Lowe's Tests: Day One
Preparations for the May 19 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge and the May 27 Coca-Cola 600 shifted into high gear Monday as 51 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams tested at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Crew chiefs, engineers and mechanics spent the six-hour session analyzing data and making suspension adjustments as "The Best of the Southeast" teased drivers who strived to top the speed chart. David Stremme proved to be the best at taming The Beast as the driver of the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge was fastest among the 82 cars with a lap at 187.0 mph.
Jeremy Mayfield, who has struggled this season to make races in the No. 36 360 OTC Toyota, was second fastest at 185.134 mph and Paul Menard was third on the speed chart at 184.932 mph in the No. 15 Menard's Chevrolet. Ward Burton and Stremme's teammate, Reed Sorenson, rounded out the top five.
The testing session marked the first time the seven Toyota teams had run on Lowe's Motor Speedway's 1.5-mile oval. The test was also the first time the drivers have been on the track since both the inside and outside retaining walls were painted yellow in preparation for the May 19 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge.
The only accident of the day came just before the session ended when Denny Hamlin lost control of the No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet and backed hard into the outside SAFER barrier. The Chesterfield, Va., driver was evaluated and released from the Carolinas HealthCare Infield Care Center.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing continues Tuesday with on-track sessions from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Lowe's Motor Speedway's frontstretch grandstand will be open free of charge and fans should enter through Gate 5A, located next to the main ticket office.
Afternoon Session
Pos Driver Car Number/ Speed
1. Martin Truex Jr. 1b 180.596
2. David Stremme 40a 180.590
3. Ryan Newman 12a 180.590
4. Mark Martin 01a 180.511
5. Jeremy Mayfield 36a 180.162
6. Sterling Marlin 14a 180.108
7. Mark Martin 01b 180.018
8. Jeff Green 66b 179.796
9. Joe Nemechek 13b 179.700
10. Tony Stewart 20a 179.665
Evening Session
Pos Driver Car Number/ Speed
1. David Stremme 40a 187.000
2. Jeremy Mayfield 36a 185.134
3. Paul Menard 15b 184.932
4. Ward Burton 4a 184.767
5. Reed Sorenson 41a 184.319
6. Martin Truex Jr. 1a 184.187
7. Mark Martin 01a 184.018
8. Robby Gordon 7b 183.717
9. Kurt Busch 2b 183.698
10. Jimmie Johnson 48a 183.555
Preparations for the May 19 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge and the May 27 Coca-Cola 600 shifted into high gear Monday as 51 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams tested at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Crew chiefs, engineers and mechanics spent the six-hour session analyzing data and making suspension adjustments as "The Best of the Southeast" teased drivers who strived to top the speed chart. David Stremme proved to be the best at taming The Beast as the driver of the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge was fastest among the 82 cars with a lap at 187.0 mph.
Jeremy Mayfield, who has struggled this season to make races in the No. 36 360 OTC Toyota, was second fastest at 185.134 mph and Paul Menard was third on the speed chart at 184.932 mph in the No. 15 Menard's Chevrolet. Ward Burton and Stremme's teammate, Reed Sorenson, rounded out the top five.
The testing session marked the first time the seven Toyota teams had run on Lowe's Motor Speedway's 1.5-mile oval. The test was also the first time the drivers have been on the track since both the inside and outside retaining walls were painted yellow in preparation for the May 19 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge.
The only accident of the day came just before the session ended when Denny Hamlin lost control of the No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet and backed hard into the outside SAFER barrier. The Chesterfield, Va., driver was evaluated and released from the Carolinas HealthCare Infield Care Center.
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing continues Tuesday with on-track sessions from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Lowe's Motor Speedway's frontstretch grandstand will be open free of charge and fans should enter through Gate 5A, located next to the main ticket office.
Afternoon Session
Pos Driver Car Number/ Speed
1. Martin Truex Jr. 1b 180.596
2. David Stremme 40a 180.590
3. Ryan Newman 12a 180.590
4. Mark Martin 01a 180.511
5. Jeremy Mayfield 36a 180.162
6. Sterling Marlin 14a 180.108
7. Mark Martin 01b 180.018
8. Jeff Green 66b 179.796
9. Joe Nemechek 13b 179.700
10. Tony Stewart 20a 179.665
Evening Session
Pos Driver Car Number/ Speed
1. David Stremme 40a 187.000
2. Jeremy Mayfield 36a 185.134
3. Paul Menard 15b 184.932
4. Ward Burton 4a 184.767
5. Reed Sorenson 41a 184.319
6. Martin Truex Jr. 1a 184.187
7. Mark Martin 01a 184.018
8. Robby Gordon 7b 183.717
9. Kurt Busch 2b 183.698
10. Jimmie Johnson 48a 183.555
