This week's Daytona Testing

Hi everyone,

Testing is over and now it's a waiting game until the Bud Shootout for more racing action. My husband is glad to see the NASCAR season start. Every year I go through severe NASCAR withdrawals at the end of the season and if my Cowboys lose a game my husband and the cats all run for the hills! Or I get a suggestion about "Are you sure you don't need to go ------?" Fill in the blank with anywhere but here!

I watched Saturday's testing session and was impressed with the new track surface. The cars looked to have a much smoother line with more handleing control. The speeds were really fast on the back stretch, reaching 203 mph and over 197 mph in the draft. I would guess that NASCAR is going to leave the restrictor plate size alone, the speeds don't seem to be a problem.

Will the Shootout and the Duels give us a sense of who will team up for the big dance at the Daytona 500?  The best draft partners will be the teams that can keep the car cooler longer for the push and have the best car nose/tail matchups. Airflow to the cooling of the cars are limiting the draft runs to approximately 3 1/2 laps now. If a couple of teams can get a longer run it will be a definite advantage for them.

With the new with E15 fuel and the new fuel cans coming to the Sprint Cup Series it should make for some interesting pit stops. Some of the have experience with the system and the new fuel from the Camping World Trucks. Will that help them have faster pit stops? The decrease in fuel mileage will result in more pit stops for fuel, but they won't need as many tire changes.

The new Goodyear tires have a good showing so far. Traction looks to be good and they don't seem to wear out as fast. There should be less four tire change during pit stops.

So it looks to me like it's going to come down to who can hook up in a draft, stay out of the "Big One", get to the front and hang in there the longest.

I can only hope the days go by fast! Withdrawal pains hurt and testing is only a teaser!  I want more, more, more NASCAR!