Notebook: Daytona announces January test dates

Notebook: Daytona announces January test dates



FONTANA, Calif.—Daytona International Speedway will host a three-day, full-field NASCAR Sprint Cup test session in January, track president Joie Chitwood confirmed Saturday at Auto Club Speedway.The 2.5-mile superspeedway, which will host the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, is in the later stages of a repaving project that began immediately after the Coke Zero 400 in early July. The completion of the resurfacing—the first at the speedway since 1978—initially was targeted for Jan. 1, but because of favorable weather, the repaving is ahead of schedule.
That could make a huge difference to tire maker Goodyear, which would like to test tire combinations in December, if the track is ready. That time frame would allow Goodyear to make modifications, if necessary, to the tires the Cup series would use at Daytona.
If the repaving project isn’t finished until Jan. 1, however, the scheduled Jan. 20-22 Cup test will have to suffice, according Goodyear product manager Rick Heinrich. Goodyear typically starts building its Daytona tires in October, Heinrich said.
If December testing isn’t available, Goodyear plans to use as a baseline the tire the company supplies for Talladega, which was repaved in 2006.
“We have a lot of experience with repaving projects,” said Heinrich, who nevertheless added there is no substitute for actual track time.
“It’s not as wide (as Talladega), and the transitions are different,” Heinrich said of Daytona, which, compared with its 2.66-mile sister superspeedway, traditionally has been considered more of a “handling” track.
Chitwood would love to accommodate Goodyear, if the schedule permits.
“The minute we get it done, we’re going to have somebody out there running something,” Chitwood said.


Kerr will stay on as Labonte’s crew chief
Frank Kerr will remain with the No. 47 JTG/Daugherty Cup team as crew chief for Bobby Labonte, team owner Tad Geschickter confirmed Saturday.
Kerr has served as crew chief for Marcos Ambrose, who is leaving the team at the end of the season to drive the No. 9 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports. Labonte, the 2000 Cup champion, was hired to replace Ambrose.
Labonte and Kerr tested recently at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Ga., and were pleased with the results.
“We did hit it off really well,” Labonte said. “He’s a hard worker, and they’ve got a good, solid foundation. I’m looking forward to hopefully being able to step right in and pick up where they’re at today and hopefully just improve, just because that’s what everybody wants to do.”


Bayne to make Cup debut in Texas?
Trevor Bayne may make his Cup debut next month in Texas, either in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford or perhaps in a fifth car fielded by Roush Fenway Racing, SceneDaily.com reported.
“We have talked about running a Roush car at Texas, but I don’t know (what will happen),” Bayne told SceneDaily.com.
Bayne, who entered Saturday’s race at Auto Club Speedway ninth in the Nationwide Series standings, started the season with Diamond-Waltrip Racing but recently signed with RFR. He made his Nationwide debut with Roush last week at Kansas, where he finished 30th in his first start in the No. 17 Ford.
By Reid Spencer

Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service