Many left Daytona International Speedway yesterday expecting weather to be a factor Saturday, but it proved to be a picture-perfect day, which set up for eight hours of NASCAR Nationwide Series testing, the first of two days in preparation for the season-opening DRIVE4COPD 300 on Saturday, February 22.
Newcomer Dylan Kwasniewski (49.071 / 183.408 miles per hour) led RAB Racing’s James Buescher (49.074 / 183.397 miles per hour) in the morning session with Kyle Larson, Elliott Sadler and Ty Dillon rounding out the top-five.
Roush Fenway Racing’s Ryan Reed, Trevor Bayne, JRM’s Bill Elliott, Richard Petty Motorsports’ Dakoda Armstrong was ninth with Ryan Blaney closing out the top-10.
After lunch, it was all about JR Motorsports. Freshman driver Chase Elliott with backing from NAPA Auto Parts led the way in his No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro maneuvering a time of 47.874 seconds at 187.993 miles per hour in-toe with his father Bill Elliott in second (47.879 seconds / 187.974 miles per hour) and Regan Smith (47.885 seconds / 187.950 miles per hour) rounding out the top-three podium effort. Ty Dillon was fourth with Roush Fenway Racing’s Trevor Bayne rounding out the top-five.
David Ragan set to make his 100th Nationwide Series start next month was sixth, Chris Buescher seventh, Kyle Larson eighth, Dylan Kwasniewski ninth and Viva Motorsports Jamie Dick rounding out the top-10.
In all, 25 teams tested Saturday including, Tanner Berryhill (Vision Racing), Matt Carter (Carl Long Inc.) and Harrison Rhodes (Carl Long Inc.), who opted out of the morning runs.
Saturday Notebook:
NASCAR Bans Tandem Drafting: NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton announced on Saturday that NASCAR will ban tandem drafting in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series in 2014. This new form of drafting was restricted to two vehicles and initiated mix reviews, but now NASCAR is trying to ban it in the wake of vicious incidents in both divisions last year. The purpose of tandem drafting was that one car pushes another car around the track to increase the speed of both cars substantially. While NASCAR stated Saturday that they expect the drivers to police themselves regarding the new rule, NASCAR said that they will intervene if they deem it necessary, which could lead to black flag penalties.
Dylan Kwasniewski Plans To Run ARCA Race: While his 2013 NASCAR plans still remain uncertain, Dylan Kwasniewski does plan to participate in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards’ Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAVTV American Real on February 15. Kwasniewski is expected to run an ARCA entry with Turner Scott Motorsports, the same operation he won the 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship with. The Las Vegas, Nevada native is testing at Daytona International Speedway this weekend driving the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro under an observatory status from NASCAR. Pending NASCAR approval, Kwasniewski could run the DRIVE4COPD 300 Nationwide Series opener for TSM.
Locked And Loaded: Ty Dillon doesn’t have to worry about sponsorship in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for a while. Mike Dillon, vice president of competition confirmed Saturday that his son, the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Nationwide Series has sponsorship locked up for the next two years through the conclusion of the 2015 season. WESCO was the latest sponsor to re-up with the organization this weekend. The younger brother of reining Nationwide Series champion Austin Dillon is expected to also have backing from Bass Pro Shops and the University of Northwestern Ohio; among others.
Roush Fenway Racing Set For Three In 2014: Despite Travis Pastrana’s departure from the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Roush Fenway Racing will still have three NNS teams in 2014. Chris Buescher, the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards champion is scheduled to run a full-season this year after running a partial schedule in 2013. While sponsorship has yet to be announced from this effort, much speculation that some to most funding will be provided by Ford. In addition to Buescher, RFR will have Trevor Bayne (No. 6 AdvoCare Ford Mustang) and Ryan Reed (No. 16 American Diabetes Association Drive to Stop Diabetes / Lilly Diabetes Ford Mustang).
2014 NNS Preseason Thunder Day 1 A.M. Test Session Speeds
Pos Car # Drivers Name Make Laps Best Time Best Speed 1. 31 Dylan Kwasniewski Chv 30 49.071 183.408 2. 99 James Buescher Tyt 24 49.074 183.397 3. 32 Kyle Larson Chv 30 49.238 182.786 4. 11 Elliott Sadler Tyt 12 50.048 179.827 5. 3 Ty Dillon Chv 24 50.169 179.394 6. 16 Ryan Reed Frd 18 50.180 179.354 7. 6 Trevor Bayne Frd 22 50.287 178.973 8. 5 Bill Elliott Chv 27 50.295 178.944 9. 43 Dakoda Armstrong Frd 27 50.502 178.211 10. 22 Ryan Blaney Frd 23 50.503 178.207 11. 7 Regan Smith Chv 19 50.521 178.144 12. 2 Brian Scott Chv 15 50.544 178.063 13. 60 Chris Buescher Frd 21 50.626 177.774 14. 62 Brendan Gaughan Chv 11 50.691 177.546 15. 98 David Ragan Frd 16 50.695 177.532 16. 9 Chase Elliott Chv 17 50.746 177.354 17. 85 Bobby Gerhart Chv 11 50.991 176.502 18. 84 Chad Boat Chv 17 51.173 175.874 19. 55 Jamie Dick Chv 5 51.510 174.723 20. 23 Ryan Ellis Frd 7 51.927 173.320 21. 52 Joey Gase Tyt 5 52.241 172.278
2014 NNS Preseason Thunder Day 1 P.M. Test Session Speeds
Pos Car # Drivers Name Make Laps Best Time Best Speed 1. 9 Chase Elliott Chv 58 47.874 187.993 2. 5 Bill Elliott Chv 65 47.879 187.974 3. 7 Regan Smith Chv 55 47.885 187.950 4. 3 Ty Dillon Chv 76 47.922 187.805 5. 6 Trevor Bayne Frd 57 47.938 187.743 6. 98 David Ragan Frd 25 47.997 187.512 7. 60 Chris Buescher Frd 49 48.026 187.398 8. 32 Kyle Larson Chv 60 48.066 187.243 9. 31 Dylan Kwasniewski Chv 61 48.112 187.064 10. 55 Jamie Dick Chv 39 48.138 186.962 11. 2 Brian Scott Chv 53 48.172 186.831 12. 43 Dakoda Armstrong Frd 57 48.178 186.807 13. 99 James Buescher Tyt 55 48.203 186.710 14. 16 Ryan Reed Frd 52 48.216 186.660 15. 62 Brendan Gaughan Chv 36 48.232 186.598 16. 85 Bobby Gerhart Chv 30 48.818 184.358 17. 17 Tanner Berryhill Tyt 28 49.269 182.671 18. 23 Ryan Ellis Frd 30 49.716 181.028 19. 22 Ryan Blaney Frd 22 50.025 179.910 20. 11 Elliott Sadler Tyt 27 50.041 179.853 21. 84 Chad Boat Chv 27 50.474 178.310 22. 13 Harrison Rhodes Dge 15 51.425 175.012 23. 28 Matt Carter Dge 4 51.631 174.314 24. 52 Joey Gase Tyt 11 51.834 173.631 25. 73 Derrike Cope Chv 11 52.162 172.539
Source: Timing and Scoring provided by NASCARMedia/NASCAR Statistics
