Mast Fast at Daytona Test

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 15, 1998)

Rick Mast, driving the Remington Arms Ford Taurus, posted a lap of 188.640 mph on the first of two days of testing at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the Oct. 17 Pepsi 400.

Jeff Burton, winner of Sunday's Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 at Richmond International Raceway, recorded a speed of 188.600 mph, as did Kevin Lepage and Michael Waltrip.

Johnny Benson, the fifth and final driver testing under the lights at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, ran a quick lap of 187.891 mph.

The July 4 Pepsi 400 and related activities were postponed until Oct. 15-17 at the "World Center of Racing" due to wildfires in the Volusia County area. The much-anticipated 40th Pepsi 400 on Oct. 17 will be preceded on Oct. 15-16 with practice and qualifying.

Although all tickets for the Pepsi 400 have been sold, tickets for Bud Pole Qualifying are still available by calling the Speedway ticket office at (904) 253-7223.

Testing continues Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway from 3-10 p.m., with the same drivers expected to participate. The tests are open to the public with complimentary grandstand admission available through the Daytona USA Founders Gallery. Source: NASCAR Online