NASCAR Sprint Cup News and Notes
By Bram • Apr 15th, 2008 • Category: NASCAR, Notes, Sprint Cup Series
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Test Session Added for Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Teams Scheduled For Additional Test May 5-6
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 15, 2008) – NASCAR announced today the addition of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test session May 5-6 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. On May 5 practice times are set from 9 a.m. – 12 noon; 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.; and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. On May 6 practice times are set from 9 a.m. – 12 noon and 1 p.m. – 5p.m. Teams may test a maximum of four of those five practice segments.
NASCAR visited with the teams this past weekend at Phoenix about the possibility of adding a test to further prepare for the remaining 17 events the series has at intermediate tracks the rest of the season, including next month’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The extra test gives the series seven sanctioned test sessions this year, the same number the teams had in 2007.
“We received input from the teams last weekend at Phoenix and a vast majority of them were receptive to adding a test next month at Lowe’s,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition. “We always strive to work with the teams and do what is in the best interest of the competitors. We have 17 events ahead of us on intermediate tracks and the additional test allows the teams the opportunity to learn more about the new car, work on their setups and adjustments, and apply that information to these future races.”
Yeley Out, Reutimann In, As Smith Retains Crucial 35th Spot
Fortunes continue to shift for teams attempting to enter, or stay, in the top 35 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner standings.
Each week, those teams are guaranteed starting positions, and last Saturday’s event at Phoenix International Raceway tumbled the order for those on the top-35 “bubble” yet again.
The No. 01 Dale Earnhardt Inc./Principal Chevrolet owned by Teresa Earnhardt and driven by Regan Smith remains 35th for the third consecutive week.
And only 40 points separate the four teams trailing in 36th through 39th.
The No. 96 DLP HDTV Toyota owned by Jeffrey Moorad driven by J.J. Yeley is 36th, a drop of three spots. Yeley trails Smith by three points in the owner standings.
The No. 44 UPS Toyota driven by David Reutimann and owned by Michael Waltrip is 34th, a gain of four spots. Reutimann finished 18th at Phoenix, returning his team for the top 35 for the first time in three weeks.
Behind Yeley, the No. 22 Caterpillar Toyota owned by Bill Davis and driven by Dave Blaney is 37th, only five points behind Yeley and eight points out of 35th.
The No. 70 Haas Automation Chevrolet owned by Margaret Haas and driven by Johnny Sauter is 38th, only four points behind Blaney and 12 points out of 35th.
The No. 40 Dodge owned by Felix Sabates and driven by Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Dario Franchitti is 39th, 40 points out.
Although 41st and 165 points behind 35th, fellow rookie Patrick Carpentier and the No. 10 LifeLock Dodge owned by George Gillett Jr., continue their climb. Carpentier fell to 48th after the year’s second event at Auto Club Speedway, but has gained seven spots in the last six weeks.
With the exrea testing at LMS expect Edie Gossage to be screaming in the media shortly.
And I wouldn’t blame him for a second, Eddie was denied extra practice at TMS yet NASCAR in their [lack of] infinite wisdom allows it for an obvious attempt at putting on a better show during All Star Weekend.
I am sure Gossage would’ve liked a better show at SMI’s Texas facility, but I think he’ll be just as happy with benefit he reaps from the testing at SMI’s Charlotte facility. (that being Lowe’s Motor Speedway , for those that don’t know.) I’m also sure Bruton will explain it all to Eddie, if he needs to. (wink, wink, nudge,nudge)
I’m sure that for Humpy’s World, there needs to be a the better show. The match-race format needs to be tight and have the potential for controversy or a Jeff Gordon win or … (insert scenario here)
Hard to achieve prime-time success if the cars are incapable of handling and maybe passing each other at the end. This may net enough for some side-by-side racing when the shootout-styled dash for cash comes around.
Its the Series Sponsor’s All-Star race and all that goes along with that.