Daytona Ford final test

Ford Teams Flock to Daytona for Final Test of Winter

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 12) -- No fewer than 18 Ford NASCAR Winston Cup stock car teams are expected to begin their final three-day test session of the winter Monday at Daytona International Speedway while preparing for the Feb. 16 Daytona 500. Among the teams expected are those of former Daytona 500 winners Geoff Bodine and Bill Elliott, former Pepsi 400 winner Jimmy Spencer, former NASCAR Winston Cup champion Rusty Wallace, former NASCAR Busch Series champion Larry Pearson, Brett Bodine, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd and Michael Waltrip. Wallace has posted the fastest time in testing so far this winter, 47.759 seconds, an average speed of 188.446 mph. Thirteen of the teams will be testing at Daytona for the first time this winter, including those of Loy Allen, the Bodine brothers, Elliott, Bobby Hillin, Martin, Rick Mast, Ted Musgrave, Rudd, Spencer, Kenny Wallace and Michael Waltrip. Pearson, who competed on the NASCAR Busch Series in 1996, will make his debut in Bud Moore's Thunderbird at the test. The teams of John Andretti, Delma Cowart, Jeremy Mayfield, Dick Trickle and Rusty Wallace participated in the first Ford test at Daytona earlier in the month. A section of the Oldfield Grandstand will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at no charge, with access through the DAYTONA USA lobby. Guided Speedway Tours will also be available.