsville are Rich Bickle and Darrell Waltrip.(10-8-2002) UPDATE - Tuesday testing: #66-Hideo Fukuyama made a quick discovery at Martinsville Speedway Tuesday morning, one that didnt need English to convey. When asked through an interpreter the most difficult thing he had experienced during his first couple of hours of testing at Martinsville Speedway, the Japanese driver furiously pumped his right leg to show the need for brakes on the half-mile track. It is very slippery, Fukuyama said through his interpreter Yumiko Maeta. I have never hit the brakes so hard. A driver need to be really brave here. A driver has to do a lot of work here. Fukuyama was one of four drivers testing at Martinsville Speedway Tuesday, preparing for the Old Dominion 500 NASCAR Winston Cup test on October 20. Other drivers testing included #30-Jeff Green, #55-Bobby Hamilton and #40-Mike Bliss, filling in for the injured Sterling Marlin. All four teams will be back Wednesday for a second round of testing, but Jamey McMurray will be in Marlins #40 Dodge. Fukuyama hopes to make the Old Dominion 500 field. If he does, it
would be his second Winston Cup start in the Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford. Fukuyama struggled early with the tight Martinsville turns Tuesday, but had improved dramatically by late in the day. His best lap speed was around 88.693mph. Bliss and Hamilton ran quick laps of 90.603 while Greens best lap was 90.300.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(10-8-2002) UPDATE 2: Darrell Waltrip has no plans to run the #40 car at Martinsville.(Fox Sports). Mike Bliss will drive the #40 at Martinsville.(10-9-2002)
Burton fastest in Tuesday testing at Atlanta: #99-Jeff Burton was fastest Tuesday during a two-day test of 12 Winston Cup and Busch teams testing for the Oct. 25-27 NAPA 500 weekend. With overcast skies and a cool breeze blowing, Burton improved his speeds from Monday, steering his #99 CITGO Ford around the 1.54-mile track at 185.716mph. Former NAPA 500 winner #44-Jerry Nadeau also picked up speed from Monday, taking the second spot on the speed chart Tuesday with a lap of 185.418 mph. Testing will continue Wednesday with Kasey Kahne and Bobby Hamilton Jr. The speeds: Winston Cup
#99-Jeff Burton, 185.716
#44-Jerry Nadeau, 185.418 ARCA:
43 Christian Fittipaldi, 179.825 BGN:
10-Scott Riggs, 181.005
88-Joe Nemechek, 181.651
57-Jason Keller, 179.942
24-Jack Sprague, 179.359
25-Bobby Hamilton Jr, 179.128
15-Lyndon Amick, 177.749
88- David Reutimann, 177.408
5-Ricky Hendrick, 177.068
#98-Kasey Kahne, 175.388.(AMS PR)(10-8-2002)
Testing at Martinsville UPDATE: #28-Ricky Rudd is testing Monday at the Martinsville Speedway. Among those expected at the track Tuesday and Wednesday are #30-Jeff Green, #55-Bobby Hamilton, #7-Casey Atwood, #26-Todd Bodine, #02-Hermie Sadler and #28-Ricky Rudd (Tuesday only)(10-7-2002) UPDATE: Mike Bliss is testing at Martinsville in the #40 Dodge today and Jamie McMurray will be testing it on Wednesday. . Bliss is testing today because McMurray had a prior commitment with his BGN [#27] team today(10-8-2002)
Atlanta Testing UPDATE speeds: not sure what other drivers are there, but Christian Fittipaldi is testing a Petty Enterprises Dodge today at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was the first time the former Formula One and current CART driver had driven a Winston Cup-style car at a NASCAR Winston Cup Speedway. The team is talking with companies now regarding sponsorship.(Williams Company PR) AND Also testing were Cup drivers #99-Jeff Burton and #44-Jerry Nadeau. Busch drivers testing included #5-Ricky Hendrick, #10-Scott Riggs, #87-Joe Nemechek, #24-Jack Sprague, #57-Jason Keller, and #15-Lydon Amick. All are expected back on Tuesday. UPDATE: Defending Aaron's 312 winner Joe Nemechek brought his BGN car back to Atlanta for the first time since his win last March and immediately took over the speed charts Monday during a two-day test of 11 Cup and BGN teams testing for the Oct. 25-27 NAPA 500 weekend. Nemechek turned a lap at 185.356 mph in his team's second car, the #88 NEMCO entry. Nemechek was shaking the car down for David Reutimann, who will also compete in the Oct. 26 Aaron's 312. Reutimann also ran the first BGN race at Richmond this season, finishing 16th. The only other driver in the 180-mph range was Christian Fittipaldi, who is testing a Petty Enterprises car in preparation for next season, when he will drive a mixed schedule of ARCA, Busch and Winston Cup races. Monday he tested an ARCA car to prep for the ARCA 400 next March in Atlanta. The speeds:
Winston Cup:
#44-Jerry Nadeau, 179.708
#99-Jeff Burton, 179.595
ARCA Speeds
#43-Christian Fittipaldi, 180.175
BGN Speeds:
#87/88-Joe Nemechek, 185.356
#57-Jason Keller, 179.417
#15-Lyndon Amick, 177.465
#10-Scott Riggs, 177.465
#24-Jack Sprague, 177.465
#5-Ricky Hendrick, 177.124
#88-David Reutimann, 176.729
#79-Keith Murt, 173.467.(AMS PR)(10-7-2002)
Testing at Phoenix: #48-Jimmie Johnson, #24-Jeff Gordon and #2Rusty Wallace teams have scheduled October tests at Phoenix International Raceway in preparation of the Nov. 10 Checker Auto Parts 500, the 2nd to last race of the 2002 season.(Arizona Republic)(10-4-2002)
Atlanta Testing: For the second straight day, #00-Buckshot Jones led the speed charts during a two-day test of ten Winston Cup and Busch teams testing for the Oct. 25-27 NAPA 500 weekend. Jones, driving for Michael Waltrip Racing, turned a lap of 187.869mph). Just a tick behind Jones was #16-Greg Biffle, who will be attempting to run both the Aaron's 312 BGN race and the NAPA 500, with a lap of 187.108. After a successful stint as a stand-in for the injured Bobby Hamilton, Biffle will attempt to qualify Roush's #16 Grainger Ford in the NAPA 500. Third fastest in Wednesday's test session was #9-Bill Elliott at 183.333. Testing will resume next week, when at least a dozen Winston Cup and BGN teams are expected to test for the upcoming NAPA 500 weekend. Among those expected for the Oct. 7-8 test are Winston Cup drivers #7-Casey Atwood, #99-Jeff Burton, #44-Jerry Nadeau and #83-Kerry Earnhardt, and BGN drivers #5-Ricky Hendrick, #24-Jack Sprague, #57-Jason Keller, #87-Joe Nemechek and #30-Christian Fittipaldi. The speeds: CUP
#00-Buckshot Jones, 187.869
#16-Greg Biffle, 187.108
#9-Bill Elliott, 183.333
#09-Geoffrey Bodine, 178.145
#27-Scott Wimmer, 178.092 BGN
#99-Michael Waltrip, 181.532
#2-ohnny Sauter, 178.378
#1-Jimmy Spencer, 178.378
#21-Jeff Green, 179.534
#66-Casey Mears, 176.280 (AMS PR)(10-2-2002)
Atlanta Testing: In his first laps back in a NASCAR Winston Cup car since April, #00-Buckshot Jones turned the fastest lap of nine Winston Cup and Busch teams testing for the Oct. 25-27 NAPA 500 weekend. Jones, driving for Michael Waltrip Racing, turned a lap 184.493mph. Second-fastest was BGN regular #27-Scott Wimmer, who will be attempting to run both the Aaron's 312 Busch race and the NAPA 500, with a lap of 183.152. Jones has a one-race deal with Waltrip's race team to run the NAPA 500 at Atlanta, and Jones said there is a possibility of running a few more races in the future. After spending the day helping Jones with the test session, Fox Sports race analyst Larry McReynolds said it should be no surprise Jones wants to return to Atlanta. Jones will pilot the same Dale Earnhardt Inc.-owned car that Dale Earnhardt Jr. used to win the Dover race last fall. Speeds:
#00-Buckshot Jones, 184.493
#27-Scott Wimmer, 183.152
#16-Greg Biffle, 182.970
#9-Bill Elliott, 182.789
#09-Geoffrey Bodine, 179.883 (AMS PR)(10-1-2002)
Kentucky Testing Wednesday: #48-Jimmie Johnson, #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #31-Robby Gordon, #15-Michael Waltrip, #4-Mike Skinner, #1-Steve Park and #55-Greg Biffle capped a two week Cup test period at Kentucky Speedway that saw 16 series drivers, including five of the top 10 points leaders, prepare their machines for the season-ending eight-race run.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(9-26-2002)
Testing at Kentucky: A strong contingent of NASCAR Winston Cup Series machines will visit Kentucky Speedway this week to explore race set ups and test new drivers. Winston Cup pilots scheduled to test at Kentucky are #55-Greg Biffle, #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #31-Robby Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #18-Bobby Labonte, #5-Terry Labonte, #25-Joe Nemechek, #1-Steve Park, #4-Mike Skinner, #2-Rusty Wallace, and #15-Michael Waltrip. Winston Cup testing began Monday, Sept. 23, and continues Wednesday, Sept. 25. Sessions are closed to media, but can be viewed from the area outside the speedway's Turn 3 Fan Center.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(9-25-2002)
Testing on Sept 25th UPDATE postponed until November: New Daytona 500 rules are scheduled to be tested at Daytona on Sept. 25, the Wednesday between tour stops at Dover and Kansas City. NASCAR officials have proposed lowering rear spoilers to increase straightaway speed while decreasing downforce in the corners. The purpose is to try to split up the drafting pack into smaller packs. None of the tour's top-10 teams made the trek to Florida for the first round of testing three weeks ago, and it is not clear if any of them will be running in this test either. Michael Waltrip, 14th in the standings coming to Darlington, was the top driver at the August test. The Woods #21 team will be at this next test, and Ricky Rudd could be at the wheel. The Woods and Rudd will be testing themselves in the next two weeks at Kentucky and Memphis to sort out chassis designs that Rudd might like. There was an odd anomaly in one of the NASCAR restrictor plates used in the August test, according to one team there: its holes were oddly aligned.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-2-2002) UPDATE: The Winston Cup aerodynamic test scheduled Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway has been postponed to November. NASCAR officials gave no reason for the postponement.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(9-24-2002)
Testing at Martinsville: Japanese driver #66-Hideo Fukuyama will test at Martinsville Speedway on Oct.8 and 9. Also scheduled to test those days at Martinsville are #40-Sterling Marlin, #28-Ricky Rudd, #30-Jeff Green and #02-Hermie Sadler.(Roanoke Times)(9-18-2002)
Testing at Kentucky II: #2-Rusty Wallace and the Penske Racing Test Team joined NASCAR Winston Cup circuit- mates #26-Todd Bodine and #77-Dave Blaney in addition to BGN driver Casey Kahne during an open Ford Racing test session at Kentucky Speedway today. Wallace made his first visit to the $152 million facility to test new set-ups for the NASCAR Winston Cup season stretch run. "I've never been here before in my life, but I've heard a lot about the facility," Wallace said. "I'm real impressed with it. I love the location, how the garages are laid out, and really everything about it. It's a pretty amazing facility that we're not holding a Winston Cup race in at the current moment. There are a lot of facilities that I'd like to see one (a race) go away from and one to come here maybe, but the place is really neat. It's a great place to test." The Penske Test Team concentrated on suspension work during it's two-day visit to Kentucky Speedway.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(9-18-2002)
Testing at Kentucky: #6-Mark Martin, #40-Sterling Marlin and #17-Matt Kesneth are scheduled to test at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday, September 18th.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(9-17-2002)
Kerry Earnhardt and others test at Talladega: In less than a month, Kerry Earnhardt will make his qualifying run to compete in his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series event at Talladega Superspeedway. On Tuesday, Earnhardt and his BGN crew turned more than 50 laps in preparation to make their first Winston Cup event of 2002. Earnhardt will bring the #83 RacingUSA.com Chevy to Talladega for the EA SPORTS 500 Weekend, Oct. 3-6, 2002. Earnhardt races for Fitz Bradshaw Racing, but will bring a Dale Earnhardt Inc. car and motor to Qualifying Day on Oct. 4th. Earnhardt has raced a full BGN schedule this year after competing in a limited number of events in ARCA in 2001. Earnhardt won three of the five ARCA races he entered last year. Racing fans will no doubt see the signifance in Earnhardts car number 83. That number was taken by NASCAR marketing, but they are allowing me to use it for this race, said Earnhardt. The number 8 is what my grandfather raced and the number 3 was my dads number. Earnhardts brother, Dale Earnhardt Jr., also drives the No. 8. Dale Jr. has put that Chevrolet into Talladegas Victory Lane in the past two NASCAR Winston Cup Series events. Other teams testing at Talladega Superspeedway were the #36 MB2 Motorsports with Ken Schrader, the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing with Bobby Labonte and the #91 Evernham Motorsports with Dick Trickle. The two-day test session will conclude on Wednesday.(Talladega Superspeedway)(9-10-2002)
Green tests at Kansas: #30-Jeff Green tested at Kansas Speedway on Monday, running about 100 laps, with speeds topping just over 172mph. Green is the defending inaugural winner of the NASCAR Busch Series Mr. Goodcents 300. This year, he has plans to race in both the Mr. Goodcents 300 on Sept. 28, and the Protection One 400 on Sept. 29. Green will return to Kansas Speedway for more testing on Tuesday. He will be joined by: Jimmy Spencer, Jamie McMurray, Ron Hornaday, Tim Sauter, Jason Keller, Scott Wimmer, Mike Skinner Todd Bodine and Lyndon Amick.(BGN cars??)(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-9-2002)
Open Testing at Lowe's Scheduled TUES/WED: Lowe's Motor Speedway has confirmed open testing dates for the Oct. 13 UAW-GM Quality 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race, the Oct. 12 "Little Trees" 300 NASCAR Busch Series event and the Oct. 10 EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 150 ARCA Series season finale. NASCAR Winston Cup Series Testing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 3 (8:00am -10:00pm) and Wednesday, Sept. 4 (8:00am - 4:00pm), ARCA on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and Busch Series on Tuesday, Oct. 1 and Wednesday, Oct. 2.(LMS PR)(8-20/9-3-2002) UPDATE: no speeds reported, heard the #22-Ward Burton, #29-Kevin Harvick and #77-Dave Blaney were the Cup drivers testing today.(9-3-2002) TUESDAY SPEEDS: #29-Kevin Harvick topped the unofficial speed chart Tuesday as NASCAR Winston Cup teams began preparations for the Oct. 13 UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. With eight teams on hand, the testing session started at 8:00am/et and ran until 10:00pm/et as crews performed an all-day exercise in mechanical engineering, making countless adjustments to their finely tuned machines. Harvick's #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet was caught on the unofficial stopwatches at 181.941mph around the 1.5-mile superspeedway. Harvick's fastest lap came shortly after 7:30pm/et, approximately the same time teams will be on the track during Bojangles' Pole Night qualifying on Thursday, Oct. 10. Driving a #22 Caterpillar Dodge that was skinned in bare sheet metal, Ward Burton was second fastest at 180.965mph while Greg Biffle was third on the unofficial watches at 180.783mph in the #16 Team Caliber Ford. Biffle, the NASCAR Busch Series point leader, will attempt to qualify for the UAW-GM Quality 500 as the Roush Racing team continues preparations for a full-time Winston Cup assault next season. Two race teams with close ties to Hendrick Motorsports were next on the speed chart as Jack Sprague's #60 Haas Automation Chevrolet and Ron Hornaday's #54 National Guard Chevy rounded out the top-five. The starter never unfurled the caution flag as the entire testing session was incident free. Testing continues Wednesday with Winston Cup teams slated to be on the track from 8:00am to 4:00pm/et. Fans can watch the action from the main grandstand beginning at 9:00am/et. Tickets for the Oct. 13 UAW-GM Quality 500 start at just $19 and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. Unofficial testing speeds: 1. #29-Kevin Harvick, 181.941mph; 2. #22-Ward Burton, 180.965; 3. #16-Greg Biffle, 180.783; 4. #60-Jack Sprague, 179.104; 5. #54-Ron Hornaday Jr., 177.049; 6. #77-Dave Blaney, 176.759; 7. #27-Scott Wimmer, 176.297; 8. #74-Tony Raines, 176.125.(LMS PR)(9-4-2002)
Testing on Sept 25th: New Daytona 500 rules are scheduled to be tested at Daytona on Sept. 25, the Wednesday between tour stops at Dover and Kansas City. NASCAR officials have proposed lowering rear spoilers to increase straightaway speed while decreasing downforce in the corners. The purpose is to try to split up the drafting pack into smaller packs. None of the tour's top-10 teams made the trek to Florida for the first round of testing three weeks ago, and it is not clear if any of them will be running in this test either. Michael Waltrip, 14th in the standings coming to Darlington, was the top driver at the August test. The Woods #21 team will be at this next test, and Ricky Rudd could be at the wheel. The Woods and Rudd will be testing themselves in the next two weeks at Kentucky and Memphis to sort out chassis designs that Rudd might like. There was an odd anomaly in one of the NASCAR restrictor plates used in the August test, according to one team there: its holes were oddly aligned.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-2-2002)
Testing next week at Daytona UPDATE: Next week, NASCAR officials hope to run a second round of testing of proposed new rules at Daytona.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-30-2002) UPDATE: NASCAR officials are considering another test to work on the aerodynamic rules for restrictor-plate races at Talladega and Daytona, where cars tend to travel in packs, increasing the chance of multicar accidents. "I talked to (Winston Cup series director) John Darby a little bit after they went to Daytona a few weeks ago. The last thing they were working on and started to see a little progress on, I guess they didn't get to run because it rained, so they're getting ready to go back pretty soon," said Frank Stoddard, crew chief for Jeff Burton's #99 Fords. "They're going to go to either Talladega or Daytona again and try to simulate what they wanted to do the first time and didn't get to finish."(ThatsRacin.com)(8-31-2002)
More Daytona Testing soon: Series officials are planning another Daytona test session because rain shortened the one earlier this month. The test session could lead to changes in the size of the rear spoilers and restrictor plates. New templates for next season will alter the shape of the roof, changing the aerodynamics, and series officials appear set at making a rule on the car's body location. John Darby, Winston Cup series director, says dates are being examined for another Daytona test. Darby says it's unlikely the test would lead to changes at Talladega in October. The changes might be used at next year's Daytona 500 but probably would debut at next spring's Talladega race.(Roanoke Times)(8-25-2002)
Richmond testing this week: Richmond International Raceway will play host to three days of testing this week for next weekend's race. #02-Hermie Sadler, #4-Mike Skinner and #41-Jimmy Spencer will be testing Winston Cup cars at the 0.75-mile oval tomorrow. They will be joined by BGN drivers #12-Kerry Earnhardt, #25-Bobby Hamilton Jr., #38-Mark Green, #92-Todd Bodine, #6-Damon Lusk and Martin Truex. Winston Cup teammates #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #15-Michael Waltrip are expected to test at RIR on Tuesday and Wednesday. Earnhardt will be tuning up for the BGN race. The grandstands will be open from 9:00am to 5:00pm each day, and admission is free.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(8-25-2002)
Darlington Testing Speeds Wednesday: The following teams reported these test times at Darlington Raceway on Wedneday, August 21. No qualifying runs were made. As on Tuesday, all runs were made in race trim.
#97-Kurt Busch, 166.135 mph (Cup)
#07-Ted Musgrave, 164.084 mph (Cup)
#17-Matt Kenseth, 163.050 mph (Cup)
#5-Terry Labonte, 161.232 mph (Cup)
#91-Stanton Barrett, 158.888mph (BGN)
(Darlington Raceway PR), see Tuesday's speeds below.(8-21-2002)
Richmond testing: #41-Jimmy Spencer and #26-Todd Bodine are scheduled to test at Richmond International Raceway on Tues August 20th and Wednesday Aug 21st. Fans are invited to watch testing on both days. The grandstands will be open from 9:00am to 5:00pm.(RIR PR)(8-20-2002)
Open Testing at Lowe's Scheduled: Lowe's Motor Speedway has confirmed open testing dates for the Oct. 13 UAW-GM Quality 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race, the Oct. 12 "Little Trees" 300 NASCAR Busch Series event and the Oct. 10 EasyCare
Vehicle Service Contracts 150 ARCA Series season finale. NASCAR Winston Cup Series Testing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 3 (8:00am -10:00pm) and Wednesday, Sept. 4 (8:00am - 4:00pm), ARCA on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and Busch Series on Tuesday, Oct. 1 and Wednesday, Oct. 2.(LMS PR)(8-20-2002)
Darlington Testing UPDATE Speeds: The following drivers are scheduled to test at Darlington Raceway on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 20 and 21. BGN drivers: #98-Kasey Kahne, #91-Stanton Barrett and #21-Jeff Green. CUP drivers: #07-Ted Musgrave, #17-Matt Kenseth, #97-Kurt Busch and #5-Terry Labonte.(Darlington Raceway PR) UPDATE: The following teams reported these test times at Darlington Raceway on Tuesday, August 20. No qualifying runs were made; tests were made in race trim. Qualifying runs are planned for testing on Wednesday, August 21.
#97-Kurt Busch, 165.575mph(Cup)
#07-Ted Musgrave, 165.020mph(Cup)
#17-Matt Kenseth, 163.375mph(Cup)
#98-Kasey Kahne, 159.662 mph(BGN)
(Darlington Raceway PR)(8-20-2002)
Dyno Testing at Michigan UPDATE: NASCAR tested nine cars on the chassis dynamometer after the race - the cars driven by #48-Jimmie Johnson, #20-Tony Stewart, #29-Kevin Harvick, #88-Dale Jarrett, #6-Mark Martin, #17-Matt Kenseth, #40-Sterling Marlin, #19-Jeremy Mayfield and #22-Ward Burton.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-18-2002) UPDATE: NASCAR placed nine cars on the chassis dynamometer last Sunday after the race at Michigan. Jarrett's Taurus led the Fords with 738 horsepower, and Stewart's Pontiac ran a close second. Ward Burton's Intrepid led the Dodge camp with 720 horsepower. With technical changes due for submission in September, NASCAR can take the dyno data into consideration when making its decisions.(Sporting News)(8-19-2002)
Been asked, didn't know, here ya go - Seven cars Dyno'd at Indy UPDATE: Seven cars, including the #9 Dodge of race winner Bill Elliott, were put on the chassis dynamometer for testing following Sunday's race at Indy - Brickyard 400. The device measures rear wheel horsepower. The other cars were those of #20-Tony Stewart, #2-Rusty Wallace, #17-Matt Kenseth, #29-Kevin Harvick, #24-Jeff Gordon and #88-Dale Jarrett.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-5-2002) UPDATE: Perhaps you recall several weeks ago NASCAR administered chassis dyno testing. In those NASCAR tests the motor in #9-Bill Elliots car turned 685 horsepower at the rear wheels following the Indianapolis win. But all the other cars tested that day showed more than 700 hp, with #2-Rusty Wallaces Larry Wallace (no relation)-built motor producing 740 horsepower. The others tested following the Indy event all showed power over 700 hp with #24-Jeff Gordons SB2 based block running 708 hp, #17-Matt Kenseths at 715 hp, #20-Tony Stewarts SB2 based platform giving 733 hp, #2-Wallaces at 740 and the monster of the lot coming from the Robert Yates camp in the form of the #88-Dale Jarrett, which turned a generous 749 horsepower. (Ford Racing)(8-17-2002)
Testing at Bristol UPDATE: With the Sharpie 500 and Food City 250 races just days away, a collection of Winston Cup and Busch Series teams are testing at Bristol on Tuesday. Those preparing for the upcoming race week include #9-Bill Elliott, #2-Rusty Wallace, #5-Terry Labonte and #11-Brett Bodine.(BMS Site), #27-Scott Wimmer tested Monday and is also testing today.(8-13-2002) UPDATE: hearing #2-Rusty Wallace and his brother Kenny (testing the #27 Bill Davis Dodge) tested at Bristol Wednesday, which included some cake for Rusty's birthday.(8-15-2002)
More on Daytona Testing this week UPDATE 2 another roof flap?: NASCAR officials are bringing in a dozen Winston Cup drivers for a Daytona test on Tuesday to try to sort out the other half of the aerodynamics problem, the tight packs that keep drivers on the edges of their seats at Daytona and Talladega. The test probably will [could] result in some new rules for the Talladega 500 in October. There probably will be narrower and shorter rear spoilers (maybe six to eight inches narrower and maybe only three inches tall) and wider noses. That will make for an unbalanced car, one that is probably loose in the corners.(Winston Salem Journal) AND NASCAR let leak its intentions for next weeks speedway tests. The test, for which NASCAR hopes to attract 10 - 15 cars, is intended to give the sanctioning body an opportunity to try some new configurations to the speedway package. Some in the garage say they expect the starting point will be where a 1998 test left off, cars carrying raised valances and radically reduced rear blades on the order of 3 inches, or perhaps even 2.5-inches. Apparently at least one of the Dale Earnhardt Inc. cars and one of the Richard Childress Racing cars will be on-site for the tests.(Ford Racing)(8-11-2002) UPDATE: NASCAR's latest round of Winston Cup aerodynamic tweaking will take place Tuesday at Daytona, where as many as 15 teams may test. NASCAR and Daytona officials confirmed that teams had been offered a second day of open testing on Wednesday not counting toward NASCAR's limit of seven tests per season. NASCAR vice president for corporate communications Jim Hunter said among the configurations that NASCAR president Mike Helton, Winston Cup director John Darby and managing director of competition Gary Nelson planned to monitor were different spoiler heights. They also plan to monitor front valance ground clearances, different body locations and a continuation of the "bigger greenhouse" program designed to enlarge the car's driver compartment. Test runs will be made with the smaller capacity fuel cells to be used at Talladega. Teams expected to attend: #55-Bobby Hamilton, #29-Kevin Harvick, #15-Michael Waltrip, #9-Bill Elliott, #22-Ward Burton, #23-Hut Stricklin, #36-Ken Schrader(the only Pontiac), #77-Dave Blaney and #09-Geoffrey Bodine. The Oldfield Grandstand outside Turn 4 will be open, as it usually is for test sessions, from 9:00am to 5:00pm.(NASCAR.com)(8-13-2002) UPDATE2: NASCAR has been testing a new roof-deflector system that could allow NASCAR to increase speeds at Daytona and Talladega significantly for the coming races. Drivers have said that speeds are too slow at those two tracks. NASCAR's advances have been made in the system that deploys roof flaps to slow the race car and keep it on the ground when it gets turned around in a crash. NASCAR has been wind-tunnel testing cars with a third roof flap that springs up as an air foil to increase the take-off speed by 15 mph. Speeds at Daytona and Talladega are around 185 mph now. So the addition of the new flap, expected for next spring's Daytona 500, could allow NASCAR to open restrictor plates and let drivers run as fast as 200 mph. NASCAR might also order teams to add a fourth air flap, on the rear deck.(Winston Salem Journal) AND more: NASCAR tested various aerodynamic configurations of Winston Cup cars Tuesday at Daytona International Speedway with the hope of making a significant rules change for the 2003 Daytona 500. Ten teams, representing the four makes of cars that compete in Winston Cup, participated in the test session, which was cut short by a persistent line of thunderstorms that rumbled over the Speedway. Gary Nelson, NASCAR's managing director of competition, directed the test that involved larger restrictor plates and lower rear spoiler heights. Nelson said Tuesday's test was aimed at creating a rules package for Speed Weeks 2003 and would not be used at Talladega Superspeedway's race in October. "Talladega has bigger turns; the turns have a bigger radius," he said. "We're looking at Daytona as a separate set of issues. We approached this test as a Daytona test. The knowledge we got today is for down the road." Nelson said the proposed large greenhouse, which creates more room in the cockpit, was simulated by several teams. Tuesday's showers scrubbed NASCAR's plan to run the cars with the new aerodynamic configuration in a draft situation, that part of the test would be rescheduled. Testing were #22-Ward Burton, #23-Hut Stricklin, #45-Kyle Petty, #30-Jeff Green, #15-Michael Waltrip, #55-Bobby Hamilton, #77-Dave Blaney, #09-Geoffrey Bodine, #21-Elliott Sadler, and #14-Mike Wallace.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(8-14-2002)
T. Labonte, P.J. Jones Test at VIR: With the final NASCAR Winston Cup Series final road-course race of the season coming up this weekend at New Yorks Watkins Glen International, a pair of teams got in some last-minute testing at VIRginia International Raceway near Danville, VA. Hendrick Motorsports #5 Kelloggs team with two-time series champion Terry Labonte and A.J. Foyt Racings #14 Conseco team with P.J. Jones spent the day circulating the 3.27-mile full circuit at VIR. While it was a normal road-course test for Labontes team, Jones was coming to grips with the Foyt team for the second race of a two-race deal. "Its the first time weve been up here," said crew chief Mike Hillman. "Weve heard a lot of good things about it, and were trying to get P.J. and myself acclimated together a little bit for Watkins Glen. Im really impressed with the racetrack and the facilities up here. Its a really nice place." It was also Jones first time at VIR, and he seemed to have no trouble adapting both to a new track and team. "Its a great facility," he said. "The tracks nice. Probably the biggest thing is that we dont seem to be wearing out tires, which is a big factor, and were getting good repeatability out of the changes that were making because the tires arent falling off." Jones was entered in a second Foyt car at last weeks Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but failed to qualify for the race. Hes looking forward to racing at Watkins Glen this weekend, but isnt sure what the future holds. Over in the Labonte camp, the Jim Long-led team found their car had
the wrong gearing for the long course, but had a productive day nonetheless. "It definitely helps us," Long said. "It helps us make sure our brakes our right and our carburetors are right. You can have stumbling in the carburetor a lot on road courses, and it gives our engine man a chance to get that worked out. When we unload at Watkins Glen we can work on chassis stuff, we dont have to worry about all those little items. While Long had tested at VIR previously with a different team, it was Labontes first visit. "Its a pretty neat track," he said. "Its good for what we need to accomplish. Were trying to check out our road-course car before we go to Watkins Glen and just make sure everything is okay; that there are no vibrations and the brakes work and all that stuff, you know?"(VIR PR)(8-7-2002)
Daytona Testing: NASCAR likely will ask 12 to 15 drivers to take part in a test focusing on restrictor-plate setups August 13 at Daytona. Winston Cup series director John Darby says the purpose of the experiments is to create 'a lower downforce, lower drag' configuration that would allow the cars to gain speed down the straightaways and force drivers to lift off the gas in the corners. The idea is to make the cars' handling more of a factor. Dodge teams are expected to test a car with a spoiler width of 48 inches, a reduction of 7 inches from the current race setups. The height of the spoilers might be increased by as much as 2 inches per car, and teams will be asked to pull out the front fenders.(Sporting News) AND to test a smaller fuel cell that could be used for the restrictor-plate race at Talladega later this year. "We're going to look at a 20-inch fuel cell and see how many laps they can make under those conditions," NASCAR vice president for communications Jim Hunter said. The smaller fuel cell would require teams to make more pit stops in the 500-mile races on plate tracks, with the idea being that would help break up the big packs of cars blamed for causing multicar wrecks. "We're also looking at body locations for next year to try to come up with a standard location," Hunter said. "That means measuring from the rear axle to the front of the roof the measurement would be the same with a little give or take for all makes. A lot of people in the garage like to run shorter and others like to run longer, and there's a difference of up to about 4 inches."(ThatsRacin.com)(8-5-2002)
Talladega Test in two weeks? UPDATE: NASCAR officials reportedly have scheduled a major test at Talladega within the next two weeks, a test that is being described by some NASCAR sources as a mandatory test for stock-car tour teams. NASCAR officials could not be reached last night for confirmation or comment. It is unclear just what might be on the testing agenda. According to one source it could be the proposed smaller fuel cells, holding 11 to 13 gallons of gas instead of the regular 22; smaller tanks would force teams to make more pit stops, presumably spreading out the field. However, according to another source it could be a new smaller cubic inch engine, something like the 3.5-liter normally aspirated V-8 used in the Indy 500 and other Indy Racing League events. Such an engine would be half the size of the current 358 cubic inch behemoths, which produce over 750 horsepower unrestricted. NASCAR has been using restrictor plates on its Talladega and Daytona motors since 1988 to cut that horsepower back to about 420.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-3-2002) UPDATE:NASCAR offered no official word on the proposed Talladega test later this month, and many teams were unaware the plans. It's still unclear what's going on, but one NASCAR source indicated the test had tentatively been set for Aug. 13. Teams are five races in to a stretch of 20 in a row, and they are expected to be less than enthusiastic about any such test. NASCAR tried to schedule a Daytona-Talladega test, as a Daytona 500 preview, last December, but received such a negative response from teams that the test was cancelled.(Winston Salen Journal)(8-4-2002)
Testing at Darlington: The following teams are scheduled to test at Darlington Raceway:
August 6 and 7, ]BGN] Evans Motorsports, #7-Randy LaJoie
August 13 and 14, Evernham Motorsports, #19-Jeremy Mayfield and the Dew Crew
August 20 and 21, Roush Racing, #17-Matt Kenseth, Hendrick Motorsports, #5-Terry Labonte
(Darlington Raceway PR)(8-1-2002)
Park and Earnhardt Jr test at VIR UPDATE: Just a day after surviving a horrific cash in the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono, both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and teammate Steve Park were back at work today, testing their road-racing cars at VIRginia International Raceway. Despite the accident, and despite being admittedly sore and bruised, both were lapping the 2.225-mile North Course at VIR today in searing heat, as temperatures hovered around the 100F degree mark. Many of the Winston Cup teams have discovered VIR as an ideal place to refine their road-racing set-ups for the races at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA, and Watkins Glen, NY. "We can learn a lot about road-course racing at this track," said Earnhardt. "When you dont have a lot of road-racing experience, like me, every lap on a road course counts for something. Were testing and learning a lot of new things." He said the proximity of VIR to the teams home base in Mooresville, N.C., is an important factor. Its only a two-hour drive from the Dale Earnhardt, Inc., headquarters. Park, whose first-ever Winston Cup win came at Watkins Glen in 2000, was here trying to put things into place for a repeat performance.(VIR PR)(7-29-2002) UPDATE: Tom Hubert tested the #23 at VIR on Monday (along with Steve Park and Dale Earnhardt Jr.), and said that he would not be driving the car at the Glen. He works as a mechanic for Davis, and has done occasional testing with the team.(8-1-2002)
Watkins Glen testing UPDATE Tuesday speeds: #48-Jimmie Johnson, #20-Tony Stewart, #15-Michael Waltrip, #12-Ryan Newman, #31-Robby Gordon(will not test due to injury), #30-Jeff Green, #87-Ron Fellows and Joe Varde will get behind the wheel of the #74 BACE Motorsports Chevy are scheduled to attend a test session, in preparation for the August 11th Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen, at the 2.45-mile road course of Watkins Glen International on July 29-30. Fans that have purchased tickets for the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen weekend, August 8-11, will be admitted free of charge both days. Fans should present their Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen tickets at the gate to gain free admission or pick up a voucher at the ticket office if they have not received their event tickets. All other spectators can take in the action for only $10.00 each day at the gate. Gate 4 will be open from 8:00am - 4:30pm both days. Tickets for the 2002 season at Watkins Glen, including the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen, August 8-11, are still available.(Watkins Glen International PR)(7-16-2002) UPDATE: With one complete day of testing already under their belts, ten NASCAR Winston Cup teams went to work again Tuesday at Watkins Glen in final preparation for the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen, August 8-11. Over the course of the two days, only one driver came close to touching Dale Jarrett's record-setting lap of 122.698mph, set during qualifying last year. #48-Jimmie Johnso, the speeds from Tuesday:
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 122.568
#41?-Scott Pruett, 121.992
#12-Ryan Newman, 121.321
#20-Tony Stewart, 120.822
#15-Michael Waltrip, 120.772
#17-Matt Kenseth, 120.591
#74-Joe Varde, 118.389.(Watkins Glen International PR)(7-31-2002)
Watkins Glen testing UPDATE 2 speeds and Fellows looking for a ride for the Glen - Pruett in the #41 at the Glen, Spencer in the #42?: #48-Jimmie Johnson, #20-Tony Stewart, #15-Michael Waltrip, #12-Ryan Newman, #31-Robby Gordon(will not test due to injury 7-29-2002), #30-Jeff Green, #87-Ron Fellows and Joe Varde will get behind the wheel of the #74 BACE Motorsports Chevy are scheduled to attend a test session, in preparation for the August 11th Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen, at the 2.45-mile road course of Watkins Glen International on July 29-30. Fans that have purchased tickets for the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen weekend, August 8-11, will be admitted free of charge both days. Fans should present their Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen tickets at the gate to gain free admission or pick up a voucher at the ticket office if they have not received their event tickets. All other spectators can take in the action for only $10.00 each day at the gate. Gate 4 will be open from 8:00am - 4:30pm both days. Tickets for the 2002 season at Watkins Glen, including the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen, August 8-11, are still available.(Watkins Glen International PR)(7-16-2002) UPDATE: The NASCAR Winston Cup Series made their much-anticipated return to Watkins Glen International today in
the first of two test days in preparation for the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen on August 11. Testing concludes tomorrow and is
once again open to the public. The speeds:
#20-Tony Stewart 120.033mph
#?-Scott Pruett 120.000
#15-Michael Waltrip 119.626
#30-Jeff Green 119.561
#48-Jimmie Johnson 119.480
#17-Matt Kenseth 119.189
#62-Austin Cameron 117.600
#74-Joe Varde 117.584
#12-Ryan Newman 116.667
Two drivers originaly scheduled to test the historic road course were unable to participate for different reasons. #31-Robby Gordon was forced to cancel his test session due to the ankle injuries he sustained after a motocross incident in Pocono on Saturday. Ron Fellows was present at the test, but without a car. Fellows is still working on finding a ride for the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen [guess he won't be in the #87 Nemco Chevy?]. Tickets for the 2002 season at Watkins Glen, including the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen, August 8-11, are still available. For tickets, camping, and additional information, please contact the Watkins Glen ticket office at 607-535-2481 or log on to the official Watkins Glen Web site at www.theglen.com.(Watkins Glen International PR)(7-29-2002) UPDATE 2 Pruett in the #41; Fellows looking for a ride: Three road course veterans, hoping their skills will give than an advantage against the series regulars in two weeks, were also on hand. Scott Pruett, with experience in Trans-Am and CART Champ cars, had the choice of two, gray-primered Chip Ganassi Racing cars at the test. Pruett, who has competed in Winston Cup, arrived at 10:00am/et after taking a red-eye flight from Vancouver, British Columbia, where he was a commentator for Speed Channel's coverage of the CART Champ car race Sunday. At the Glen, he'll pilot the #41 Dodge that Jimmy Spencer normally drives. Spencer will drive the #42 Dodge for Ganassi. "We're here to get a few more points for the team," said Pruett, who thinks he has a chance to finish in the top five. He was 11th last year. Joe Varde [#74] and Shane Lewis [no idea of # see info on my Drivers page], successful drivers here in road racing, handled a Winston Cup car for the first time on Monday. "We've got a lot of homework to do and, for me, it's just getting used to a Winston Cup car," said Lewis, who has a one-race deal with a new team. Noticeably absent was road course specialist Ron Fellows. The Canadian driver, who has had the most success of any nonregular NASCAR driver in recent years, was scheduled to test and compete in two weeks. Fellows was on hand, but his car wasn't because of a lack of sponsorship. "It's not going to happen," said a disappointed Fellows. "Bully Hill was going to participate, as they have, but some of the associate deals haven't come together. It's more expensive now than it ever has been, so it's tough. It's a reality check." Fellows nearly won the Glen's Winston Cup race in 1999, finishing a close second to Jeff Gordon. "I was planning on being here, so I thought I'd come down and just have a look and see what's going on and be ready if something comes together between now and next week," said Fellows, who lives in Toronto.(Star Gazette and more at The Leader: Last call: Cup giants pull into The Glen and Wanted: Winston Cup ride)(7-30-2002)
Park and Earnhardt Jr test at VIR UPDATE: Just a day after surviving a horrific cash in the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono, both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and teammate Steve Park were back at work today, testing their road-racing cars at VIRginia International Raceway. Despite the accident, and despite being admittedly sore and bruised, both were lapping the 2.225-mile North Course at VIR today in searing heat, as temperatures hovered around the 100F degree mark. Many of the Winston Cup teams have discovered VIR as an ideal place to refine their road-racing set-ups for the races at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA, and Watkins Glen, NY. "We can learn a lot about road-course racing at this track," said Earnhardt. "When you dont have a lot of road-racing experience, like me, every lap on a road course counts for something. Were testing and learning a lot of new things." He said the proximity of VIR to the teams home base in Mooresville, N.C., is an important factor. Its only a two-hour drive from the Dale Earnhardt, Inc., headquarters. Park, whose first-ever Winston Cup win came at Watkins Glen in 2000, was here trying to put things into place for a repeat performance.(VIR PR)(7-29-2002) UPDATE: Tom Hubert tested the #23 at VIR on Monday (along with Steve Park and Dale Earnhardt Jr.), and said that he would not be driving the car at the Glen. He works as a mechanic for Davis, and has done occasional testing with the team.(8-1-2002)
More tire testing at Richmond UPDATE 2: Goodyear officials plan to test tires July 23-24 at Richmond International Raceway to determine what kind of tire to use at the fall race. In the May Cup race, a second groove did not develop and passing was difficult. Drivers complained about the sealer used, but track officials insisted that nothing different was done in preparing the track for the race. #2-Rusty Wallace and #20-Tony Stewart tested there for Goodyear a couple of weeks after the race, but Goodyear officials decided to return after next weekend's IRL race. Stewart, #28-Ricky Rudd and rookie #48-Jimmie Johnson are scheduled to test there for Goodyear.(Roanoke Times)(6-23/7-23-2002) - haven't heard if this is still on or not. UPDATE: Three teams are at RIR for a two day Goodyear tire test, the drivers are #20-Stewart, #28-Rudd and #48-Johnson, the test concludes today.(PRN's Garage Pass)(7-24-2002) UPDATE 2: Rudd, Stewart and Johnson staged a 75-lap "race" at Richmond International Raceway on Wednesday to test Goodyear's tires, after questions about the May race at that track. Track owners had blamed Goodyear's tires for the poor race and demanded a test and indicated they wanted new tires for the September race at RIR. Drivers and Goodyear engineers pointed to the track sealer as the culprit. This week's two-day test appeared to back up Goodyear's contention that the tires were fine and that track officials erred in applying the sealer.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-26-2002)
Indy Testing MON/TUE UPDATEs: Indianapolis Motor Speedway has scheduled four days of Cup testing at the track, July 9-10 and July 15-16, and most every Cup team will test. A complete schedule of the teams/drivers for each of the tests can be seen at: www.brickyard.com.(6-28-2002) - No speeds reported as of yet, but rain did delay testing on Tuesday but cars did get on the track. Fans can go watch testing for free. #11-Brett Bodine was scheduled to test this week, but was excused so he could heal up.(7-9-2002) UPDATE: Fifty-four driver/car combinations practiced today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The quickest time was set by #10-Jerry Nadeau at 181.324mph. Some other speeds: #25-Joe Nemechek, 178.187; #29-Kevin Harvick, 175.690; #24-Jeff Gordon, 177.299; #48-Jimmie Johnson, 174.913; #15-Michael Waltrip, 174.757; #18-Bobby Labonte (Chevy), 173.476; #20-Tony Stewart (Chevy), 175.457. Will post more speeds/links to speeds as they become available.(GM PR), see a list of cars testing Monday and Tuesday at Brickyard400.com.(7-15-2002) Monday Speeds: #10-Jerry Nadeau was the fastest at 181.324 followed by #41-Jimmy Spencer, 180.352; #17-Matt Kenseth at 180.133, #22-Ward Burton at 179.397; and #07-Ted Musgrave at 179.078. Others testing were Dick Trickle in the #71, Tony Raines is listed in the #73, Shawna Robinson tested the #49. See the Brickyard 400 site for Monday's speeds.(7-16-2002) Tuesday Speeds: fastest was #17-Matt Kenseth, 181.956; followed by #2-Rusty Wallace at 181.127; #41-Jimmy Spencer at 181.113; and #12A-Ryan Newman at 181.072; and #07-Ted Musgrave at 180.624. Slowest were #25A-Joe Nemechek at 171.080 (he was 12th in another #25 cat at 179.840) and #79-Carl Long at 168.859(he was 50th of 54 cars in another #79 car 172.671).
See the Brickyard400.com site for all of Tuesday's speeds.(7-17-2002)
See a Cummulative Chart at Brickyard 500 Testing
Stewart testing at Indy on Tuesday in a CHEVY, thanks to Doug from Indiana
Watkins Glen testing: #48-Jimmie Johnson, #20-Tony Stewart, #15-Michael Waltrip, #12-Ryan Newman, #31-Robby Gordon, #30-Jeff Green, #87-Ron Fellows and Joe Varde will get behind the wheel of the #74 BACE Motorsports Chevy are scheduled to attend a test session, in preparation for the August 11th Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen, at the 2.45-mile road course of Watkins Glen International on July 29-30. Fans that have purchased tickets for the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen weekend, August 8-11, will be admitted free of charge both days. Fans should present their Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen tickets at the gate to gain free admission or pick up a voucher at the ticket office if they have not received their event tickets. All other spectators can take in the action for only $10.00 each day at the gate. Gate 4 will be open from 8:00am - 4:30pm both days. Tickets for the 2002 season at Watkins Glen, including the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen, August 8-11, are still available.(Watkins Glen International PR)(7-16-2002)
Indy Testing TUES/WED UPDATEs: Indianapolis Motor Speedway has scheduled four days of Cup testing at the track, July 9-10 and July 15-16, and most every Cup team will test. A complete schedule of the teams/drivers for each of the tests can be seen at: www.brickyard.com.(6-28-2002) - No speeds reported as of yet, but rain did delay testing on Tuesday but cars did get on the track. Fans can go watch testing for free. #11-Brett Bodine was scheduled to test this week, but was excused so he could heal up.(7-9-2002) UPDATE: Rain disrupted the first of four days of NASCAR Winston Cup testing for the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The test was scheduled to run from 9:00am to 5:00pm Tuesday and Wednesday. Morning rain kept cars off the track until 2 p.m. and the late rain foiled the plan of running an hour past the scheduled conclusion. The revised plan for Wednesday is to run from 9:00am to 6:00pm without an hour lunch break. #4-Mike Skinner was the fastest at 178.298mph.(Indianapolis Star)(7-10-2002) Speeds - Day 1: top five were: #4A-Mike Skinner, 178.298 mph; #26A-Todd Bodine, 177.920; #6-Mark Martin, 176.101; #97A-Kurt Busch, 175.453; and #36A-Ken Schrader 175.201. Slowest were #8A-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 170.456 (he was mid pack in a 2nd car); and #55A-Bobby Hamilton, 168.391. See full speed results at www.brickyard400.com with number of laps completed.(7-10-2002) Speeds - Day 2: fastest in testing at Indy on Wednesday - #97A-Kurt Busch, 181.777; #26A-Todd Bodine, 181.577; #6-Mark Martin, 179.524; #40T-Sterling Marlin, 179.276; #1A-Steve Park, 179.136. Slowest were #31-Robby Gordon, 172.626 and #8A-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 172.300. See more speeds at the Indianapolis Star or the Brickyard 400 site.(7-11-2002)
Expensive test at Indy: Indianapolis, site of one of NASCARs premier events, is the only track on the Winston Cup circuit charging individual teams for test sessions. This year, each team pays $2,500 for the two-day test session. For a five-car operation like Roush Racing, that tally runs to $12,500. Most tracks charge a flat fee for a test date, allowing teams to unite and split the cost. Owners say no other facility charges for a open test session. Thats a huge rip-off, two-car owner Bill Davis said. I think those guys make plenty of money as track operators running their races. I dont think they need to expect us to show them a profit for a test session. Teams cant just skip the Indy test and go to a different track to use that date and most cant afford to skip the prep session for one of the higher-paying events, such as the Brickyard 400.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(7-11-2002)
Indy Testing: Indianapolis Motor Speedway has scheduled four days of Cup testing at the track, July 9-10 and July 15-16, and most every Cup team will test. A complete schedule of the teams/drivers for each of the tests can be seen at: www.brickyard.com.(6-28-2002)
Daytona testing from Wednesday: Ron Hornaday is subbing for the vacationing Shawna Robinson in the #49 BAM Racing Dodge during this week's two-day test session at Daytona International Speedway for the July 6 Pepsi 400. While Hornaday is trying to fine-tune the #49 Dodge for BAM Racing, he also hopes to pull away some information for his #26 Dr. Pepper Chevrolet that he races in the BGN with Carroll Racing. Also wrapping up the test session on Wednesday was Phoenix Racing. Geoffrey Bodine tested a Cup car while Joe Ruttman shook down the #1 BGN Chevy and Pontiac that will be used in the BGN race at Daytona with Jimmy Spencer driving. Kasey Kahne, driver of the #98 Channellock Ford for Robert Yates Racing in the BGN, shortened their test and left on Tuesday. In random hand-held times taken on Wednesday, Bodine and Ruttman were fastest, each turning laps in the 182.556mph range.(DIS PR)(6-27-2002)
Cup testing at Kentucky on Thursday: Six Cup teams will test at Kentucky on Thursday June 27th. #7-Casey Atwood; #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.; #15-Michael Waltrip; #19-Jeremy Mayfield; #40-Sterling Marlin; and #41-Jimmy Spencer. No word if it open to the public.(Kentucky Speedway)(6-27-2002)
Nadeau and Earnhardt Jr test Chicago: #00-Jerry Nadeau and #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. tested at Chicagoland Speedway on Tuesday in preparation for the July 14 Cup stop. Nadeau is driving a car owned by Michael Waltrip in a one-race deal. A miscommunication between Nadeau and Waltrip led Waltrip to believe this past weekend that Nadeau would not be in the car for Chicago because of another opportunity.(Roanoke Times)(6-26-2002)
Marlin Testing: #40-Sterling Marlin is spending this week testing at two different tracks. The Coors Light Dodge team tested at Memphis Motorsports Park on Tuesday and will finish up there Wednesday. Thursday and Friday Marlin will turn laps at Kentucky Speedway. Since the Winston Cup Series does not visit those two facilities, the tests do not count against the teams' allotment of seven. Why the hectic test schedule? According to Marlin "the stuff has changed so much it's crazy track set-ups that work, so we have to get back and find out what the cars want and what the cars need and how to make adjustments."(PRN's Garage Pass)(6-26-2002)
Daytona testing from Tuesday: On Tuesday, #09-Geoffrey Bodine, the 1986 Daytona 500 champion, returned to Daytona International Speedway for a two-day test session with that same James Finch-owned car he finished 3rd in the Daytona 500 back in Feb. Other drivers testing on Tuesday at the Speedway included Ron Hornaday (subbing for the vacationing Shawna Robinson in the #49 BAM Racing Dodge), Kasey Kahne (wheeling the #98 Channellock Ford for Robert Yates Racing in the Busch Series) and Joe Ruttman (testing a Chevrolet and a #1 Pontiac for Finch's Busch Series team and driver Jimmy Spencer). Despite sone rain showers, the teams were able to squeeze in some laps. In random hand-held times, Bodine was the fastest with a lap of 182.927mph followed by Ruttman (182.186), Kahne (181.087) and Hornaday (180.000). Testing continues on Wednesday and is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.(DIS PR)(6-26-2002)
Daytona Testing: Testing at Daytona International Speedway for the 44th annual Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on July 6 and the inaugural STACKER 2/GNC Live Well 250 NASCAR Busch Series race on July 5 will be held on Tuesday, June 25 and Wednesday, June 26, from 9:00am to 5:00pm/et. Expected to participate in the two-day test session are #09-Geoffrey Bodine, #49-Ron Hornaday and #98-Kasey Kahne (BGN). Hornaday will test the #49 Dodge for BAM Racing. Shawna Robinson drove the #49 Dodge to a 24th-place finish in February's Daytona 500. Testing is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.(DIS PR)(6-24-2002)
More Testing at VIR: As the NASCAR Winston Cup Series' first road-course race of the season, the June 23 Dodge/Save Mart 350 at California's Sears Point Raceway, edges ever closer, VIRginia International Raceway continues to welcome more and more teams to its beautiful and challenging 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit near Danville, VA. Testing at VIRginia International Raceway on Tuesday were Dale Earnhardt, Inc., with #1-Steve Park and #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr.; Hendrick Motorsports with #24-Jeff Gordon, #25-Joe Nemechek and #48-Jimmie Johnson; and Target Chip Ganassi Racing, with Scott Pruett driving a #41 Target Dodge. The Winston Cup teams find it convenient to test at VIR, which is about a two-hour drive from the Charlotte area, in order to perfect their set-ups for both Sears Point Raceway and New York's Watkins Glen International, which will host the Aug. 11 Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen.(VIR PR)(6-13-2002)
Final Day of Testing at Daytona: During the final day of a two-day test session on Wednesday at Daytona, Kenny Wallace was hopping back and forth between a pair of #98 Stacker 2 Chevys. Wallace will be pulling double duty at Dayotna, in the #98 Cup car and the #48 BGN car. Joining Wallace in the test session at the Speedway were BGN drivers #12-Kerry Earnhardt and #64-C.W. Smith. In random hand-held times taken during the test on Wednesday, both Wallace and Earnhardt posted speeds near 181.818mph while Smith had a speed of 178.218.(DIS PR)(6-12-2002)
Daytona Testing UPDATE: A test session at Daytona International Speedway for the 44th annual Pepsi 400 Cup race on July 6 and the inaugural Stacker 2/GNC Live Well 250 BGN race on July 5 will be held on Tuesday, June 11th and Wednesday June 12th from 9:00am-5:00pm/et with #98-Kenny Wallace (Cup) and and #12-Kerry Earnhardt BGN) testing. Wallace competes for Innovative Motorsports in the BGN but will test the #98 Stacker2 Chevy as he preps for the team's four-race Winston Cup schedule, which kicks off with the Pepsi 400. Earnhardt will wheel the #12 Jani-King Chevy for Armando Fitz and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw in the inaugural Stacker2/GNC Live Well 250 BGN race. Testing is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.(DIS PR)(6-7-2002) UPDATE: Kenny Wallace, testing the #98 Chevy he'll race for Innovative Motorsports in the July 6 Pepsi 400 ran an unofficial lap of 180.723mph. Two BGN drivers tested, #12-Kerry Earnhardt, who ran an unofficial speed of 182.186mph, and #64 C.W. Smith, no speed given. The start of Tuesday's test session was delayed by rain and the cars didn't take to the 2.5-mile tri-oval until the afternoon. Testing concludes on Wednesday and is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.(DIS PR)(6-11-2002)
Mayfield tests at Nashville UPDATE: #19-Jeremy Mayfield tested at Nashville Superspeedway on Tuesday and Wednesday and had this to say: "I think it's a great track, it's very quick, tons of grip and I plan to spread the word to other drivers. I think our Dodge team has learned a great deal testing here on this fantastic concrete track that we'll use the rest of the season. I definitely plan to return here to test. The facility is tops, the staff are some of the friendliest and best around anywhere. I think Nashville could do super with some kind of Cup event for sure. When I tell all the other Cup drivers how incredibly smooth this track is, they'll want to come and test here too I think. It's one of the smoothest, not slick, that I've ever tested on, it's truly a great place."(6-6-2002) UPDATE: Former Fairgrounds Speedway driver Jer-emy Mayfield practiced a Dodge R&D (research and development) Winston Cup car yesterday at Nashville Superspeedway. ''This is my first look at the track and I'm really impressed,'' Mayfield said. ''It's a good smooth racing surface and the rest of the facility looks great.'' Mayfield, a teammate of Nashville's Casey Atwood and veteran Bill Elliott with Evernham Motorsports, said all three teams ''are making good progress and we all get along great. There's no political stuff between any of the teams.''(Tennessean)(6-6-2002)
More testing at VIR: The challenging 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit at VIRginia International Raceway has been abuzz with activity this week as a number of NASCAR Winston Cup Series teams have been hard at work perfecting their set-ups for upcoming road races. Among those working at VIR over the past two days have been Joe Gibbs Racing, with the #20 Home Depot Pontiac of Tony Stewart; Petty Enterprises with the #45 Sprint Dodge of Kyle Petty; Andy Petree Racing with the #55 Square D Chevrolet of Bobby Hamilton; MB2 Motorsports with the #36 M&Ms Pontiac of Ken Schrader (so looks like those rumors of Schrader being out of the car are incorrect) and the #10 Valvoline Pontiac of Johnny Benson; Roush Racing with the #99 CITGO Ford of Jeff Burton; Target Chip Ganassi Racing with the #41 Target Dodge of Jimmy Spencer and the #40 Coors Dodge of championship points leader Sterling Marlin; Richard Childress Racing with the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick; and Bill Davis Racing with the #22 Caterpillar Dodge of Ward Burton and the #23 Hills Bros. Coffee Dodge of Hut Stricklin. The Winston Cup teams, the vast majority of which are based in and around Charlotte, N.C., find it convenient to test at VIR, which is about a two-hour drive from the Charlotte area, and find the circuit suitable to prepare for both the June 23 Dodge/Save Mart 350 at California's Sears Point Raceway and the Aug. 11 Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen at New York's Watkins Glen International. Some teams may even use the circuit's high-speed straightaways and challenging corners to work on their braking system set-ups for short oval tracks like Virginia's Martinsville Speedway, where braking performance is at a premium.(VIR PR)(6-6-2002)
Newman tests at Hew Hampshire: Ryan Newman and #12 ALLTEL Team Penske wrap up two days of testing at New Hampshire International Speedway this week.(TRPR)(6-6-2002)
#22 tests at Thompson (Conn.) Speedway: Burtons BDR Cup team recently tested for its short-track program at Thompson (Conn.) Speedway. We took Mike (Stefanik) because he is the king at Thompson in the Modified series, crew chief Tommy Baldwin said. We worked on brakes and other things that can help improve our short track program without using a test session up with Ward. (Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(6-6-2002)
Michigan Testing Postponed UPDATE: Testing at Michigan International Speedway got postponed on Monday and they will try again on Tuesday, five drivers are slated to test including #18-Bobby Labonte and #37-Derrike Cope.(FSN's Totally NASCAR)(6-4-2002) UPDATE: #7-Casey Atwood and #37-Derrike Cope gambled on the weather and won, getting a full day of testing in at Michigan International Speedway on Tuesday after rain wiped out Monday's session. Five teams were on hand Monday including 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion #18-Bobby Labonte, #14-Stacy Compton, #14-Larry Foyt(BGN), #7-Atwood and #37-Cope but only the latter two decided to stay after the storm washed out the whole day. Tuesday, the drivers were greeted with relatively calm, warm conditions in which to test. Atwood was particularly pleased to get some time on the track in the hopes of doing well in the Sirius Satellite Radio 400 on Father's Day, Sunday, June 16, at MIS. Atwood made some runs in the 184.620mph range. Cope, operating the #37 Sound Moves Ford, is looking to qualify for a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at MIS for the first time since June 1999. He was similarly pleased with the session, during which he ran laps in the 185.570mph range. Cope, the 1990 Daytona 500 winner, has a five-race package with Sound Moves and is looking to expand that to 14. The second race of the deal is the Sirius Satellite Radio 400 at MIS. His best year at MIS was 1989 when he finished ninth and sixth in the two NASCAR Winston Cup Series races, although he added an eighth-place finish in 1997.(MIS PR)(6-5-2002)
Testing at Kentucky UPDATE: Todays NASCAR Winston Cup Series test line up at Kentucky Speedway includes #88-Dale Jarrett, #18-Bobby Labonte (in Michigan? see below) and #15-Michael Waltrip (Waltrip also said during Speed Channels Inside Winston Cup that he was testing his #99 BGN car today at Kentucky). NASCAR Winston Cup Driver and defending Kentucky and series champion, Kevin Harvick, will serve as the event grand marshal for this years BGN race, the Kroger 300 Presented by Oreo.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(6-4-2002) UPDATE:
Six drivers representing the NASCAR Cup and BGN were at Kentucky Speedway to preview "The Kroger 300 Presented by Oreo" Busch Series event to be held at Kentucky on June 15. #10-Scott Riggs and #14-Larry Foyt represented the BGN and Cup drivers #88-Dale Jarrett, #15-Michael Waltrip, #18-Bobby Labonte and #14-Stacy Compton, all at Kentucky to test their Cup cars, joined the driver panel that addressed media from Greater Cincinnati and Louisville and Lexington, KY. While Riggs made more notes for his return next Saturday, the quartet of Winston Cup regulars were in the garages working on aerodynamic packages for future series dates at facilities such as Las Vegas.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(6-5-2002)
#77 Team tests at VIR: The #77 Jasper Motorsports team tested at Virginia International Raceway Wednesday to prepare for their upcoming road races at Sears Point Raceway and Watkins Glen International. The team had its regular driver, Dave Blaney, and road-racing specialist Boris Said on hand for the test, as the team will field cars for both drivers in this year's two road races. According to crew chief Ryan Pemberton, the team worked on a number of facets of their road-racing set-up for the #77 Jasper Engines Ford Taurus. Pemberton said that the team enjoys testing on the 3.27-mile natural-terrain road course just outside Danville, and not only for its road racing needs. Said, who has competed in various professional road racing series around the globe, is currently leading the championship in the SCCA's Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup on the strength of back-to-back wins at Canada's Mosport circuit and Connecticut's Lime Rock Park. He likes testing at VIR, and is happy to be back behind the wheel of a Winston Cup car. He describes VIR as a cross between Sears Point, where the team will race on June 23, and Watkins Glen, which falls on Aug. 11 on the Winston Cup schedule. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River 12 miles east of Danville, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit (which is also designed to be operated as two autonomous, full-service courses), VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America's first motorsports country club, and the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park.(VIR PR)(5-30-2002)
Pocono Testing: some Cup drivers tested at Pocono Raceway on Tuesday, including #2-Rusty Wallace, #40-Sterling Marlin and #48-Jimmie Johnson. Add #12-Ryan Newman and #43-John Andretti, no speeds listed.(Pocono Record)(5-29-2002)
Burton tests at road course: #99- Jeff Burton was at Virginia International Raceway Tuesday testing his road course #99 CITGO Ford in preparation for the upcoming race at Sears Point on June 23 in Sonoma, CA.(Danville Register Bee)(5-22-2002)
Drivers to Test at Richmond UPDATE: A few drivers (doesn't say which ones) are participating in a closed Winston Cup test at Richmond International Raceway on Tuesday [May 21]. The public and media are not allowed to attend the session in which Goodyear and NASCAR officials plan to test both tires and the sealer that drew complaints following the Pontiac 400 on May 4.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(5-17-2002) UPDATE: NASCAR is sending #20-Tony Stewart and #2-Rusty Wallace to Richmond International Raceway next week to figure out what, if anything, is wrong with the track. Winston Cup director John Darby said NASCAR isn't convinced the sealer is the problem, which is why the sanctioning body asked Stewart and Wallace to test the track. One possibility is that Goodyear, which switched the type of tire it is using this season, has given the teams rubber not compatible with Richmond, Darby said. So Stewart and Wallace will test the track Tuesday with tires from both this year and last in an effort to rule that out. NASCAR asked several teams to test the track, but could get only those two drivers. Darby said he was disappointed a Chevrolet will not be represented. Four-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon was asked to take his Chevy there, but declined and then expressed frustration over the demands on drivers.(Daytona Beach News Journal/AP)(5-18-2002)
Johnson fastest at Lowes on Tuesday: #48-Jimmie Johnson posted a lap at unofficial 181.512 mph in the Lowe's Home Improvement Chevy, claiming the top spot on the speed chart as 18 teams prepared for The Winston on May 18 and the May 26 Coca-Cola 600. Dave Blaney was second fastest in the Jasper Engines Ford at 179.820mph, but his night ended in a shower of sparks against the turn two wall when he cut a right-front tire. #57-Darrell Lannigan looped the #57 Ford coming off turn four early in the evening Winston Cup session, but did not make contact and #85-Carl Long spun and backed into the wall (per ThatsRacin.com). Top unofficial speeds NASCAR Winston Cup Series:
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 181.512
#77-Dave Blaney, 179.820
#31-Robby Gordon, 179.223
#28-Ricky Rudd, 177.281
#6-Mark Martin, 177.049
#9-Bill Elliott, 176.182
#90-Rick Mast, 175.953
#55-Bobby Hamilton, 175.610
#19-Jeremy Mayfield, 175.496
#60-Jack Sprague, 175.325.
(LMS PR)(5-8-2002)
Rudd Fastest in Lowes Testing: #28-Ricky Rudd and BGN driver #25-Bobby Hamilton Jr. topped the unofficial speed charts Monday as testing shifted into high gear at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Rudd was fastest among 17 NASCAR Winston Cup drivers preparing for the May 26 Coca-Cola 600 while Hamilton led the speed parade among the 22 BGN teams preparing for the May 25 CARQUEST Auto Parts
300. Stacy Compton's test ended shortly after sunset when he lost control of the #14 Pontiac and slammed the outside. Compton was uninjured, but the A.J. Foyt team had only one car on hand for the Winston Cup test. Testing for both the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series continues Tuesday. NASCAR Winston Cup Series Speeds:
#28-Ricky Rudd, 179.223 mph
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 178.571
#6-Mark Martin, 178.159
#7-Casey Atwood, 177.924
#55-Bobby Hamilton, 177.223
#77-Dave Blaney, 176.817
#9-Bill Elliott, 176.471
#19-Jeremy Mayfield, 176.355
#31-Robby Gordon, 176.298
#90-Rick Mast, 175.781
(LMS PR)(5-7-2002)
Lowes Testing: Open testing dates have been confirmed for the Cup, BGN, Goody's Dash and the ARCA in preparation for The Winston on May 18, the May 26 Coca-Cola 600 and the other stock car events scheduled next month at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Goody's Dash and ARCA Testing will be held on May 1st. Cup and BGN testing will be on Monday, May 6th and Tuesday May 7th (rain date May 8th for either date). BGN Testing is from 8:00am to 4:00pm each day, Winston Cup Testing run from 4:00 to 10:00pm each day. No word on if it is open to the public.(LMS PR)(4-29-2002)
Johnson fastest at Sears Point on Wednesday: Rookie [#48] Jimmie Johnson, who had never raced a NASCAR Winston Cup car at Sears Point Raceway, recorded the fastest time during a two-day test session on the 12-turn road course. Johnson turned a time of 1 minute, 17.2 seconds [93.264mph] over the 2-mile course to lead a group of six NASCAR drivers who spent Tuesday and Wednesday shaking down the course for the upcoming Dodge/Save Mart 350, June 20-23. Fellow rookie #12 Ryan Newman was right behind Johnson at 1:17.22 [93.240], thanks to some coaching from road-race specialist Scott Pruett over the two days. Newman, like Johnson, was getting his first taste of Sears Point Raceway in a Cup car. Other times were recorded by #87-Ron Fellows (1:17.30 - 93.144), #28-Ricky Rudd (1:17.50 - 92.903]), #97-Kurt Busch (1:17.50 - 92.903) and #17-Matt Kenseth (1:17.82 - 92.521). Kenseth had posted the quick time during the first day of testing on Tuesday.(Sears Points PR)(4-25-2002)
Kenseth fastest at Sears Point on Tuesday: #17-Matt Kenseth posted the top time during the first day of a NASCAR Winston Cup test session on Tuesday at Sears Point Raceway. Kenseth, one of six drivers testing the 10-turn, 2-mile road course in preparation for June's Dodge/Save Mart 350, toured the circuit in 1 minute, 18.42 seconds (91.813mph). He was followed by rookie #48-Jimmie Johnson (1:18.98 - 91.162) and #28-Ricky Rudd (low 1:19s - 91.139), a four-time pole-sitter at Sears Point. Other testers included #87-Ron Fellows (1:19.50 - 90.566), #97-Kurt Busch (1:19.70 - 90.339) and rookie #12-Ryan Newman (1:19.80 - 90.226). One change drivers encountered Tuesday was a tighter transition between Turns 12-1 because of the permanent separation of the road course from the drag strip, which has been a long-time criticism of Sears Point Raceway. Portions of the track have also been repaved. The facility is in the final stages of $50 million Modernization Plan. Busch, who won a NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series event at Sears Point in 1999, was pleased that the Winston Cup cars will no longer have to use the drag strip. Other improvements drivers will find for race weekend (June 20-23) include increased runoff at almost every turn on the road course, as well as a full 43 stalls on pit road, thus eliminating the need for the infamous "Gilligan's Island" on the inside of Turn 11. The entire circuit will be repaved in September.(Sears Point PR)(4-24-2002)
More Richmond Testing: Cup and BGN testing continue at Richmond from Monday thru Wedneday. Scheduled to test their Cup cars on Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23 are #18-Bobby Labonte, #20-Tony Stewart, #5-Terry Labonte, and #25-Jerry Nadeau. #9-Bill Elliott, #1-Steve Park and #33-Mike Wallace and BGN driver #40-Brian Vickers are expected to join the group to test Tuesday and Wednesday. Fans are invited to watch testing. The gates will be open from 8:00am to 5:00pm each day.(RIR PR)(4-22-2002)
Testing at Sears Point: #28-Ricky Rudd will highlight a group of six drivers who will participate in a two-day NASCAR Winston Cup test session at Sears Point Raceway, April 23-24. Rudd, a four-time pole-sitter at Sears Point, will be joined at the test by fellow Winston Cup drivers #17-Matt Kenseth, #97-Kurt Busch, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #12-Ryan Newman and #87-Ron Fellows. This will mark the first time that rookies Johnson and Newman have tested the 10-turn, 2-mile course that will be used in June for the Dodge/Save Mart 350. The test session will afford drivers a sneak preview of the 'new' Sears Point Raceway, which is in the final stages of a two-year $50 million renovation plan that will transform the facility into one of the premier motorsports and entertainment venues in the country. On the track, drivers will see increased runoff at almost every turn on the road course to increase driver safety, as well as a full complement of 43 stalls on pit road, thus eliminating the need for the infamous "Gilligan's Island" on the inside of Turn 11. Moreover, the drag strip has been permanently separated from the road course at Turns 12-1, which has been a long-time criticism of Sears Point Raceway, and portions of the course have been repaved. The entire circuit will be repaved in September. Off the track, drivers will see improved fan amenities, including a new permanent grandstand at start/finish that has been constructed directly above pit road, as well as two underground pedestrian tunnels at start/finish and Turn 10. The tunnels eliminated the need for the two bridges that were previously used as thoroughfares, which has also opened up dynamic sightlines for fans in the new grandstand. Additional hillside terrace seats have been built above Turns 7-9, and a new system of shuttle roads has been constructed to help get fans around the property more efficiently. The two-day test session will be held in advance of the NASCAR Winston Cup weekend at California Speedway in Fontana, April 26-28.(Sears Point PR)(4-18-2002)
Earnhardt Fast at MIS: Dale Earnhardt Jr. proved he still may be the man to beat when it comes to qualifying at Michigan International Speedway. Earnhardt, who holds the MIS NASCAR qualifying record at 191.149 mph set in August 2000, notched speeds in excess of 187mph during the second day of a two-day test session at the historic two-mile oval. Chad Little, testing [#74] BACE Motorsports equipment, also completed the two-day session Wednesday. Both will attempt to qualify for the Michigan 400 on Father's Day, Sunday, June 16, at MIS. The day's only break in testing came when Little's engine began smoking at 10:15am, about the same time rain started falling at the Speedway. After a two-hour break to let the track dry, the cars went back out.(MIS PR)(4-18-2002)
Testing at Richmond UPDATE: Eighteen NASCAR Winston Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series drivers are scheduled to test at Richmond International Raceway over a four-day period next week in preparation for their visit to "The Action Track" May 2-4. Tentatively scheduled to test NASCAR Winston Cup Series cars on Monday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 16 are #36-Ken Schrader, #10-Johnny Benson, #6-Mark Martin, #32-Ricky Craven and #77-Dave Blaney. Testing their BGN rides will be #10-Scott Riggs, #46-Ashton Lewis, #59-Stacey Compton, #37-Jeff Purvis, #48-Kenny Wallace, #30-Christian Fittipaldi and #1-Jimmy Spencer. Fittipaldi, who will continue to race in CART this year, is expected to make his 2002 BGN debut in the Hardee's 250 at Richmond in the #30 Mike's Hard Lemonade Chevy. Joining that group on Tuesday will be Cup drivers #2-Rusty Wallace, #12-Ryan Newman and #1-Steve Park. Wallace, Newman and Park will also test on Wednesday, April 17 when a new group of drivers moves in to test, including #9-Jeff Burton(BGN), #02-Hermie Sadler(Cup) and #66-Casey Mears(BGN) and will also expected to test on Thursday, April 18. The grandstands will be open to the public all four days from 9:00am to 5:00pm/et.(RIR Site)(4-15-2002) UPDATE: Fifteen Cup and BGN drivers tested at Richmond International Raceway on Monday and Tuesday in preparation for their visit to "The Action Track" May 2-4. Drivers were greeted with unseasonably warm conditions, as temperatures soared into the mid 90's. The teams worked on mostly race set-ups, as they were working with a "green" track after Richmond International Raceway officials applied a customary off-season coat of sealer to the track. Testing Winston Cup cars were #36-Ken Schrader, #2-Rusty Wallace, #12-Ryan Newman, #6-Mark Martin, #32-Ricky Craven, #77-Dave Blaney. Testing their BGN #10-Scott Riggs, #46-Ashton Lewis, #48-Kenny Wallace, #30-Christian Fittipaldi, #47-Shane Hmeil, #14-Larry Foyt, #1-Jimmy Spencer, #66-Casey Mears, #98-Kasey Kahne. Teams reported the following unofficial lap times (only Martin, Schrader and Mears attempted qualifying runs). Jeff Gordon holds the
track record of 21. 344 seconds (126.499 mph).
#6-Mark Martin, 125.00mph; #36-Ken Schrader, 122.84; #32-Ricky Craven, 122.73 mph
BGN: #66-Casey Mears, 124.14mph; #46-Ashton Lewis, 122.73; #48-Kenny Wallace, 122.17; #47-Shane Hmeil, 121.90; #98-Kasey Kahne,121.35; #30-Christian Fittipaldi, 120.00. Wallace and Newman are expected to stay another day to test and will be joined by Jeff Burton (Busch car) and Hermie Sadler (Cup car) today.(RIR Site)(4-17-2002)
Little testing at MIS UPDATE and Earnhardt Jr: the Chad Little site lists Little and the #74 team testing at Michigan on April 16th and 17th. The team plans to make it's Cup debut at California Speedway next weekend.(4-16-2002) UPDATE: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #74-Chad Little took the first turns around MIS' high banks Tuesday, the first of a two-day test session for Dale Earnhardt Inc. For Little, who plans to make a handful of Cup starts for owner Andy Petree, the test session allowed him to gauge his equipment against Earnhardt Jr. By mid-afternoon of the first day of the test, Little was running in the 40.2- to 40.3-second range, which would put him at about 179 mph. Earnhardt Jr. was posting laps of about 39.9 or 40.0, which translates to around 180 mph. "We're running mostly 40-flats, said Earnhardt's crew chief Tony Eury, whose driver owns the Winston Cup qualifying record at MIS at 191.149mph set in August 2000. "But we're just getting started." Little said he plans to run in a few Winston Cup events this season, including the Michigan 400 on Sunday, June 16, and the Pepsi 400 presented by Farmer Jack on August 18. He also is eyeing a Cup start at MIS' sister track, California Speedway, on April 28.(MIS PR)(4-16-2002)
Abuse of Testing? Some Winston Cup crews complain that other teams are abusing NASCAR's seven-test limit lately by claiming to be testing ARCA cars. NASCAR officials said they would review the situation.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-13-2002)
Testing at Talladega UPDATE: Seven Cup teams tested Tuesday at Talladega: #49-BAM Racing with Shawna Robinson, #20-Joe Gibbs Racing with Mike McLaughlin (Tony Stewart will be there Wed), #10-MBV Motorsports with Johnny Benson, #22-Bill Davis Racing with Tom Hubert, #33-Andy Petree Racing with Robert Pressley, #78-Braun Motorsports with ARCA driver Chad Blount, and Petty Enterprises tested a Dodge with Steve Grissom. Testing continues Wednesday.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(4-9-2002) UPDATE: Wrapping up test sessions at Talladega were Mike McLaughlin who filled in for Tony Stewart in the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Home Depot Pontiac, #49-BAM Racing with Shawna Robinson, Petty Enterprises with Steve Grissom and #78-Braun Motorsports with Chad Blount. The #10 MBV Motorsports team with Johnny Benson did not get on the track Tuesday and will conclude their two-day test on Thursday. Also testing at Talladega were Phoenix Racings #1 BGN with Joe Ruttman and #09 Cup team with Geoffrey Bodine..(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(4-11-2002)
California Testing: #40-Sterling Marlin was at California Speedway on Wednesday looking to improve his speed for a race that still is a month away. #49-Shawna Robinson also spent of the first off-week of the NASCAR season at the Fontana track and tried to wipe out painful memories of last year. Brendan Gaughan, 12th in the Craftsman Truck Series point scramble, also was on hand and trying to find answers about his unpainted Dodge. Together with BGN driver Greg Biffle, the quartet was at the Fontana track in preparation for the April 26-28 NASCAR weekend. Gaughan, who won the Winston West race at the track in 2001, can't decide if he will attempt to make the field for the April race. That decision could be reached soon. Gaughan said the truck series remains the priority, but the Orleans Racing team was at the point where he could put a few laps on the Dodge. "We're just testing and learn what we can," Gaughan said. "If things go well, we would love to try to show and race here. This program took a big back seat when we had to re-body the truck earlier this year. It's actually running good right now. We're semi-impressed."(Pasadina Star-News)(3-30-2002)
Martinsville Testing: #32-Ricky Craven and Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year contenders #12-Ryan Newman and #48-Jimmy Johnson closed out two days of testing at Martinsville Speedway on Thursday afternoon. Testing resumes Monday when #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #9-Bill Elliott, #15-Michael Waltrip, #4-Mike Skinner and #59-Randy Renfrow hit the track for a two-day session.(Martinsville Speedway PR)(3-29-2002)
Labonte Testing a Chevy? hearing that after wrecking his #18 Interstate Batteries Pontiac during testing at Texas Motor Speedway, the #18 team broke out the backup car to test and it was a.......Chevy, not a Pontiac.(3-27-2002)
Texas Testing Done UPDATE: The final day of test sessions for 20 Cup and BGN teams concluded Wednesday at Texas Motor Speedway with one consensus - RPM Week-Texas is going to be fast. The tests were the last on-track activity for race teams leading into the O'Reilly 300 BGN race April 6 and the Samsung/RadioShack 500 Cup event April 7. A total of 19 teams participated in the day's activities, 10 Winston Cup teams and nine Busch cars. The BGN drivers testing were all searching for speed for the O'Reilly 300, which will be held in front of the largest crowd of the BGN season. All agreed it will be a rapid O'Reilly 300 on the repaved 1.5-mile superspeedway that sports a new coat of asphalt since last spring's Winston Cup and Busch weekend. #14-Stacy Compton was gathering information for both his Conseco Winston Cup effort and the Kingsford Chevrolet Busch team. "It's going to be fast. I expect the pole to be three to four miles per hour faster than last year with what we've seen. I think it's going to be a good race. #25-Bobby Hamilton Jr. gathered test data for the U.S. Marines Ford team. He also had an opportunity to report on the new surface to his father, Winston Cup driver Bobby Hamilton. "I was telling my Dad, it doesn't even feel like you are running 100 mph," Hamilton Jr. said. "It's so smooth, they did an awesome job. If anyone complains about this, they don't need to be in a race car."
Teams participating in the final day of testing were:
Winston Cup: #2-Rusty Wallace, #5-Terry Labonte, #10-Johnny Benson, #14-Stacy Compton, #15-Michael Waltrip, #22-Ward Burton, #25-Jerry Nadeau, #28-Ricky Rudd, #45-Kyle Petty, #99-Jeff Burton.
Busch Series: #2-Johnny Sauter, #14-Larry Foyt, #24-Jack Sprague, #26-Lyndon Amick, #27-Jamie McMurray, #34-Stuart Kirby, #37-Jeff Purvis, #87-Joe Nemechek, #98-Kasey Kahne.(TMS PR)(3-28-2002) UPDATE: Labonte set his record lap of 28.105 seconds/192.137 mph March 31, 2000. Several drivers reported flirting with that speed Wednesday, including #28-Ricky Rudd. His top lap from the morning was 28.16 seconds/191.761 mph. Rudd, driver of the No. 28 Texaco Havoline Ford Taurus, said that was without the car's nose taped up for a qualifying run.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(3-28-2002)
Biffle tests at California: Greg Biffle is testing the #16 Ford at California Speedway in preparation for the Cup race there in April.(FSN's Totally NASCAR)(3-27-2002)
Marlin tests at California: #40-Sterling Marlin is testing at the California Speedway this week, Wed/Thurs, as well as attending the Denver Nuggets game in a driver appearance.(3-27-2002)
Martinsville Testing: #12-Ryan Newman, #32-Ricky Craven and #48-Jimmie Johnson tested at Martinsville Speedway today, no word on speeds.(FSN Totally NASCAR)(3-26-2002)
Busch at Memphis: #97-Kurt Busch tested at Memphis today.(FSN Totally NASCAR)(3-26-2002)
Three Days of Texas Testing UPDATE: The first of three hectic days of testing by Cup and BGN teams preparing for the Samsung/RadioShack 500 and O'Reilly 300 kicked off Monday at Texas Motor Speedway amid cool temperatures. Three Cup teams took to the 1.5-mile superspeedway to prepare for the April 7 Samsung/RadioShack 500. #18-Bobby Labonte, #57-Ron Hornaday and #49-Shawna Robinson tested, while BGN driver #12-Kerry Earnhardt turned laps Sunday evening and Monday. A cold front that moved through the area midday curtailed much of the afternoon on-track activity after temperatures dipped. All of the participating teams practiced during the morning session. There were no incidents during the Sunday and Monday sessions. Nearly two dozen different Cup and BGN teams are scheduled to test at the speedway Tuesday and Wednesday. The sessions are closed to the public.(TMS PR)(3-26-2002) UPDATE: A total of 21 Cup and BGN teams took to Texas Motor Speedway en masse Tuesday as the second day of testing continued in preparation for the Samsung/RadioShack 500 race week. For most of the drivers testing, it was their initial experience with the new granite-based pavement on the 1.5-mile superspeedway that was installed after last year's NASCAR weekend. Praise was universal among the drivers describing the new surface. "It is probably a second quicker than last year," said Jerry Nadeau, driver of the #25-UAW-Delphi Chevrolet on the Winston Cup circuit. "The surface is so smooth." Unofficial speeds were in the high 180mph range
for several teams. Testing concludes Wednesday with another session that is also closed to the public. The drivers testing at the speedway Tuesday included from Cup: #2-Rusty Wallace, #5-Terry Labonte, #10-Johnny Benson, #14-Stacy Compton, #15-Michael
Waltrip, #18-Bobby Labonte, #22-Ward Burton, #25-Jerry Nadeau, #28-Ricky Rudd, #45-Kyle Petty, #57-Ron Hornaday, #99-Jeff Burton. From the BGN: #2-Johnny Sauter, #14-Larry Foyt, #24-Jack Sprague, #26-Lyndon Amick, #27-Jamie McMurray, #34-Stuart Kirby, #37-Jeff Purvis, #87-Joe Nemechek, #98-Kasey Kahne.(TMS PR), no speeds reported. #18-Bobby Labonte blew a right side tire and hit the wall, damaging the right front of the car, Labonte is un-injured.(3-26-2002)
Testing at Texas UPDATE 2 rained out: testing at Texas Motor Speedway continues today for the Samsung/RadioShack 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race and O'Reilly 300 NASCAR Busch Series races (April 6-7th). Three remaining scheduled test sessions, which are closed to the public, include 16 drivers from both the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series. The following drivers/teams are currently scheduled:
March 19-20 - #2-Rusty Wallace; #5-Terry Labonte; #45-Kyle Petty; and for the BGN - #12-Kerry Earnhardt.
March 25 - #49-Shawna Robinson
March 26-27 - #99-Jeff Burton; #18-Bobby Labonte; #22-Ward Burton; #25-Jerry Nadeau; #14-Stacy Compton; #55-Bobby Hamilton; and for the BGN - #2-Johnny Sauter; #29-Kevin Harvick (the Sonic car); #87-Joe Nemechek; #14-Larry Foyt; #37-Jeff Purvis.(Texas Motor Speedway PR)(3-19-2002) UPDATE: looks like no cars took to the track Tuesday at TMS as it rained most of the day and is supposed to rain Wednesday morning.(3-20-2002) UPDATE 2: testing at Texas has been rained out and the teams that were to test this week may come back and test next week with the other teams scheduled to be there.(3-20-2002)
#18 Testing at Lakeland: #18-Bobby Labonte will test at Lakeland, FL's USA Speedway today and Wednesday. #20-Tony Stewart was scheduled to test with his team mate but is resting up from the Darlington accident.(FSN's Totally NASCAR)(3-19-2002)
Testing at Bristol on Tuesday/Weds UPDATE 2: More than 20 NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series teams will visit Bristol Motor Speedway on Tuesday, March 12, for testing in preparation for the upcoming Food City 500/Channellock 250 race weekend. Due to the large number of teams testing, the Speedway will open the Junior Johnson Grandstand (concrete seats) to the public to view the testing free of charge. Track officials ask fans to enter through the South Entrance off Volunteer Parkway (Hwy. 11E) and park in the South Suite parking area. Fans may enter the grandstand via Gate 8 near the Speedway backstretch. Testing begins at 9 a.m. and will last until 5 p.m. Fans will not be permitted to enter the track infield. The list of drivers scheduled to test includes #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.,
#15-Michael Waltrip, #99-Jeff Burton, #6-Mark Martin, #2-Rusty Wallace, #24-Jeff Gordon and #20-Tony Stewart. Speedway officials encourage fans to monitor the weather forecast as inclement weather may postpone or cancel the scheduled test.(Bristol Motor Speedway PR)(3-11-2002) UPDATE: Rain washed out today's test session at Bristol. Several NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series teams will give it another try tomorrow.(BMS Site)(3-12-2002) UPDATE 2: Morning rain showers forced most of the Cup and BGN teams home earlier on Wednesday. However, at 3:00pm/et, the remaing drivers, including Mike Skinner in the #4-Kodak Chevrolet, ran some afternoon test laps.(BMS Site)(3-14-2002)
Testing at Darlington - a few speeds: Prepping for his return to Winston Cup racing, Steve Park tested a pair of #1 Pennzoil Chevy's at the Darlington Raceway Tuesday. Park's supersub Kenny Wallace was not at the track. Park said the doctors told him it would be at least a six month recovery and it's just about been six months since his Busch Series accident at Darlington. Also testing cup cars Tuesday were #48-Jimmie Johnson, #7-Casey Atwood and #99-Jeff Burton. On the BGN side, #66-Casey Mears, #2-Johnny Sauter, #40-Brian Vickers, #60-Greg Biffle and Todd Bodine in the #92 car. Robby Gordon will test the same car on Wednesday at Darlington. Herzog Motorsports hasn't decided who will drive the Excedrin Chevy after Andy Houston was let go over the weekend. Bodine says he's not sure if the #92 will turn into a full-time deal, however he says he's sticking with Travis Carter for now and hoping a sponsor can be found for the #66.(PRN's GaragePass radio show), #48-Johnson was the fastest with a lap of 165.799mph, #1-Park and #99- Burton ran 165.020.(The State)(3-6-2002)
Testing at Texas: Cup driver #21-Elliott Sadler, and BGN drivers, #10-Scott Riggs, #57-Jason Keller, #38-Christian Elder and #36-Hank Parker, Jr. arrived Monday for the planned two-day test session in preparation for the April 7 NASCAR Samsung/RadioShack 500 and the April 6 O'Reilly 300. The speedway re-paved the track surface last summer with a new granite-based asphalt. This was the first chance for some of the drivers to test it out. "The track is really fast," said Sadler, driver of the #21 Motorcraft Quality Parts Ford. "Of course, it's always been fast, but it's a lot smoother since they re-paved it. The track did a really good job with the new asphalt. By the time we're out for Happy Hour, there should be plenty of rubber down for two grooves." Fourteen Cup and BGN drivers scheduled to test at the speedway in March. (TMS PR)(3-5-2002)
Atlanta Testing Wednesday: Ryan Newman turned a fast lap of 193.373mph Wednesday in another day of testing for the March 10 MBNA America 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Newman.s lap is the fastest turned by any NASCAR Winston Cup driver in testing this year. It's also slightly faster than the pole speed for last March's race, when Dale Jarrett had a lap at 192.748 mph.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(2-27-2002)
Stricklin Tests Bristol: #23-Hut Stricklin tested at Bristol Motor Speedway this week in part to test the track after a pedestrian tunnel was put in underneath turn.(News and Record)(2-27-2002)
AMS testing Tuesday: #4-Mike Skinner set the fast lap Tuesday in another day of testing for Cup drivers preparing for the March 10 MBNA America 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Skinner's quickest lap around the 1.54-mile quad-oval was 187.487mph. #1-Kenny Wallace, #1-Steve Park, #12-Ryan Newman, #49-Shawna Robinson and ARCA driver Chase Montgomery also tested Tuesday. The speeds from Tuesday:
#4-Mike Skinner, 187.487
#12-Ryan Newman, 185.480
#49-Shawna Robinson, 184.677
#1-Kenny Wallace, 182.910
#1-Steve Park, 178.264.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(2-26-2002)
AMS testing Monday: #49-ShawnaRobinson and #1-Kenny Wallace had identical fast laps Monday in a test of four NASCAR Winston Cup drivers preparing for the March 10 MBNA America 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Wallace and Robinson each had quick laps around the 1.54-mile quad-oval at 185.418mph. #4-Mike Skinner also tested Wednesday, and injured Steve Park stepped in the #1 Pennzoil car for a few laps. Robinson will try to be the first woman since Janet Guthrie in 1977 to compete in a Cup race at Atlanta. She's no stranger to Atlanta, though, having won the BGN pole in 1994 and nearly winning the 2000 ARCA race, leading until the final caution with just a handful of laps left. Tickets as low as $25 are still available for the March 8-10 MBNA America 500 weekend. Speed from testing Monday:
#1-Kenny Wallace, 185.418
#49-Shawna Robinson, 185.418
#4-Mike Skinner, 184.800
#1-Steve Park, 176.560.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(2-25-2002)
AMS Testing UPDATE 2 Speeds: some Winston Cup testing at Atlanta Motor Speedway, on February 19-20 - #41-Jimmy Spencer, #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Robby Gordon, #97-Kurt Busch, #11-Brett Bodine, #19-Jeremy Mayfield, #43-John Andretti, #55-Bobby Hamilton. On February 25-26 - #4-Mike Skinner, #49-Shawna Robinson and #1-Kenny Wallace; and on February 27 - #2-Rusty Wallace. Note: Test teams, dates and times subject to change without notice. All test sessions are schedule for 9:00am to 5:00pm and as far as i know are closed to the public.(AMS PR)(2-9-2002) UPDATE: Drivers expected to test at Atlanta are #41-Jimmy Spencer, #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Robby Gordon, #97-Kurt Busch, #11-Brett Bodine, #19-Jeremy Mayfield, #43-John Andretti and #55-Bobby Hamilton. Harvick, defending champion of the spring race, will be back to fine-tune his strategy in Atlanta. Harvick performed like a veteran last year in just his third Winston Cup race, outdueling four-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon to the checkered flag by just .006 seconds. It was an emotional win for his Richard Childress Racing team, which had lost their legendary driver, Dale Earnhardt, just three weeks earlier. This week's test sessions will not be open to the public. ALSO: Atlanta Motor Speedway still has plenty of $25 seats left for the March 10 Atlanta 500 NASCAR Winston Cup weekend. The seats offer fans a great view of the action from the backstretch Weaver Grandstand, where fans are treated to dicey passes and plenty of side-by-side racing excitement. The $25 seats are located in the first six rows, and the rest of the Weaver Grandstand seats are priced $35 and $45. For fans looking for a mid-price ticket, the East Turn Grandstand is the perfect choice for $50 or $65.(AMS PR)(2-19-2002) UPDATE 2: Defending spring race winner, Kevin Harvick, clocked the fastest lap of the day on Tuesday as he and four other drivers prepared for the March 10 Atlanta 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Harvick's laps were the quickest of the testing period and are about one-half second off last spring.s pole run, recorded by Dale Jarrett, which was 28.76 seconds (192.748 mph). Bill Elliott flew in for the test, acting only as a consultant for new teammate Jeremy Mayfield. The speeds:
#29-Kevin Harvick, 189.733
#97-Kurt Busch, 189.538
#41-Jimmy Spencer, 189.280
#31-Robby Gordon, 188.751
#19-Jeremy Mayfield, 186.667.(AMS PR)(2-19-2002)
AMS Testing: some Winston Cup testing at Atlanta Motor Speedway, on February 19-20 - #41-Jimmy Spencer, #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Robby Gordon, #97-Kurt Busch, #11-Brett Bodine, #19-Jeremy Mayfield, #43-John Andretti, #55-Bobby Hamilton. On February 25-26 - #4-Mike Skinner, #49-Shawna Robinson and #1-Kenny Wallace; and on February 27 - #2-Rusty Wallace. Note: Test teams, dates and times subject to change without notice. All test sessions are schedule for 9:00am to 5:00pm and as far as i know are closed to the public.(AMS PR)(2-9-2002)
Talladega Testing: Jason Jarrett will be behind the wheel of the Robert Yates Racing #88 UPS Ford today at Talladega Superspeedway, helping the NASCAR team usually piloted by his father Dale Jarrett. Jason Jarrett drove south to Talladega from his home in North Carolina on Thursday to watch his father test the #88 Ford. On Saturday, Jason is set to take the wheel. After the practice session, Jason Jarrett will then make his way to Daytona where he is entered in the season-opening ARCA RE/MAX Series event at
Daytona on Feb. 10. Fridays test session was the second practice at Talladega Superspeedway this week for Robert Yates Racing. The #28 team was at Talladega earlier in the week. Joining the #88 team for the two-day test session was the #41 Dodge belonging to
Chip Ganassi and driven by Steadman Marlin (Sterling's son), along with the Haas/Carter Motorsports two-car Ford team the #26 with Joe Nemechek and the #66 with Todd Bodine.(Talladega Superspeedway PR), #77-Dave Blaney and the Jasper Engines team is also at Talladega testing today(2-2-2002)
Andretti testing at Kentucky: #43-John Andretti and Petty Enterprises will test at Kentucky Speedway on Thursday Jan. 24, and Friday Jan. 25.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(1-23-2002)
Testing at 'Dega: #24-Jeff Gordon and #48-Jimmie Johnson are wrapping up a two-day test today at Talladega. ARCA Champ Frank Kimmel is also at the track testing(1-22-2002)
Lakeland Testing: some teams/drivers tested at Lakeland Speedway in FL this week. John Andretti tested the #43 and #45 Dodges. Eliott Sadler tested the #21 Ford with help from Mark Martin. #10-Johnny Benson was scheduled to test there but had to cancel and rescheduled their test for Feb. 4 and 5. Roush CTS driver Jon Wood spent some time testing with Mark Martin. Wood tested for two days in Lakeland before heading to the mandatory testing sessions at Daytona this weekend(various PR's)(1-19-2002)
Texas Tire Testing: hearing the #40 Coors Lite team and driver Sterling Marlin will be doing a Goodyear tire test at Texas Motor Speedway on January 29th and 30th(1-14-2002)
Testing at Las Vegas UPDATE: 49 drivers are scheduled to attend Las Vegas Motor Speedway's annual "Test in the West" Jan. 28-31. Cup champ #24-Jeff Gordon will be among 32 Cup drivers and 17 BGN drivers slated to test over the four-day period in preparation for the March 3 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 and the March 2 Sam's Town 300. Each team is allowed to test on two of those days. The testing will run daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open to the public free of charge. All five of this year.s No Bull 5 competitors, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #20-Tony Stewart, #99-Jeff Burton, #17-Matt Kenseth and #55-Bobby Hamilton, will take part in the test. Following is a list of drivers and the days they are scheduled to test: Jan. 28: Winston Cup: #21-Elliott Sadler, #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #57-Derrike Cope, #88-Dale Jarrett, #19-Jere
