#87-Joe Nemechek set the pace Tuesday as 20 BGN drivers and teams opened a two-day testing session for the Oct. 12 “Little Trees” 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Nemechek ran a lap of 174.249mph, with #37-Kevin Lepage was unofficially second fastest at 173.555mph while #12-Kerry Earnhardt was third at 172.966mph. Jerry Nadeau, subbing for the injured Kevin Grubb in the #54 Chevy, was fourth fastest at 172.661 while #33-Tony Raines completed the top-five at 172.628. The only incident of the day came early in the session when #81-Dwayne Leik backed Dave Marcis’ Chevy into the outside wall. Leik was able to drive the car back to the garage area, but heavy rear-end damage ended the team’s day. Testing continues Wednesday and fans will be able to view the action free of charge from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Spectators should enter the grandstand through gate 5A next to the main ticket office entrance in Smith Tower. Other speeds: #57-Jason Keller, 172.358; #11-Josh Richeson, 172.331; #43-Hermie Sadler, 172.221; #?-Cam Strader, 171.783; #26-Ron Hornaday Jr., 171.728.(LMS PR)(10-1-2002)
