|
|
January Testing Wraps Up at Daytona International Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR Jackson Hewitt Preseason Thunder wrapped up on Tuesday at Daytona International Speedway as the fifth and final day of Busch Series testing in preparation for the Feb. 17 Orbitz 300 NASCAR Busch Series season opener concluded.
2002 Daytona 500 champion Ward Burton, driver of the No. 27B Ford for Brewco Motorsports, was the fastest in the morning session with a speed of 183.782 mph.
In the afternoon session, J.J. Yeley’s Chevrolet was fastest, posting a speed of 187.130.
When Busch Series teams return for the Orbitz 300, the premier event of the season, all eyes will mostly likely be on Kevin Harvick Inc.
For the Orbitz 300, the two-car team will have Tony Stewart in the No. 33 Old Spice Chevrolet and Bobby Labonte in the No. 77 Dollar General Chevrolet.
Stewart has won the past two Orbitz 300s and the No. 77 Chevrolet finished second in last year’s event.
Kertus Davis, who will compete in 13 events in the No. 77 Chevrolet beginning at California Speedway, was assisting the No. 77 team during testing on Tuesday.
After competing with his family-owned team the past two seasons, Davis has quickly realized that Kevin Harvick Inc.
“This is the best driving, handling race car I’ve ever driven around Daytona,” Davis said. “They’ve got some fine equipment, some great people to work with. I can see why they’ve won the past two Daytona inaugural races.”
Flu slows Wood: Jon Wood, driver of the No. 47 Clorox Ford Fusion, missed the first day of his Busch Series test at DIS on Sunday with flu-like symptoms.
But he was back at the track on Monday where he posted the fastest speed in the rain-shortened afternoon drafting session.
“We do have a really good car this year; it's amazing,” said Wood, who finished fourth in the 2006 Orbitz 300. “In years past, we really haven't been able to qualify that well. We race very well, but like I said, we didn't quite have the qualifying package. I'm looking forward to coming back and qualifying, and, obviously, racing as well. Daytona has been, for the most part, good to me."
When asked to handicap the 2007 Busch Series championship, Wood says that Carl Edwards is the man to beat.
"He's the guy to beat in gymnastics,” Wood quipped. “He's the guy to beat in racing, flying airplanes, whatever. He's the best, and you've got to respect a guy that has that type of determination and dedication for what he likes to do."
Next up is the Rolex 24: Beginning Thursday, Daytona International Speedway will welcome the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve for the 45th anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona weekend.
Qualifying for the Rolex 24 is slated for Thursday at 3:45 p.m. with the Fresh from Florida 200 KONI Challenge Series race scheduled for Friday at 2:15 p.m. The clock on the Rolex 24 will start on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
The Rolex 24 will feature a star-studded lineup of champion drivers including:
Daytona 500 winners Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon
Formula One racer, Indianapolis 500 champion and heralded NASCAR NEXTEL rookie Juan Pablo Montoya
NEXTEL Cup Series champions Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rookie AJ Allmendinger and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Bill Lester
Indianapolis 500 champions Helio Castroneves, Sam Hornish Jr., Dan Wheldon, Buddy Rice, Eddie Cheever and IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon
Champ Car Series Champion Paul Tracy
Grand-Am stars Wayne Taylor, Max Angelelli, Hurley Haywood, Scott Pruett, Butch Leitzinger, Andy Wallace, Boris Said and Max Papis.
Speedweeks 2007 tickets available: Tickets for Speedweeks 2007 events, including the 49th annual Daytona 500 and the 49th Orbitz 300 Busch Series race, are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or by logging onto www.racetickets.com
Tuesday morning’s NASCAR Busch Series testing session speeds: 1, 27B, Ward Burton, Ford, 48.971, 183.782
2, 17A, Peter Shepherd, Ford, 49.064, 183.434
3, 7B, Mike Wallace, Chevrolet, 49.228, 182.823
4, 47A, Jon Wood, Ford, 49.357, 182.345
5, 04A, Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 49.371, 182.293
6, 24B, Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 49.432, 182.068
7, 24A, Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 49.465, 181.947
8, 60A, Carl Edwards, Ford, 49.481, 181.888
9, 9B, Bill Elliott, Dodge, 49.495, 181.837
10, 06A, Erik Darnell, Ford, 49.510, 181.781
11, 41A, Kevin Hamlin, Dodge, 49.540, 181.671
12, 27A, Ward Burton, Ford, 49.567, 181.572
13, 12B, Sam Hornish, Jr., Dodge, 49.611, 181.411
14, 70A, Justin Diercks, Chevrolet, 49.627, 181.353
15, 22A, Chad Blount, Dodge, 49.653, 181.258
16, 47B, Jon Wood, Ford, 49.665, 181.214
17, 29A, Scott Wimmer, Chevrolet, 49.727, 180.988
18, 29B, Scott Wimmer, Chevrolet, 49.831, 180.610
19, 12A, Sam Hornish, Jr., Dodge, 49.860, 180.505
20, 1B, J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet, 49.976, 180.086
21, 77B, Kertus Davis, Chevrolet, 49.978, 180.079
22, 33B, R. Hornaday/C. Gale, Chevrolet, 49.991, 180.032 3
23, 34B, Jeff Fuller, Chevrolet, 50.004, 179.986
Tuesday afternoon’s NASCAR Busch Series testing session speeds:1. 1A, J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet, 48.095, 187.130
2. 06A, Erik Darnell, Ford, 48.103, 187.099
3. 33B, R. Hornaday/ C. Gale, Chevrolet, 48.148, 186.924
4. 60A, Carl Edwards, Ford, 48.165, 186.858
5. 9B, Bill Elliott, Dodge, 48.193, 186.749
6. 47A, Jon Wood, Ford, 48.220, 186.645
7. 7B, Mike Wallace, Chevrolet, 48.251, 186.525
8. 24A, Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 48.256, 186.505
9. 47B, Jon Wood, Ford, 48.301, 186.332
10. 27B, Ward Burton, Ford, 48.393, 185.977
11. 12A, Sam Hornish, Jr., Dodge, 48.466, 185.697
12. 22A, Chad Blount, Dodge, 48.476, 185.659
13. 04A, Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 48.482, 185.636
14. 77B, Kertus Davis, Chevrolet, 48.508, 185.536
15. 24B, Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 48.710, 184.767
16. 34B, Jeff Fuller, Chevrolet, 48.955, 183.842
17. 17A, Peter Shepherd, Ford, 49.143, 183.139
18. 41A, Kevin Hamlin, Dodge, 49.228, 182.823
19. 12B, Sam Hornish, Jr., Dodge, 49.436, 182.054
20. 29A, Scott Wimmer, Chevrolet, 49.548, 181.642
21. 29B, Scott Wimmer, Chevrolet, 49.747, 180.915
22. 70A, Justin Diercks, Chevrolet, 49.792, 180.752
23. 70B, Justin Diercks, Chevrolet, 49.816, 180.665
News and Results |
Point Standings |
2006 Schedule |
2005 Schedule and Results
©Copyright 2007 Race 2 Win
|