With the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season-opener less than six weeks away, Monday’s open-test session at Daytona International Speedway allowed teams to fine tune their chassis in preparation for the February 21st running of the NextEra Energy Resources 250.
19 teams partook in the morning test session around the 2.5-mile superspeedway and it was NCWTS newcomer Ben Kennedy who topped the charts in his No. 31 Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado.
TSM teammate Jeb Burton was second, followed by Red Horse Racing’s Timothy Peters, John Wes Townley in his new ride with Wauters Motorsports and Kyle Busch Motorsports’ Darrell Wallace Jr. to round out the top-five.
German Quiorga was sixth, Tyler Reddick in his Brad Keselowski Racing debut seventh, Sean Corr for Empire Racing eighth, Kyle Busch ninth and Mason Mingus for Win-Tron Racing 10th.
Other notables in the morning session included: Joey Coulter in his new ride for GMS Racing (12th), Ryan Ellis in FDNY Racing’s No. 28 (14th), Ryan Sieg for family-owned RSS Racing (14th), Ross Chastain in ThorSport Racing’s third entry (16th).
In the afternoon practice, drafting came into heavy play.
Ryan Ellis, who tested with Rick Ware Racing Saturday and Sunday for the Nationwide Series open test led the opening round of drafting practice on Monday in a group of six vehicles. Jeb Burton, Ben Kennedy, John Wes Townley, Sean Corr and Ryan Blaney were among the drivers in the same drafting group as Ellis.
Later on in the day though, German Quiorga under new leadership from Butch Hylton drafted his way to the top spot ahead of Jeb Burton, ARCA’s Corr, Kennedy and Timothy Peters.
Ben Kennedy taking the role for James Buescher, who graduated to the NASCAR Nationwide Series flew to the top of the speed charts just after 4:00 p.m. with Matt Crafton behind.
When the checkered flag was thrown for the day, however, Jeb Burton, the sophomore driver for Turner Scott Motorsports bolted to the top-spot ahead of his TSM teammate Kennedy.
Despite switching teams, John Wes Townley in the No. 5 Zaxby’s Toyota Tundra was impressive in his Wauters Motorsports entry. Defending NCWTS champion Matt Crafton was fourth and reining Rookie of the Year Darrell Wallace Jr. rounded out the top-five.
Other notables inside the top-10 included: Sean Corr (Empire Racing LLC.) eighth and Justin Jennings (MB Motorsports) ninth.
Notebook:
NASCAR Test Extended: With an iffy-forecast on the horizon for Tuesday, NASCAR officials elected to extend practice on Monday until 5:45 p.m., with the garage closing at 6:45 pm. NASCAR said that Tuesday’s schedule will stay on as scheduled, but could change subject to inclement weather. Some teams in the garage area were preparing for a one-day test. NTS Motorsports and GMS Racing elected to be one and done, packing up their haulers and heading back up north to North Carolina.
NASCAR’s Good Graces: Just like with the NASCAR Nationwide Series test, several drivers are here Monday at Daytona International Speedway trying to gain their superspeedway approval for Daytona. Among those trying to earn that blessing include: Michel Disdier (SS Green Light Racing), Justin Jennings (MB Motorsports), Ben Kennedy (Turner Scott Motorsports), Todd Peck (SS Green Light Racing) Tyler Reddrick (Brad Keselowski Racing) and Jimmy Weller (SS Green Light Racing).
The driver’s approval or denial to compete in the season-opener will come from former NASCAR driver Brett Bodine, competition director for research and development, who also oversees the driver approval process for NASCAR.
See Your Watermelons At Menards….: Ross Chastain is testing for ThorSport Racing Monday and Tuesday at Daytona International Speedway and it’s not surprising that you find a connection somewhere in the mix. Melon-1, a longtime sponsor of Chastain’s will soon be available in Menards stores throughout the country. How soon will it happen? “When it warms up,” said Chastain. No doubt the partnership opens the door to help fund one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers for a longtime to come.
Coulter Joins New Team: Officials from GMS Racing announced Monday that Joey Coulter, the former ARCA Racing Series standout has partnered with the team for the 2014 season. The team is expected to run the No. 21 Chevrolet Silverado this year. Jeff Stankiewicz will crew chief. Harold Holly continues his relationship with Coulter in a consultant role. Over the off-season, the team obtained 15 trucks from Richard Childress Racing to bring the organization’s total to 18. The North Carolina-based team is owned by Allegiant Air president Maurice Gallagher. The operation will also field a part-time NCWTS ride for Gallagher’s son, Spencer who is running a full 2014 ARCA Racing Series schedule. His schedule will lift-off at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in March.
2014 NCWTS Preseason Thunder Day 1 A.M. Test Session Speeds
Pos Car# Drivers Name Make Laps Best Time Best Speed 1. 31 Ben Kennedy Chv 54 49.405 182.168 2. 4 Jeb Burton Chv 49 49.428 182.083 3. 17 Timothy Peters Tyt 8 50.485 178.271 4. 5 John Wes Townley Tyt 24 50.512 178.175 5. 54 Darrell Wallace Tyt 18 50.590 177.901 6. 77 German Quiroga Tyt 14 50.750 177.34 7. 19 Tyler Reddick Frd 18 50.764 177.291 8. 82 Sean Corr Frd 4 50.786 177.214 9. 51 Kyle Busch Tyt 15 50.857 176.967 10. 35 Mason Mingus Chv 15 50.996 176.484 11. 24 Brennan Newberry Chv 11 50.998 176.478 12. 21 Joey Coulter Chv 8 51.008 176.443 13. 88 Matt Crafton Tyt 9 51.178 175.857 14. 28 Ryan Ellis Chv 6 51.209 175.75 15. 39 Ryan Sieg Chv 23 51.453 174.917 16. 13 Ross Chastain Tyt 10 51.525 174.672 17. 98 Johnny Sauter Tyt 3 51.777 173.822 18. 63 Justin Jennings Chv 3 52.196 172.427 19. 7 Todd Peck Tyt 23 52.269 172.186
2014 NCWTS Preseason Thunder Day 1 P.M. Test Session Speeds
Pos Car# Drivers Name Make Laps Best Time Best Speed 1. 4 Jeb Burton Chv 94 47.085 191.144 2. 31 Ben Kennedy Chv 106 47.139 190.925 3. 5 John Wes Townley Tyt 69 47.141 190.917 4. 88 Matt Crafton Tyt 57 47.211 190.634 5. 54 Darrell Wallace Tyt 64 47.225 190.577 6. 17 Timothy Peters Tyt 60 47.296 190.291 7. 77 German Quiroga Tyt 70 47.456 189.649 8. 82 Sean Corr Frd 75 47.737 188.533 9. 63 Justin Jennings Chv 53 47.788 188.332 10. 13 Ross Chastain Tyt 47 47.809 188.249 11. 24 Brennan Newberry Chv 76 47.877 187.982 12. 51 Kyle Busch Tyt 61 47.999 187.504 13. 21 Joey Coulter Chv 59 48.061 187.262 14. 19 Ryan Blaney Frd 57 48.095 187.130 15. 35 Mason Mingus Chv 57 48.099 187.114 16. 39 Ryan Sieg Chv 63 48.152 186.908 17. 07 Jimmy Weller Tyt 61 48.214 186.668 18. 28 Ryan Ellis Chv 26 48.217 186.656 19. 10 Jennifer Jo Cobb Chv 36 48.708 184.775 20. 98 Johnny Sauter Tyt 38 48.723 184.718
Source: Timing and Scoring provided by NASCARMedia / NASCAR Statistics
