NASCAR BCS/NCTS (BRISTOL) - Teams To Test New Surface at Bristol Motor Speedway

The newly-repaved surface at Bristol Motor Speedway will see its first action next week during open test sessions for teams in the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams will test on Monday, July 23 while NASCAR Busch Series teams will test on Tuesday, July 24.

Both series have completed this season’s originally-scheduled sanctioned tests. The Bristol test was added to allow teams the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the new racing surface.

“Any time you change the racing surface, it is important for the competitors to get a feel for that change,” said NASCAR Busch Series Director Joe Balash. “Bristol has done a complete revamp of the track, so it is more important to test. Everything about the setup of the car for Bristol will need to be checked, from shocks and springs, ride heights, sway bars to tire pressure. It will be a busy day.”

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Director Wayne Auton echoed the significance of next week’s tests.

“This test is very important to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, as with all newly-resurfaced tracks,” Auton said. “The teams can gain a lot of knowledge as to what the new surface will take to make the race at Bristol one of the most exciting races of the year. With only two hours of practice (during the race weekend), teams will use Monday to get all the data they can to be ready to set up their trucks to the best of their ability.”

The resurfacing began immediately following the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Bristol on March 25. It was the first time the entire track had undergone a complete resurfacing since 1992, when the asphalt track was replaced by concrete.

“We are really pleased with the end results of the track resurfacing project and are looking forward to hearing what the drivers think when they get here next week,” said Jeff Byrd, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “I believe our development group did a terrific job of redesigning NASCAR’s most popular track.

“The new surface, after it is broken in, should provide very competitive racing and even more of the great action that Bristol fans have become accustomed to experiencing.”

The NASCAR Busch Series previously held test sessions this year at Daytona International Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series held 2007 test sessions at Daytona, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

FAST FACTS

What: NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series testing

Where: Bristol Motor Speedway

Track Layout: 0.533-mile oval

When: Monday, July 23 (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series) and Tuesday, July 24 (NASCAR Busch Series)

Times: 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Who: 31 NASCAR Busch Series teams and 28 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams