Lowe’s Motor Speedway will be the site of the final scheduled test session of 2006 for the NASCAR Busch Series today through Wednesday. This year, NASCAR set a schedule for when and where each of its national series tests at tracks that host NASCAR events. Those tests are the teams’ only opportunities to test at those tracks. LMS is one of four tracks – and the second of two 1.5-mile tracks – that NASCAR Busch Series teams can utilize for tests this season. Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile) and Richmond International Raceway (.75-mile) have already hosted tests. Forty-eight drivers – predictably the most among the four sessions as many of the teams are based in the Charlotte area – are scheduled to participate in the three-day session where teams select two of the three available days to test.(NASCAR PR)(5-8-2006)
UPDATE: Speeds from Monday were as follows: 1. Denny Hamlin, 186.130; 2. Jon Wood, 186.098; 3. Matt Kenseth, 186.014; 4. Carl Edwards, 185.771; 5. Jeff Burton, 185.707; 6. Mark Martin, 185.529; 7. Paul Menard, 185.433; 8. Greg Biffle, 185.401; 9. J.J. Yeley, 185.312; 10. Kyle Busch, 185.185; 11. Jamie McMurray, 184.963; 12. Martin Truex Jr., 184.773; 13. Reed Sorenson, 184.609; 14. Todd Kluever, 184.439; 15. Clint Bowyer, 184.420; 16. Kevin Harvick, 183.899; 17. Danny O’Quinn, 183.611; 18. Michael Waltrip, 183.424; 19. Scott Wimmer, 183.405; 20. Stacy Compton, 183.125; 21. Mark McFarland, 182.865; 22. John Andretti, 182.766; 23. Johnny Sauter, 182.611; 24. Mike Wallace, 181.904; 25. Kenny Wallace, 180.560; 26. David Green, 180.439; 27. Kertus Davis, 180.012; 28. Aaron Fike, 178.359; 29. Eric McClure, 177.521. Kyle Busch was the only driver to wreck during the first day of testing.(Lowe’s Motor Speedway PR)(5-8-2006)
UPDATE 2: The second day of NASCAR Busch Series testing Tuesday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway revealed that tire strategy will play a key role in determining the winner of the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 on Saturday night, May 27. In a sport where tires often begin giving up speed after a single lap, the 42 NASCAR Busch Series teams participating in the testing session learned the harder compound tires Goodyear built for the new Lowe’s Motor Speedway surface are very unusual. They actually pick up speed the longer they run, meaning decisions on when to pit for tires will be critical. Speed from Tuesday: 1. Casey Mears, 187.071; 2. Reed Sorenson, 186.554; 3. Denny Hamlin, 186.021; 4. Denny Hamlin/J.J. Yeley, 185.746; 5. Jon Wood, 185.166; 6. Kasey Kahne, 185.109; 7. Paul Menard, 185.096; 8. J.J. Yeley, 185.008; 9. Joel Kauffman, 184.957; 10. Jeff Burton, 184.894; 11. Jamie McMurray, 184.843; 12. Jason Leffler, 184.596; 13. Mark Martin, 184.565; 14. Martin Truex Jr., 184.388; 15. Kyle Busch, 184.388; 16. Carl Edwards, 184.168; 17. Kenny Wallace, 184.074; 18. Stephen Leicht, 183.748; 19. Kertus Davis, 183.711; 20. Todd Kluever, 183.424; 21. Regan Smith, 183.343; 22. Kurt Busch, 183.243; 23. John Andretti, 183.237; 24. Matt Kenseth, 183.212; 25. Stacy Compton, 183.107; 26. Johnny Sauter, 183.038; 27. Clint Bowyer, 182.859; 28. Matt McCall, 182.797; 29. Burney Lamar, 182.469; 30. Mike Wallace, 182.309; 31. Michael Waltrip, 182.297; 32. Tracy Hines, 182.180; 33. Ashton Lewis Jr., 181.996; 34. Scott Wimmer, 181.604; 35. Mark McFarland, 181.372; 36. Eric McClure, 180.929; 37. Brandon Miller, 180.747; 38. David Gilliland, 180.626; 39. Kevin Conway, 180.608; 40. Aaron Fike, 180.433; 41. David Green, 179.742; 42. Danny O’Quinn, 175.575.(Lowe’s Motor Speedway PR)(5-9-2006)
UPDATE 3: NASCAR Busch Series testing concluded Wednesday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, but crew chiefs and engineers will continue to analyze computer data as they make final preparations for the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 on Saturday night, May 27. Those preparations will focus on how to best set up a chassis for the harder compound tire Goodyear has built for the repaved racing surface at the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway. Rookie Aric Almirola bounced back from a crash to post the second fastest lap of the day at 183.306 mph in the #19 Husqvarna Chevy. Tracy Hines spun and backed the #14 Dodge into the wall and Jerry Robertson smacked the SAFER barrier in the #78 Chevy. Speeds from the fimal day of testing Wednesday: 1. Casey Mears, 184.106; 2. Aric Almirola, 183.343; 3. Kurt Busch, 183.306; 4. Jimmie Johnson, 183.299; 5. Kasey Kahne, 182.488; 6. Kevin Harvick, 181.837; 7. Jason Leffler, 181.696; 8. Tracy Hines, 181.543; 9. Joel Kauffman, 181.470; 10. David Gilliland, 181.452; 11. Regan Smith, 181.263; 12. Burney Lamar, 180.638; 13. Matt McCall, 180.445; 14. Ashton Lewis Jr., 180.385; 15. Kevin Conway, 178.141; 16. Jerry Robertson, 177.183; 17. Jorge Goeters, 174.137.(Lowe’s Motor Speedway PR)(5-9-2006)
