High Speeds Lead to New Plates
RacingOne Report
TALLADEGA, Ala. - Cars hit the track for the first time on Thursday for the Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.
The NASCAR Busch Series teams participated in two separate practice sessions as they prepped for Friday's two high-speed qualifying laps in the Birmingham News Qualifying for Saturday's Aaron's 312 Busch Series race.
Phoenix Racing's Mike Wallace was fastest in the first session behind the wheel is No. 7 Geico Chevrolet with a speed of 197.342 mph. Rounding out the top five on the practice hart were Kevin Harvick Inc.'s Tony Stewart (197.195), defending Aaron's 312 pole sitter J.J. Yeley (196.435), Jon Wood (195.804) and rookie Marcos Ambrose (195.329).
Following the first practice session, NASCAR adjusted the restrictor-plate holes for the Busch Series cars from 15/16ths of an inch to 29/32nds of an inch. The change will limit air flow through the carburetor and reduce speeds.
In the second and final practice session for Busch Series teams, Mike Bliss in the No. 22 Family Dollar Dodge was fastest with a fast lap of 193.162 followed by Ward Burton (192.684), Brent Sherman (192.305), three-time defending Aaron's 312 champion Martin Truex Jr. (192.073) and Greg Biffle (191.723).
More than 20 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers will be moonlighting in the Aaron's Dream Weekend by competing in both the Aaron's 312 and the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event.
Among the NEXTEL Cup drivers entered in Saturday's Aaron's 312 including Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Stewart and Kevin Harvick. Others planning to qualify for the Aaron's 312 include Truex Jr., Carl Edwards, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Gilliland, Jamie McMurray, Bobby Labonte, Casey Mears, Kyle Busch, Biffle, Reed Sorenson, Yeley, Clint Bowyer, Regan Smith, David Ragan, Kasey Kahne, Dave Blaney, Burton and David Reutimann. Of the drivers mentioned above, Carl Edwards, David Ragan, David Reutimann and Yeley have committed to running both series.
On tap for Friday's schedule include Birmingham News Qualifying for the Aaron's 312 and a pair of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series practice sessions for Sunday's Aaron's 499.
www.racingone.com