By Staff
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It's time again for the NASCAR Jackson Hewitt Preseason Thunder at Daytona – the sport's annual January test sessions – begins today with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.
All teams that were in odd-number positions in the car owner standings as of July 12, 2006, are scheduled to test today through Wednesday, Jan. 10. The following week, teams in even-number positions in the car owner standings as of July 12, 2006 will test from Monday, Jan. 15 through Wednesday, Jan. 17.
"Daytona testing gives you the chance to get back in the swing of things after the holidays," said Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell Chevrolet), who finished fourth in the 2006 series standings. "It gives you momentum heading into the Budweiser Shootout and the Daytona 500. And it also helps you see where you stack up against other teams."
All sessions begin at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., weather permitting. Each includes a lunch break from noon until 1 p.m. Media covering all sessions will have interview opportunities before and after each day's on-track activities, and during lunch.
Drivers attending next week's session include Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet), the reigning NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion, Harvick, fifth-place finisher Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet) and eighth-place finisher Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge).
P.J. Jones will drive Robby Gordon's No. 7 Jim Beam Ford in next week's session while Mike McLaughlin will drive Tony Stewart's No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet.
NASCAR Busch Series teams will split into two sessions for the first time later this month. Teams in odd-number positions in the car owner standings as of July 9, 2006 will test from Friday, Jan. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 21.
Teams in even-number positions will test from Sunday, Jan. 21 through Tuesday, Jan. 23. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series tests from Friday, Jan. 12 through Sunday, Jan. 14.