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2013 Daytona Preseason Thunder Pack Draft 2Feeling A Draft: Pack Mentality Returns To Daytona

Drivers Test Drafting At Daytona For First Time In Gen-6 Car
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 11, 2013) – Day 2 of Preseason Thunder at Daytona International Speedway offered a little bit of everything, with the highlight coming in the afternoon as the pack returned to the high banks.
Friday’s second session opened with a multi-car pack working on drafting around the hallowed 2.5-mile superspeedway. About an hour into the afternoon test session, a 12-car accident ended several teams’ day.
During Day 2’s media availability, NASCAR’s 10-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. talked about his anticipation for the upcoming 2013 season.
“I feel like that the sport is in a good healthy place,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. “We have a good opportunity to grow.  With this car we have a chance to do something great and really make a big impact … I think the racing is as exciting as it has been in a long time.  You look at some of these old races and look back at some of the events that we had in the ‘80s and the ‘90s … it always is changing and it always will, but I think we have improved it.”
Trevor Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 champion, posted the fastest lap of both days at 199.650 mph, set in the afternoon session.
“The biggest thing was just how the draft was working more like it used to be,” said Martin Truex Jr. “There were no two-car tandems, it was cool being able to back up off the leader and get runs and take the lead and do things like you used to do.  It has a little bit more strategy involved than just holding it wide open and hitting the guy in front of you as hard as you could, so I thought it was cool.”
With The Sprint Unlimited (Feb. 16 on SPEED, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio) and the Daytona 500 (Feb. 24 on FOX, Motor Racing Network Radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio) a little more than a month away, Greg Biffle is readying himself for what he believes will be a “fun” and “exciting” Speedweeks.
“The cars are stuck less and they are looser,” said Greg Biffle. “That is good for racing. It is good for the fans. It will make it more exciting and make pit strategy come into play. If you put tires on, you will be able to go faster. I think all of that is good. This is going to be a heck of a race. I like that the cars were sliding around and hard to drive. It will make it a fun race.”
Off the track, Jimmie Johnson, 2006 Daytona 500 winner, has partnered with Daytona International Speedway to provide fans with “The 48 Experience,” the ultimate race fan package for the Daytona 500.
“I became a fan of racing as a kid and I think the future of our sport really relies on connecting with the young kids and helping them get involved in the sport and understanding and being around it,” said Jimmie Johnson. “Hopefully, this program can contribute to that.”
“The 48 Experience” and great seats are still available for the 55th Annual Daytona 500 on February 24.  Call 1-800-PITSHOP or visit www.daytona500.com.
Tomorrow concludes 2013 Preseason Thunder for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams. Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition, will be available in the media center at 12:30 p.m.

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Pack Is Back At Talladega After Successful Return Of Pack Racing At Daytona
Traditional pack racing returned to Daytona International Speedway in February making this year’s Daytona 500 one of the memorable in history. Look for more of the same in Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, at 2.66 miles in length the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ longest track. Talladega equals excitement: Last year’s Aaron’s 499 matched series records for lead changes (88) and closest margin of victory (0.002 seconds). Fact: every Talladega race finishing under the green flag since introduction of electonic scoring in 1993 has recorded an MOV of under a half second.

Daytona 500 Winner Matt Kenseth On Pack Racing:
“I think you will see racing similar to Daytona. I don’t know why it would be much different. Daytona has the new pavement and a lot of grip just like Talladega. It is the same rules package so I think you will see racing like you did during Speedweeks.”

Continue reading “THE PACK IS BACK AT TALLADEGA”

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Race Winner: Kyle Busch
Age: 26
Team: No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Owner: Joe Gibbs Crew Chief: Dave Rogers
– Kyle Busch won the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, his first victory in six starts in the annual non-points preseason event.
– Busch’s previous best finish in the Shootout was fourth in 2010.
– Busch led three laps in the victory, the fifth time he has led the Shootout.
– This is the first Budweiser Shootout victory for Toyota.
– The margin of victory of .013 seconds is the closest in Budweiser Shootout history.
– Tony Stewart finished second, his eighth top-10 finish in the last nine Shootouts.
– Marcos Ambrose finished third in his Budweiser Shootout debut.

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Day Three: NASCAR Preseason Thunder At Daytona International Speedway
NASCAR And Teams Continue Data Collection On Final Day Of Testing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 14, 2012) — As the final day of Preseason Thunder wrapped, there was certainly no shortage of information NASCAR and the teams gathered during this three-day test as speeds continued to stand close to the 200-mph mark.

Kasey Kahne led the morning session with a speed of 201.545 mph, with Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jimmie Johnson also posting times near the top of the charts.

Continue reading “Preseason Thunder Daytona Testing: Day 3 Update”