Testing at Kansas Wednesday & Thursday: UPDATES: Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series teams will get additional track time at Kansas Speedway this week to test setups following the track repaving. Sprint Cup teams will test 2:00-6:00pm/et on Wednesday and 9:30am-12:30pm/et on Thursday. Nationwide teams will test Thursday 2:00-6:00pm/et. Any news and/or results will be posted.(10-17-2012)
UPDATE: So what will come of all those notes Jeff Gordon's #24 Hendrick Motorsports team accumulated over the last 12 years at Kansas? Into the recycling bin they go. After a two-hour Kansas test session that was delayed by rain, Gordon – a two-time Kansas winner – said he won't rely on past experiences at the 1.5-mile oval. The four-time series champion said the track's recently completed repave project that placed fresh asphalt and variable banking in the turns added a certain mystique to Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400, the sixth race in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
There is one guarantee come Sunday: Speed. Of the 47 cars that tested Wednesday afternoon at Kansas, 30 of them turned a faster lap than the current track qualifying record of 180.856 mph set by #17-Matt Kenseth in 2005. #16-Greg Biffle turned the fastest lap of the test session at 184.900 (29.205 seconds).
Among the 47 cars that tested, four were the redesigned 2013 models. The teams testing the 2013 cars were Michael Waltrip Racing, Penske Racing, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Wood Brothers Racing.
Kansas Speedway is the third of three 2012 repaves, joining Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway. Drivers and NASCAR officials alike said they expect the racing grooves to multiply as more rubber accumulates, a phenomenon that made Pocono and Michigan one of the more competitive events of the season. Testing at Kansas will continue Thursday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT.(NASCAR)(10-17-2012)
UPDATE 2: #11-Denny Hamlin's wreck wasn't the only incident in an eventful Thursday test session. Casey Mears' #13 Ford twice dropped oil on the track, forcing the Germain Racing team to abandon the test car and bring out the primary that will race on Sunday. "Strange issue today," Mears posted on his Twitter account. "Motor fine? Pumping oil out for some reason?" As reporters were waiting for Hamlin after his second visit to the care center, the engine blew in Tony Stewart's #14 Chevy, again oiling the track, forcing the team to change power plants. Because of the series of stoppages, NASCAR extended the test session an extra 25 minutes to 1:55pm/et. Regan Smith, subbing for Dale Earnhardt Jr., posted the fastest lap at 186.143 mph.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-18-2012)
Wednesday Testing Speeds: #16-Biffle was fastest at 184.900mph [track record is 180.856 mph set by Matt Kenseth in October 2005] followed by #55-Martin, #5-Kahne, #9-Ambrose and #78-Busch. #38-Gilliland was slowest at 175.890. See testing speeds on the Kansas Day 1 Test Speeds page (pdf).(10-18-2012)
Thursday Testing Speeds: #88-Regan Smith was fastest in Thursday morning's session. His top speed was 186.143mph. He was followed by #55-Martin, #16-Biffle, #20-Logano, and #27-Menard. See testing speeds on the Kansas Day 2 Test Speeds page (pdf).(10-18-2012)

Some testing could return in 2013: Vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said NASCAR also is talking to teams about adding testing [not just tire testing] in 2013. The governing body eliminated open testing a few years ago to keep the playing field level at a time when smaller teams couldn't afford to test as often as the big teams. But with the economy turning around and teams testing at non-sanctioned tracks anyway, Pemberton said there's a good chance NASCAR will schedule tests at a few sanctioned tracks.(ESPN)(7-27-2012)

Menard tests at Nashville: Paul Menard and the #27 Richard Childress Racing team tested at Nashville Superspeedway July 10-11. They utilized chassis No. 328 from the RCR stable, which was used in competition at Kentucky Speedway in June.(RCR)(7-13-2012)

Harvick testing in Colorado: Kevin Harvick and the #29 RCR team will brush up on their road course skills in a test session on June 19 and 20 at High Plains Raceway in Colorado. The team will utilize chassis No. 278 from the RCR stable, previously used during a test at Virginia International Raceway earlier this year and during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. While out in Colorado for the road-course test, and on behalf of RCR partner Budweiser, the #29 team is scheduled to visit the U.S. Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs. The facility serves as the flagship training center for the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Olympic Training Center programs. The team will have the opportunity to tour the complex, interact with Olympic athletes, visit the sports science center and get a lesson in fencing (RCR)(6-19-2012)

Track records shattered in NASCAR practice at MIS UPDATES: The Sprint Cup Series qualifying record at Michigan International Speedway has been broken unofficially by several cars already this morning, at a special NASCAR test to acclimatize drivers to the newly repaved oval. Toyota driver #56-Martin Truex Jr. became the first NASCAR driver in MIS history to turn a 200-mph lap when he hit 200.261 this morning. Chevy's #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. was right behind him, at 200.206. Chevy drivers #42-Juan Pablo Montoya (199.440 mph) and #29-Kevin Harvick (199.236 mph) also flirted with the 200-mph threshold. #18-Kyle Busch went 194.789 in his Toyota and #24-Jeff Gordon 194.610 in another Chevrolet. The old track record was 194.232, set by Ryan Newman in a Dodge in 2005.(Detroit Free Press)
UPDATES as I see or hear them on the speeds: #55-Martin fastest at Michigan with lap of 201.089 mph in testing. Then Harvick (200.999), Truex (200.306) & Dale Jr. (200.206).(Dustin Long Twitter)
Practice can be followed live on NASCAR.com's Leaderboard
The top five as of 11:00am/et after 3 hours of testing:
#55-Martin 201.089
#29-Harvick 200.999
#56-Truex Jr. 200.306
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 200.206
#14-Stewart 199.856
41 cars have run laps so far with 39 over the old track record.
The best 10 lap average was run by #18-Kyle Busch at 197.065mph.
4 cars didn't test: #19-Bliss, #10-Raines, #32-Schrader & #49-Yeley.
See the speeds, laps run, best 10-lap average on the Michigan Test Session 1 Speeds page (pdf)
Test Session 2 - afternoon: top five speeds at end of the session:
#14-Stewart 201.896
#16-Biffle 201.556
#51-Busch 201.174
#29-Harvick 200.697
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 200.658
7 cars were over 200mph, 43 cars have made runs with ALL being faster then the track record speed.
2 cars didn't test: #10-Raines and #32-Schrader.
See the speeds, laps run, best 10-lap average on the Michigan Test Session 2 Speeds page (pdf)
No restrictor plates planned at MIS: NASCAR officials said they have no plan to add restrictor plates used at Daytona and Talladega to reduce speeds. Vice president of competition Robin Pemberton expected speeds to slow on their own as the track rubbers in and the temperature rises. Series director John Darby said NASCAR has a speed at which liftoff is a concern as is the case at Daytona and Talladega, and "we're not there yet."(ESPN)(6-14-2012)

Robby Gordon testing for Sonoma: Robby Gordon is testing Thursday at the Carolina Motorsports Park road course in the #7 Dodge Sprint Cup Car in preparation for the race next weekend at Sonoma, CA. Gordon has not attempted to qualify for a Cup race since Auto Club Speedway.(6-14-2012)

Allmendinger testing news: AJ Allmendinger and his Todd Gordon-led #22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team are scheduled to test at the Milwaukee Mile on July 2-3. "Yes, that will be in our preparation for Loudon," crew chief Gordon said of the July 15 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The "Double-Deuce" team has also tested twice for the June 24 Sonoma road course battle; on May 15th at Road Atlanta and at Virginia International Raceway on May 29.(Tom Roberts PR)(6-14-2012)

Testing set at Michigan for Thursday: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series one-day test session at Michigan International Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, June 14th [Flag Day], this test provides the first opportunity for all teams to run on Michigan’s new racing surface in preparation for Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400. The teams / drivers are scheduled to be on track from 8-11 am/et and again from 1-4 pm/et. Speeds / Lap Times will be posted if provided.
The Turn 3 grandstand will be open free of charge that day for guests to watch the NASCAR Sprint Cup and ARCA Racing Series drivers practice on the newly paved, ultra-fast racetrack. Gate 33 will be open for guests from 1 to 5 p.m., perfect for campers on site that weekend. This will push the infield load-in back a little. We'll start load-in shortly after testing concludes. Parking for guests not already at the track will be in Lot 14 at MIS Camping.com Graves Family Campground, across US 12. A courtesy tram will bring fans to and from the Turn 3 stand.(MIS)(6-12-2012)

NASCAR considers loosening testing ban: With a new Sprint Cup car coming in 2013 and an effort afoot to improve the product on the track, NASCAR is looking to add additional tests to next year's schedule. The current testing ban was announced at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November 2008 for the following season as part of the sanctioning body's effort at cost containment. Since then, testing has picked up as Goodyear rolls out new tire combinations for existing tracks or after tracks were repaved. However, NASCAR is now considering lightening the ban - if it's amenable to teams. Adding five to seven test dates was one of several topics that have been broached with team "business types," according to vice president of competition Robin Pemberton. "We told them there's a bunch of things we're looking at for next year exactly the way we look at everything at this time of the year, whether it's the testing policies and things like that," Pemberton said. "If they felt like they could talk to their principal parties — if it came up or any ideas that they would be open to or not open to — so we can prepare for 2013." Pemberton says the testing policy is one of the "most reviewed" programs in NASCAR. It's of concern because of a desire to "help maintain a competitive balance in the garage area" without watching the teams go broke in the process.(Fox Sports)(6-2-2012)

Testing at Pocono UPDATE: hearing that there will be two testing sessions at Pocono Raceway, which is being repaved before the Sprint Cup race in June. Supposedly the Goodyear tire tests are scheduled for April 24th and 25th, 2012. And supposedly teams will be able to test at Pocono on June 6th and 7th, the days before practices at the track on June 8th. The Sprint Cup Series race is scheduled for June 10th.(3-28-2012)
Free Grandstand Admission at Pocono for Goodyear Tire Testing: Goodyear Tire, the Official Tire of NASCAR, recently announced that April 24 & 25, 2012 will be the dates for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tire tests at Pocono Raceway. The Raceway is in the final stages of repaving the entire track and it’s essentially a brand new track. Goodyear engineers will provide a number of different tire compounds and will determine, through this test, what are the best compounds based on results of the test. Goodyear will then produce the tires that will be used in the June 10, 2012 Pocono 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
The drivers and teams tentatively schedule for the Pocono test are: #1-Jamie McMurray (Chevy); #5-Kasey Kahne (Chevy); #20-Joey Logano (Toyota); #22-A.J. Allmendinger (Dodge) and #43-Aric Almirola (Ford). Fans will be permitted to view both days of the test from the grandstand area at no charge. Fans should enter the parking lots via Gate # 5 (Andretti Rd.) with Gate # 11 opening at 9:00 AM. Fans will be directed to grandstand seating areas near the Start/Finish line. Concession stands will be open both dates of the test. NASCAR will allow all Sprint Cup Series teams to test the new Pocono surface with a specially scheduled test on June 6-7. Grandstands will not be open for this test, however, race fans that have Trackside RV, Reserved Fence Line RV, Reserved Infield RV or Early Bird Infield RV tickets for the Pocono 400 will have the opportunity to view the test session on Thursday for no additional charge. In fact, Gate # 1 tunnel entrance and Gate # 4 (for Trackside RV) will open at 9:00 AM on June 7 to allow early access for these fans. For ticket information call 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929) or visit www.poconoraceway.com.(Pocono Raceway)(4-9-2012)

Teams will get test time at Pocono & Michigan: NASCAR has added two days to the Pocono Raceway weekend and one to the Michigan race weekend in June so all teams get a chance to tackle the repaved tracks. Both tracks have new surfaces since last year and Goodyear will conduct tire tests in the next month. NASCAR will have open test days the Wednesday and Thursday prior to the June 8-10 weekend at Pocono. It will have an open test day the Thursday prior to the June 15-17 weekend at Michigan, according to NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp. While that just might mean an extra few days on the road for most drivers and teams, it does throw a wrench into plans for the Feed The Children Prelude to the Dream at Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway. That charity race is scheduled for June 6, the same as the first day of the Pocono open test. Eldora officials are still hopeful they could run on that date, a Stewart spokesman said.(Sporting News)(4-1-2012)

Teams Test at Nashville: Richard Childress Racing rented Nashville Superspeedway for a two-day test that kicked off Monday to ascertain the development of its downforce program from last season. With a total of five teams — two of its three Sprint Cup entries and three Nationwide Series squads — the organization will test new setup ideas and work on electronic fuel injection, a new quirk for NASCAR teams this season. All the simulation that has been completed at the race shop throughout the offseason will offer the teams a baseline to build their notebooks for the rest of the year. But this test session offers a chance to see what works when it matters most, on the racetrack, before the green flag drops on the 2012 season in just a matter of days. With the exception of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brian Scott, the other cars participating on track are all powered by Earnhardt-Childress Racing engines. Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard, Austin Dillon, Elliott Sadler and Brendan Gaughan will all turn laps for RCR.
Furniture Row Racing, which shares a technical alliance with RCR, has Regan Smith on track. Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray are representing for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Tommy Baldwin Racing is testing with Dave Blaney, David Reutimann and protégé Ryan Blaney (who will post faster laps than his father before the end of the day). For the elder Blaney, it’s his first opportunity to work with new crew chief Ryan Pemberton.(see much more at FoxSports)(2-15-2012)

EGR tests at New Smyrna: on Wednesday, Feb. 8th, #1-Jamie McMurray and #42-Juasn Pablo Montoya tested their Earnhardt Gasnassi Racing Chevy's at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, FL.(2-9-2012)

Open testing for repaved tracks: NASCAR said there will be open tests at Michigan International Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Kansas Speedway, all of which are being repaved this year. The sessions will occur a few weeks before the event or on the Thursday before the race.(USA Today)(1-28-2012)

2013 cars to be tested at Homestead: All four 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car models are scheduled to be tested at Homestead-Miami Speedway February 1st…in a test that will apparently be closed. That may be the first time crewmen get to see all four models. Why is NASCAR, and its big marketing operation, taking such seemingly a low-keyed approach? Apparently because the sanctioning body has not yet 'aero-matched' the four models in the wind tunnel. Ford is billing its new model as a Fusion (not Mustang, as once planned), and when the car maker officially unveiled its 2013 street version, it was then free to take the wraps off the NASCAR version – which is decidedly different from the current Sprint Cup model, the still controversial and not greatly liked by many car-of-tomorrow. Chevrolet, for example, still hasn't officially named its model for its 2013 NASCAR Cup racer.(MikeMulhern.net)(1-25-2012)

2012 NASCAR Preseason Thunder at Daytona set for this Week: NASCAR is back in full gear as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams hit the pavement at Daytona International Speedway this week for three days of preseason testing. The main focus of the test is for teams to work on their final preparations for 2012 Speedweeks – in particular, the 54th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 26. “This is an opportunity we are providing to the competitors to implement and test the new Daytona rules package for 2012,” said Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition. “It’s a chance for them to get comfortable with the cooling package, the smaller spoiler and to practice drafting for next month’s Daytona 500.” The new rules package is a result of information gathered during recent tests at Talladega last October and at Daytona last November. “While we have had other tests with these set-ups, this is the first opportunity for the entire field to test together and get more comfortable with this package as it relates to their cars,” Pemberton said.
The new rules package includes:
· Smaller radiators
o Maximum of 2 gallon capacity
· Smaller overflow tank
o Maximum capacity of ½ gallon
· Radiator inlet is moved up closer into the front center bumper area
· Rate reduction in the springs – softer springs
· Smaller rear spoiler
· Base line restrictor plate of 29/32 inch (1/64 inch larger than plate size for the 2011 Daytona 500)
“This three-day test will allow the engine tuners for these teams to be able to work with their engine packages and see how they relate and react to the new cooling regulations,” Pemberton said. Next month’s Daytona 500 will be only the third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points event ran on the repaved Daytona International Speedway. This year’s Preseason Thunder will continue to be an opportunity for teams and drivers to test their skills on a relatively fresh surface in addition to the new rules. Complementing the testing portion of this weekend’s festivities, the track is also offering fans an opportunity to be part of a special two-day Fan Fest event. Fan Fest sessions are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 12 and Friday, Jan. 13 and include autograph sessions, driver question and answer sessions, show cars and displays, music and a photo opportunity with the 2012 Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 trophy. In addition, fans can ride the high banks under the lights by purchasing a Richard Petty Driving Experience ride along.
Tickets for Daytona Preseason Thunder Fan Fest are $20 and available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Children 12 and under will receive free admission.
Daytona International Speedway will also host special driver chat sessions on the speedway’s social media channels following the end of testing Thursday and Friday evenings. Fans can submit questions for Twitter chats by using #daytonatesting, with answers, updates and testing information coming from Daytona International Speedway’s Twitter feed @DISUpdates. Fans can also submit questions on Facebook for LiveStream chats with drivers on www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway. NASCAR’s official Twitter feed @NASCAR will also provide updates throughout the three-day session.
SPEED will broadcast live coverage of testing on all three days from 1-5 p.m. ET. Additionally, SPEEDTV.com will stream testing live from 9 a.m.-noon ET each day.(NASCAR)(1-10-2012)

Testing at WDW Speedway: hearing some drivers are tested at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando FL on Monday, January 9th, inlcuding Danica Patrick, Kyle Busch, Joey Lagono and others. Other drivers will test at WDW Speedway on Tuesday.(1-10-2012)

Aerodynamic testing at Daytona Tuesday: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are scheduled to test at Daytona International Speedway in an effort to evaluate and prepare aerodynamic baseline packages for the January 12-14, 2012 Preseason Thunder Test at DIS. Testing is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 15th from 10 am - 5 pm/et. Teams scheduled to participate include: Hendrick Motorsports (two cars with drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Aric Almirola); Roush Fenway Racing (two cars with drivers David Ragan and Marcos Ambrose); Joe Gibbs Racing (one car with driver Joey Logano), Michael Waltrip Racing (one car with driver Martin Truex Jr.), and NEMCO Motorsports (one car with driver Joe Nemechek). A section of the Oldfield Grandstands will be open free to the public with access available through the lobby of the Daytona International Speedway ticket office.(DIS)(11-11-2011)

Daytona testing dates set for January: NASCAR Preseason Thunder, the annual three-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test session at Daytona International Speedway in advance of the prestigious season-opening 54th annual Daytona 500, will be held on Jan. 12-14. All NASCAR Preseason Thunder test sessions begin at 9 am and end at 5 pm, weather permitting. Each includes a lunch break from noon until 1 pm. Race fans can also rev up their new year at the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest – the companion event to the January test sessions. Along with watching NASCAR Preseason Thunder track activity from the Sprint FANZONE, fans can enjoy two Fan Fest driver sessions – from 5-9 p.m., on Thursday, Jan. 12 and from 5-7 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 13.
The schedule of driver question-and-answer and autograph sessions will be finalized closer to the event. Tickets for the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest, which include autograph session wristbands, will be available for purchase at a later date. For fans who would like to be contacted regarding NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest ticket information can sign up online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/thunder. Fans can also watch each day’s testing at no cost from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands. Information on tickets for both the NASCAR Preseason Thunder and the Roar Before The Rolex 24 will be available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(9-29-2011)