SCC: BUSCH: Daytona Test: Thursday opens test sessions

Daytona International Speedway Ready For Testing Madness

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.., (Jan. 2, 2001) -- The January testing season at Daytona International Speedway has arrived.

On Thursday, Jan. 3, the Grand American Road Racing Association will take charge of the "World Center of Racing" for a three-day test in preparation for the 40th anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Feb. 2-3.

The test session should have a NASCAR feel with several Winston Cup Series drivers expected to attend looking to get some seat time. Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Kyle Petty, Jeff Burton, John Andretti, Wally Dallenbach and Robby Gordon have finalized plans to compete in the twice-around-the-clock sportscar race.

The NASCAR Winston Cup Series teams will test for Speedweeks 2002 and the 44th annual Daytona 500 a little different this year. On Jan. 7-9, the teams that finished in the odd-numbered owner's points standings in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series will test on the 2.5-mile tri-oval with Jan. 10 serving as a rain date. On Jan. 14-16, the even-numbered teams in the owner's standings will test with Jan. 17 serving as a rain date.

"The way they're doing testing I think is really neat," said Todd Parrott, crew chief of the No. 88 UPS Ford driven by three-time Daytona 500 champion Dale Jarrett. "It's the way it should be. They're taking the final (owner) standings and instead of having manufacturer tests, they're mixing all the cars up. When they have cars down there testing, you're going to know who your competition is because you're going to be down there testing against different makes of cars rather than a bunch of Fords.

"That's going to make it fun and different. I'm looking forward to it."

On Jan. 12-13, the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series will prep for the DAYTONA USA 150 season-opening event on Feb. 9 while on Jan. 18-20, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will test for the Feb. 15 Florida Dodge Dealers 250.

The NASCAR Busch Series teams that finished in the odd-numbered spots in the owner's points standings will test on Jan. 21-22 in preparation for the Feb. 16 EAS/GNC Live Well 300 with Jan. 23 serving as a rain date. On Jan. 24-25, the even-numbered Busch Series teams will test with Jan. 26 serving as a rain date.

Oldfield Grandstand access is free and open to the public during testing with access through the lobby of DAYTONA USA. Tickets for Speedweeks 2002 events can be purchased online at ww.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.

<pre> January Testing Schedule 3 -- 5 Rolex 24 Test 7 -- 9 NASCAR Winton Cup Test -- Odd Car Owner Points 12 -- 13 NASCAR Goody's Dash Series Test 14 -- 16 NASCAR Winston Cup Test -- Even Car Owner Points 18 -- 20 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Test 21 -- 22 NASCAR Busch Series Test -- Odd Car Owner Points 24 -- 25 NASCAR Busch Series Test -- Even Car Owner Points

Session No. 1 Jan. 7-9 Odd-numbered teams

Here's a list of some of the odd-number finishing positions in 2001 owners point standings that are eligible to test on Jan. 7-9 at Daytona International Speedway: No. 24 Chevrolet, Jeff Gordon No. 40 Dodge, Sterling Marlin No. 88 Ford, Dale Jarrett No. 29 Chevrolet, Kevin Harvick No. 8 Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 1 Chevrolet, Kenny Wallace No. 6 Ford, Mark Martin No. 22 Dodge, Ward Burton No. 26 Ford, Joe Nemechek No. 55 Chevrolet, Bobby Hamilton No. 36 Pontiac, Ken Schrader No. 77 Ford, Dave Blaney No. 32 Ford, Ricky Craven No. 5 Chevrolet, Terry Labonte No. 31 Chevrolet, Robby Gordon No. 97 Ford, Kurt Busch No. 66 Ford, Todd Bodine No. 11 Ford, Brett Bodine No. 4 Chevrolet, Mike Skinner No. 44 Dodge, Buckshot Jones No. 71 Chevrolet, Dave Marcis No. 85 Dodge, Carl Long No. 48 Chevrolet, Jimmie Johnson No. 14 Pontiac, TBA

Session 2; Jan. 14-16 Even-numbered teams

Here's a list of some of the even-number finishing positions in 2001 owners point standings that are eligible to test on Jan. 14-16 at Daytona International Speedway:

No. 20 Pontiac, Tony Stewart No. 28 Ford, Ricky Rudd No. 18 Pontiac, Bobby Labonte No. 2 Ford, Rusty Wallace No. 99 Ford, Jeff Burton No. 10 Pontiac, Johnny Benson No. 17 Ford, Matt Kenseth No. 9 Dodge, Bill Elliott No. 25 Chevrolet, Jerry Nadeau No. 12 Ford, Ryan Newman No. 21 Ford, Elliott Sadler No. 15 Chevrolet, Michael Waltrip No. 19 Dodge, Jeremy Mayfield No. 7 Dodge, Casey Atwood No. 43 Dodge, John Andretti No. 90 Ford, Rick Mast No. 45 Dodge, Kyle Petty No. 23 Dodge, Hut Stricklin No. 41 Dodge, Jimmy Spencer No. 13 Ford, Hermie Sadler No. 30 Chevrolet, Jeff Green No. 92 Dodge, TBA No. 33 Chevrolet, TBA

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