TALLADEGA, Ala. – NASCAR confirmed Friday afternoon that GMS Racing driver Johnny Sauter will test the new spec engine Saturday afternoon at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway following Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying for Sunday’s Alabama 500.
Sauter, the reigning Truck Series champion who alongside his teammate Spencer Gallagher conducted the previous testing for the new “Delta” engine at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway this summer, will perform the confirmation test at the 2.66-mile superspeedway with the Ilmor-designed engine in a purpose-built truck.
Livonia, Mich.-based Ilmor currently provides spec engines for the ARCA Racing Series at an estimated cost of about $40,000 per unit. The product has received rave reviews by its competitors over the past few years.
Each engine can compete for approximately 1,500 miles at various track lengths before needing to be serviced and possibly rebuilt.
Although expected to be introduced to the Truck Series as a cost-saving measure for teams, many expect with its entry, factory support to NASCAR’s top truck organizations to be reduced considerably moving forward.
Kyle Busch Motorsports and ThorSport Racing are among those who currently receive manufacturer support from Toyota.
Brad Keselowski Racing, another team who receives manufacturer support from Ford Performance will fold following the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway next month.
Some teams estimate the spec engine could reduce engine costs by $500,000 or more in their yearly competition budget.
NASCAR is expected to roll-out the optional spec engine beginning at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in Feb. 2018, with the sanctioning body expecting to make it mandatory in 2019.
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