The forecast for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 is for temperatures in the mid-80s, the warmest conditions of the 2008 season. In the summer of 2003, WIX Filters worked to develop a cabin air filtration technology that would clean the breathing air supplied to the driver.

The result is a system in which air enters through an intake in the passenger side window and passes via a hose through the filtration system, where it is “scrubbed” of carbon monoxide by small catalyst beads. The scrubbed air passes through a WIX cabin air filter that captures soot, debris and fumes. The clean air then is cooled before entering the driver’s helmet.

Prior to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice this afternoon, drivers Denny Hamlin and David Reutimann comment on the advantages of using the system.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FEDEX KINKO’S/MARCH OF DIMES TOYOTA: “To have the peace of mind that you have good fresh air, it means a lot to you. Over the course of 400 or 500 miles you’ve got to have the most air, the most liquid in your body at the end of that as possible to have a straight mind. And the only way to do that is to have the WIX systems which we have.”

DO YOU HAVE GOOD QUALITY AIR INSIDE THE CAR OR IS IT STALE? “I mean, we have a little bit in the car. A lot of the races we’re not able to run the air conditioning systems that we have. Most racetracks we do have it and it’s a huge benefit to us drivers.”

DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 44 UPS TOYOTA: “That’s the only thing you’ve got to try and keep your wits about you is that little bit of air blowing through your helmet and to know that it’s being filtered with the stuff that they use, I mean, it makes a big difference. I’m glad we got it. I sure wouldn’t want to know what we’d have to do without it.”

YOU HAVE RUN THE OLDER STYLE CUP CAR AND THIS NEW DESIGN. IS THERE MORE AIR PRESENT IN THE NEW CAR DESIGN? “You’ve never had all that much air going through the cars regardless of what you’ve been driving, the newer car or the older car. Again, that’s kind of our lifeline, you know, when you get right down to it. That’s the only source of cool air we’ve got and it’s not always that cool but at least it’s filtered and that’s the main thing.”

CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE INSDIE THE CAR BETWEEN WARM DAY AND A COOL DAY? “Absolutely. You can tell certainly inside the car. If it was 30 degrees when the dropped the green flag I’d love that. I know it’s not good for the fans but as a driver it’s a whole lot easier on us.”