Speed Racer
aka "mach5driver"
By JIM UTTER
ThatsRacin.com Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It's been just 32 days since Tony Stewart was crowned the Winston Cup series' 2002 champion in New York.
Tuesday, he returns to the track to begin the process of defending it.
NASCAR's "off-season," if it can be called such, draws to a close as preseason testing begins at Daytona International Speedway.
Stewart is among the group of drivers scheduled to participate in this week's three-day test, which features teams that finished in odd numbers in points in the 2002 season. The remainder of the Cup teams test Jan. 14-16.
The first race is the Feb. 8 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, featuring pole winners from the 2002 season and past winners of the event. The first points race for Cup is the Feb. 16 Daytona 500.
Teams, of course, have already been hard at work preparing cars for the Daytona test, as well as others scheduled for the remainder of the month.
NASCAR Truck series teams test Saturday-Monday at Daytona; Grand National teams Jan. 20-21 and 23-24. Several Cup teams have tests scheduled at other tracks this month as well.
For Stewart, who collected over $4 million in race winnings as part of his championship, this week's test will mark his first "official" appearance in a Chevrolet.
Stewart's Joe Gibbs Racing team announced last season that Stewart and teammate Bobby Labonte would be leaving the Pontiac camp.
"Switching to Chevrolet is more of a gauge for us as a group, and we'll start seeing how we stack up once we get through testing at Daytona," said Stewart's crew chief, Greg Zipadelli.
"Really and truly, that was the biggest reason for the switch. We want to be able to compare ourselves to other cars."
While many in NASCAR may bemoan the sport's short off-season, several drivers, especially the new crop of rookies, are looking forward to getting on the track.
"I'm really excited about getting ready for my first Daytona 500," said rookie Casey Mears, who will drive the No. 41 Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing.
"We've already had several tests during the off season and I feel like we're in good shape heading into Daytona."
Fans in the Daytona area can watch the test sessions, and the Daytona USA attraction has scheduled several "fan forums" with drivers over the next several weeks.
Fans can get their first up-close visit with drivers at the annual Winston Preview, set for Jan. 18 at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.
In addition to more than 50 drivers from the Winston Cup series, the Preview features appearances by several NASCAR legends, the Clevite Engine Building Competition, an auction of racing apparel, equipment and sheet metal, show cars with new paint schemes and souvenir trailers.
Tickets for the Preview are $15 for adults, with children age 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com; or by calling (336) 722-6400.
Several drivers, crew chiefs and team owners will also be in the Charlotte area Jan. 20-23 for the annual preseason media tour hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway.
This year's tour includes visits to several team shops including Robert Yates Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Bill Davis Racing, Petty Enterprises and Hendrick Motorsports.
ThatsRacin.com Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It's been just 32 days since Tony Stewart was crowned the Winston Cup series' 2002 champion in New York.
Tuesday, he returns to the track to begin the process of defending it.
NASCAR's "off-season," if it can be called such, draws to a close as preseason testing begins at Daytona International Speedway.
Stewart is among the group of drivers scheduled to participate in this week's three-day test, which features teams that finished in odd numbers in points in the 2002 season. The remainder of the Cup teams test Jan. 14-16.
The first race is the Feb. 8 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, featuring pole winners from the 2002 season and past winners of the event. The first points race for Cup is the Feb. 16 Daytona 500.
Teams, of course, have already been hard at work preparing cars for the Daytona test, as well as others scheduled for the remainder of the month.
NASCAR Truck series teams test Saturday-Monday at Daytona; Grand National teams Jan. 20-21 and 23-24. Several Cup teams have tests scheduled at other tracks this month as well.
For Stewart, who collected over $4 million in race winnings as part of his championship, this week's test will mark his first "official" appearance in a Chevrolet.
Stewart's Joe Gibbs Racing team announced last season that Stewart and teammate Bobby Labonte would be leaving the Pontiac camp.
"Switching to Chevrolet is more of a gauge for us as a group, and we'll start seeing how we stack up once we get through testing at Daytona," said Stewart's crew chief, Greg Zipadelli.
"Really and truly, that was the biggest reason for the switch. We want to be able to compare ourselves to other cars."
While many in NASCAR may bemoan the sport's short off-season, several drivers, especially the new crop of rookies, are looking forward to getting on the track.
"I'm really excited about getting ready for my first Daytona 500," said rookie Casey Mears, who will drive the No. 41 Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing.
"We've already had several tests during the off season and I feel like we're in good shape heading into Daytona."
Fans in the Daytona area can watch the test sessions, and the Daytona USA attraction has scheduled several "fan forums" with drivers over the next several weeks.
Fans can get their first up-close visit with drivers at the annual Winston Preview, set for Jan. 18 at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.
In addition to more than 50 drivers from the Winston Cup series, the Preview features appearances by several NASCAR legends, the Clevite Engine Building Competition, an auction of racing apparel, equipment and sheet metal, show cars with new paint schemes and souvenir trailers.
Tickets for the Preview are $15 for adults, with children age 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com; or by calling (336) 722-6400.
Several drivers, crew chiefs and team owners will also be in the Charlotte area Jan. 20-23 for the annual preseason media tour hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway.
This year's tour includes visits to several team shops including Robert Yates Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Bill Davis Racing, Petty Enterprises and Hendrick Motorsports.
