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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KENSETH SETS PACE IN SECOND DAY OF TESTING AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY IN PREPARATION FOR FORD CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
POINTS-LEADER BUSCH TURNS MUCH NEEDED LAPS IN TWO-DAY SESSION
MIAMI, FL (11/3/04) - Defending series champion Matt Kenseth set the fastest lap of the day Wednesday in the second day of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing in preparation for Ford Championship Weekend, Nov. 18-21, at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Kenseth circled the 1.5 mile oval in his No. 17 Dewalt Ford Tuesday with a speed of 174.194 mph (31.04 sec.). He was followed by Kyle Petty's No. 45 Georgia Pacific Dodge at 173.633 mph (31.10 sec.) and Busch's No. 97 Sharpie Ford at 173.054 mph (31.25 sec.).
Busch, who is the current points-leader in the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and led Tuesday's session, was pleased to finally turn some significant laps on the newly-reconfigured Homestead-Miami Speedway. At last year's Ford 400, Busch was involved in a lap four incident in last year's Ford 400 which knocked him out of the race.
"This is a fresh outlook for us because it's really the first time we are getting to see the facelift on the track," said Busch. "That's why we are down here testing. The testing is vital for this Chase for the NEXTEL Cup."
During the two-day session, Busch was impressed with the new 20-degree variable banking at the Homestead-Miami Speedway after turning many laps during the test.
"It's a cool racetrack," added Busch. "I can understand the need to change it and appeal to the fans. Stock cars need banking to race on and they've given us that here."
With the new track surface a year older, Busch expects the racing to be very competitive as he and several other drivers will be racing hard to capture the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup during the Ford 400 season finale.
"The track is now a year older so it's a bit more mature, so that will help with the racing," Busch said. "With the way the corners are shaped here with the flatter entry and wider exits with the banking it's definitely a track that you don't have to worry about track position because you can pass."
Testing continues next Tuesday and Wednesday November 8-9 with 20 drivers tentatively scheduled to test on the high-banked 1.5 mile oval, including championship contenders Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Testing is open to the public free of charge. Fans may view the testing from the Speedway's Club Level.
Tentative list of drivers participating in Nov 8 and 9 test (subject to change).
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Drivers:
Mark Martin Roush Racing No. 6 Viagra Ford
Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing No. 38 M & M's Ford
Carl Edwards Roush Racing No. 99 Roush Racing Ford
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt Inc. No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet
Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt Inc. No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet
Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet
Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet
Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing No. 29 Goodwrench Chevrolet
Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing No. 30 AOL Chevrolet
Ken Schrader BAM Racing No. 49 Schwan's Home Services Chevrolet
Klaus Graf BAM Racing No. 59 TBA Chevrolet
Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Chevrolet
Casey Mears Chip Ganassi Racing No. 41 Target/Breast Cancer Research Foundation Dodge
JJ Yeley Joe Gibbs Racing No.11 Chevrolet
Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet
Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet
Travis Kvapil Penske Racing No. 06 Mobil 1/Jasper Engines Dodge
NASCAR Busch Series Drivers:
Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Lowe's Chevrolet
Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing No.41 Yellow Transportation
Mike Bliss Joe Gibbs Racing, Inc. No. 20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet
Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing No. 21 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Chevrolet
Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing No. 29 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Chevrolet
Unofficial times and speeds for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Testing November 2 and 3 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway:
November 2 (Day One):
1. 97-Kurt Busch- 31.23 sec, 173.077 mph
2. 17- Matt Kenseth- 31.34 sec, 172.524 mph
3. 43- Jeff Green- 31.40 sec, 171.975 mph
4. 45- Kyle Petty- 31.59 sec, 170.866 mph
November 3 (Day Two):
1. 17- Matt Kenseth- 31.04 sec, 174.194 mph
2. 45- Kyle Petty- 31.10 sec, 173.633 mph
3. 97- Kurt Busch- 31.25 sec, 173.054 mph
TheRaceForum
KENSETH SETS PACE IN SECOND DAY OF TESTING AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY IN PREPARATION FOR FORD CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
POINTS-LEADER BUSCH TURNS MUCH NEEDED LAPS IN TWO-DAY SESSION
MIAMI, FL (11/3/04) - Defending series champion Matt Kenseth set the fastest lap of the day Wednesday in the second day of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing in preparation for Ford Championship Weekend, Nov. 18-21, at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Kenseth circled the 1.5 mile oval in his No. 17 Dewalt Ford Tuesday with a speed of 174.194 mph (31.04 sec.). He was followed by Kyle Petty's No. 45 Georgia Pacific Dodge at 173.633 mph (31.10 sec.) and Busch's No. 97 Sharpie Ford at 173.054 mph (31.25 sec.).
Busch, who is the current points-leader in the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and led Tuesday's session, was pleased to finally turn some significant laps on the newly-reconfigured Homestead-Miami Speedway. At last year's Ford 400, Busch was involved in a lap four incident in last year's Ford 400 which knocked him out of the race.
"This is a fresh outlook for us because it's really the first time we are getting to see the facelift on the track," said Busch. "That's why we are down here testing. The testing is vital for this Chase for the NEXTEL Cup."
During the two-day session, Busch was impressed with the new 20-degree variable banking at the Homestead-Miami Speedway after turning many laps during the test.
"It's a cool racetrack," added Busch. "I can understand the need to change it and appeal to the fans. Stock cars need banking to race on and they've given us that here."
With the new track surface a year older, Busch expects the racing to be very competitive as he and several other drivers will be racing hard to capture the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup during the Ford 400 season finale.
"The track is now a year older so it's a bit more mature, so that will help with the racing," Busch said. "With the way the corners are shaped here with the flatter entry and wider exits with the banking it's definitely a track that you don't have to worry about track position because you can pass."
Testing continues next Tuesday and Wednesday November 8-9 with 20 drivers tentatively scheduled to test on the high-banked 1.5 mile oval, including championship contenders Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Testing is open to the public free of charge. Fans may view the testing from the Speedway's Club Level.
Tentative list of drivers participating in Nov 8 and 9 test (subject to change).
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Drivers:
Mark Martin Roush Racing No. 6 Viagra Ford
Elliott Sadler Robert Yates Racing No. 38 M & M's Ford
Carl Edwards Roush Racing No. 99 Roush Racing Ford
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt Inc. No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet
Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt Inc. No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet
Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet
Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet
Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing No. 29 Goodwrench Chevrolet
Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing No. 30 AOL Chevrolet
Ken Schrader BAM Racing No. 49 Schwan's Home Services Chevrolet
Klaus Graf BAM Racing No. 59 TBA Chevrolet
Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Chevrolet
Casey Mears Chip Ganassi Racing No. 41 Target/Breast Cancer Research Foundation Dodge
JJ Yeley Joe Gibbs Racing No.11 Chevrolet
Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet
Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet
Travis Kvapil Penske Racing No. 06 Mobil 1/Jasper Engines Dodge
NASCAR Busch Series Drivers:
Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Lowe's Chevrolet
Reed Sorenson Chip Ganassi Racing No.41 Yellow Transportation
Mike Bliss Joe Gibbs Racing, Inc. No. 20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet
Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing No. 21 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Chevrolet
Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing No. 29 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Chevrolet
Unofficial times and speeds for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Testing November 2 and 3 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway:
November 2 (Day One):
1. 97-Kurt Busch- 31.23 sec, 173.077 mph
2. 17- Matt Kenseth- 31.34 sec, 172.524 mph
3. 43- Jeff Green- 31.40 sec, 171.975 mph
4. 45- Kyle Petty- 31.59 sec, 170.866 mph
November 3 (Day Two):
1. 17- Matt Kenseth- 31.04 sec, 174.194 mph
2. 45- Kyle Petty- 31.10 sec, 173.633 mph
3. 97- Kurt Busch- 31.25 sec, 173.054 mph
TheRaceForum