NASCAR Suspends 2009 Testing For Its Three National And Two Regional Racing Series

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Kyle Ocker, FanZone Sports — NASCAR

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Mike Helton, NASCAR President, announced Friday afternoon that NASCAR will ban testing at NASCAR sanctioned tracks beginning in 2009, hoping to save the industry millions of dollars. NASCAR reached this decision following several months of discussion with the teams regarding testing, coupled with the current economic conditions.

“This is a significant move during an unusual time for all of us,” said Helton in making the announcement. “NASCAR has routinely adjusted its test policy over the years to reflect current conditions. This is another example of that.”

The January tests at Daytona will be canceled because of the ban.

“Due to the new NASCAR testing policy, there will be no January testing at Daytona International Speedway in 2009,” said Robin Braig, Daytona International Speedway President. “We support NASCAR in trying to help with expenses across the board for everybody involved in the sport. DIS will continue to be busy during the months of December and January as we’re hosting ARCA RE/MAX Series testing, Daytona KartWeek By Cometic Gasket and Rolex 24 At Daytona testing. In addition, we will continue to work with NASCAR in an effort to promote DIRECTV Speedweeks and the start of the NASCAR season. Without testing, this will give us the opportunity to put more focus on promoting the upcoming Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 24-25 as well as DIRECTV Speedweeks and the 51st annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15.”

Those who purchased tickets for the Preseason Test at Daytona, will be contacted by Daytona International Speedway ticket office for refunds or they can call 1-800-PITSHOP to inquire about their purchase.

The ban was put into place to hopefully shed a few dollars off of the teams budget to help them get through the tough economic times the sport is experiencing. Michael Waltrip said on SPEED TV’s This Week in NASCAR on Thursday that a testing ban would save around 1 million dollars a year.

“Racers want to test; money guys are glad this happened,” Yates Racing crew chief Cully Barraclough said. “With the economy the way it is, this is the only way to keep everything viable. I am not going to argue with the decision. There is a lot of weird stuff going on in the world right now. This is what we’ve got to do to keep as many teams as viable as we can.”

The ban applies to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and the NASCAR Camping World East and West Regional Touring Series at tracks which hold a race in one of the series.

Helton said that Goodyear Tire Tests will be a continuing program, and not included in the ban.