Roush Racing Dominates on Second Test Day It was a case of same song, different verse as Roush Racing drivers topped Saturday morning’s NASCAR Jackson Hewitt Preseason Thunder single-truck speed chart just as the team did the day before. Kvapil is now three-for-three in top speeds and his teammates – Erik Darnell (#99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford) and Peter Shepherd (#50 Ford) – aren’t far behind. Friday’s initial drafting drill saw Kvapil record a fast lap of 48.252 seconds/186.521 mph. the lap was fractionally quicker than that of A.J. Allmendinger (#00 Toyota), whose best time was 48.399 seconds/185.954 mph. Back in single-truck mode on Saturday, Kvapil was quickest at 50.180 seconds, 179.354 mph. He was trailed by Darnell, 50.633 seconds/177.750 mph and Canada’s Shepherd, 50.703 seconds/177.504.
What Makes Craftsman Trucks Fun To WatchBrendan Gaughan (#77 South Point Racing Chevy) is never at a loss for words and the Las Vegas native had this to say when asked why a race fan should follow the series. “We have drivers with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup experience and we have 18 year olds that are brand new in the series. If you are a fan you get to watch guys that are driving all sorts of different equipment that have all sorts of talent on their race teams.
Sharing The LoadSeveral teams with developmental drivers will split up the 2007 schedule thus giving fans the opportunity to view more young talent while utilizing the skills of more veteran competitors. Among them are Wood Brothers/JTG Racing where Joey Clanton and Stacy Compton will share the #09 Zaxby’s Ford and Kelly Bires and Daytona winner Mark Martin will take turns in the team’s #21 Ford. Shane Huffman and Clay Rogers will drive Key Motorsports’ #40 Chevy while Allmendinger, open-wheel star Josh Wise and Ken Butler III will make appearances in Darrell Waltrip’s #00 ToyotaFirst-Time Driver Combo For Circle Bar RacingFive-time and 2003 Daytona winner Rick Crawford (#14 Power Stroke Diesel Ford) will have a teammate for the first time this season – and no surprise, it’s Houston native David Starr (#10 MaxxForce Diesel Ford). Circle Bar Racing owner Tom Mitchell of Ozona, Tex. jumped at the opportunity to put a fellow native of the Lone Star State in the seat once sponsorship matters were settled. “There was no Plan B,” said Crawford. Circle Bar acquired the assets of ppc Racing which included the services of Dennis Connor, a three-time championship crew chief and 26-time series winner.(NASCAR PR)(1-13-2007)
Fast Facts:
Session 2: Truck Series teams
What: Jackson Hewitt Preseason Thunder testing for the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado HD 250
Where: Daytona International Speedway
Track Layout: 2.5-mile tri-oval
TV: SPEED, Friday, Jan. 12, 7 pm/et and Sunday, Jan. 14, 6:30 pm/et
When: Friday, Jan. 12 through Sunday, Jan. 14
Times: 9 am- 5 pm
Who: Drivers include former series champions Todd Bodine, Ron Hornaday Jr., Travis Kvapil, Ted Musgrave, Mike Skinner and Jack Sprague. Previous Daytona 250 winners expected include Rick Crawford. Daytona Budweiser Pole winners Musgrave and Terry Cook also will test.(NASCAR PR)(1-12-2007)
