NASCAR SCS (DAYTONA) - Cup Series Tests At Atlanta Motor Speedway

In a season filled with firsts for NASCAR’s “new car” – NASCAR’s safety-oriented, next-generation race car that will compete fulltime in 2008 – another awaits at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams will test at Atlanta on Monday and Tuesday, after competing in today’s Pep Boys Auto 500. It’s the series’ seventh and final NASCAR-sanctioned test of the season.

More significant: It’s the first full-scale test for the new car at a 1.5-mile track.

“It’s the first opportunity for everyone for be on that size race track at the same time at those speeds,” said NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. “It’s also the first opportunity for some new combinations of drivers and crew chiefs to work together.”

This test will be the fourth this season dedicated to the new car (previous tests for the new car took place at Bristol Motor Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway).

Teams are phasing in the new car by running it in 16 of 36 scheduled events this year. The last of those 16 will be Nov. 11 at Phoenix International Raceway.

The Phoenix event will be the ninth race in the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup – the battle for the series title that takes place during the season’s final 10 events. Five of those events are being run with the new car.

The new car’s last milestone test took place Sept. 10-11 at Talladega, a 2.66-mile superspeedway where restrictor plates are used on the engines. NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams raced there on Oct. 7. The series won’t compete with the new car on 1.5-mile tracks until next season.

Atlanta’s test sessions run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET both days, weather permitting. Each day includes a lunch break from noon-1 p.m. ET. Media will have interview opportunities during both lunch breaks.

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES INTERVIEW SCHEDULES (Subject to change)

All sessions take place in the Atlanta Motor Speedway media center unless noted. Teleconference capability and transcripts will be available for both interview sessions.

Monday, Oct. 29

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Noon-12:20 ET: Bobby Labonte, 12:20-12:40 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Oct. 30

Jeff Burton, 12:10-1 p.m. ET.; Patrick Carpentier, Dario Franchitti and Jacques Villeneuve, 12:40 – 12:55 p.m. ET

Testing Credentials

Media covering the Pep Boys Auto 500 weekend should utilize those credentials for Monday and Tuesday test access. Media without event-weekend credentials should email requests to Trey Sanders at Atlanta Motor Speedway (treys@atlantamotorspeedway.com).

On Monday morning, a list of those names will be at the main tunnel security booth. Parking is available in the infield Media Lot. Actual credentials will be issued at the media center by an AMS staff member.

Fast Facts

What: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Testing

Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway

Track Layout: 1.54-mile oval

When: Monday, Oct. 29 and Tuesday, Oct. 30

Times: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET both days

Who: More than 45 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams