Daytona Testing Week Two: Day One

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By Greg Engle
Editor, Cup Scene Daily
January 15
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7:00AM- In route to the speedway, I expect to arrive and get set up around 10AM. Look for reports and photos soon after.... stay tuned!

Second Nextel Cup Daytona Test session kicks off today

January 15

(DAYTONA BEACH Fla)-Round two of preseason testing for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series begins Monday morning at Daytona International Speedway.

A total of 28 teams are scheduled to test; cars in even numbered positions in the car owner standings as of July 12, 2006. Chevy’s led the way in testing last week and should do so this week.

Juan Pablo Montoya and AJ Allmendinger will be taking their first laps at Daytona in Nextel Cup cars, although both have tested at Daytona in recent weeks. Montoya on the road course in preparation for the Rolex 24 and Allmendinger with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this past weekend.

Four-time champion Jeff Gordon will be among the Chevy contingent along with Jeff Burton and 2006 rookie of the year Denny Hamlin.

Nextel Cup cars take laps at Daytona during last weeks testing session
(CSD/Greg Engle)

Ford will have Roush Racing drivers Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards leading the way, while Dodge will be led by Penske Racing’s Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman.

Michael Waltrip and David Reutimann will be testing their Toyota’s.

Mark Martin will be testing with his new Ginn Racing while his replacement at Roush Todd Kluever will test.

Wrapping up last week, the fastest overall was No. 66-Jeff Green at 186.722 followed by the No. 8A-Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 44C-Dale Jarrett (Toyota) No. 96A-Tony Raines and No. 25B-Casey Mears.

Slowest of the 28 drivers last week was No. 27-Kirk Shelmerdine at 182.667mph. 4,842 total laps were run last week. No. 41-Reed Sorenson ran the most laps in a given session (105 on Wednesday afternoon). No. 22-Dave Blaney ran the most total laps (295) this week. Of the 26 teams that tested last week, 13 were Chevy’s, five were Dodges, five were Fords and three were Toyotas.

Testing will take place from 9AM to 5PM through Wednesday. Thursday is the optional rain day. Wednesday’s forecast calls for a slight chance of rain

Teams/Drivers expected to participate in the second Nextel Cup Series test session on Jan. 15-17
(Note that this list is tentative and subject to change):
#17-Matt Kenseth
#31-Jeff Burton
#6-David Regan
#5-Kyle Busch
#24-Jeff Gordon
#11-Denny Hamlin
#99-Carl Edwards
#07-Clint Bowyer
#12-Ryan Newman
#19-Elliott Sadler
#42-Juan Pablo Montoya
#38-David Gilliland
#2-Kurt Busch
#18-J.J. Yeley
#01-Mark Martin
#45-Kyle Petty
#21-Ken Schrader
#40-David Stremme
#55-Michael Waltrip
#78-Kenny Wallace
#15-Paul Menard
#00-David Reutimann
#84-#A.J. Allmendinger
#4-Ward Burton [per team, moved to 2nd week]
#72-Brandon Whitt
#49-Mike Bliss
#23-Mike Skinner
(28 drivers/teams currently listed)

DRIVERS/TEAMS NOT listed but expected to test:
#34/61/92-Front Row Motorsports, no plans announced
#36-Jeremy Mayfield
#37-Bill Elliott
#58-James Hylton
#70-Johnny Sauter

Kvapil dominates truck tests

January 15

There's little argument in the Craftsman Truck Series garage who is the favorite to win the eighth annual Chevy Silverado HD 250 on Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway.

Travis Kvapil's No. 6 Roush Racing Ford was the fastest truck during every session of the three-day test at Daytona
(DIS)
Overall NCTS Daytona Test Speeds

Travis Kvapil's No. 6 Roush Racing Ford was the fastest truck during every session of the three-day test at Daytona. His top speed of 186.521 mph from the Friday afternoon was the fastest speed of the entire weekend.

Kvapil's No. 6 Roush Racing team captured last year's Chevy Silverado HD 250 with veteran Mark Martin. For this weekend's test, the team brought that truck as well as a new Ford F-150 for Kvapil.

"It's first laps were here," said Kvapil, who fast speed on Sunday was 184.778.

Sunday's final day of testing – all drafting practice – was shortened by morning showers. Drivers took to the track a few minutes past noon after a delay of about three hours.

Several teams called an early end to testing following the conclusion of Saturday's afternoon round. Among them was Kevin Harvick Inc.'s pair of trucks. Ron Hornaday Jr. clocked the ninth fastest single-truck lap with teammate Cale Gale 15th in the No. 2 Chevrolet. Hornaday was the quickest Chevrolet at 51.168 seconds/175.891 mph.

The Darrell Waltrip Motorsports crew actually called it quits on Saturday with 2-1/2 hours remaining, obviously pleased with Almendinger's performance.

There were only two Dodges in the garage – both fielded by Bobby Hamilton Racing – but Chase Miller (No. 4 Dodge) showed among the top half of 33 drivers on the single-lap chart. His 13th-best lap was 51.299 seconds/175.442 mph.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Director Wayne Auton termed the three days of testing successful on several fronts.

"The trucks definitely, as far as aerodynamics, have done exactly what we felt like we could accomplish with four new trucks in the garage area, which is to keep the speeds where we were before (or) maybe a little less," he said.

A number of drivers told Auton the package shouldn't diminish passing opportunities.

"I've heard most of them say that with a little bit of help, you can get out and pass somebody but you can still pull out and go around a line of trucks even if they are lined up in front of you," said Auton.

Testing Continues At Homestead-Miami Speedway Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 17-18 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The 1.5-mile track hosts the Ford 200, the season finale, on Nov. 16. Testing will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on both days with Friday, Jan. 19 reserved in event of inclement weather. The year's final test is scheduled for May 10-11 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

MONDAY Photo Gallery:
(Please do not hot link to these photos, Email Me for permission)