NASCAR Drivers gear up for important two-day test in Las Vegas

Las Vegas

Four NASCAR Cup Series champions with a combined 10 titles highlight a list of 14 drivers tentatively scheduled to participate in a two-day test session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Jan. 31-Feb. 1.

Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, Las Vegas-born titlists Kurt Busch (2004) and Kyle Busch (2015), as well as 2012 champ Brad Keselowski, will be on-hand for the test, which will be open to the public free of charge. Other NASCAR stars expected to participate in the data-gathering sessions include Ryan Newman, 2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon, Clint Bowyer, David Ragan and Matt DiBenedetto.

The test will mark the first track activity for Kurt Busch in the No. 1 Monster Energy Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing, as well as Newman's first seat time in the No. 6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. It also will be the first time for drivers to use NASCAR's new aerodynamic package – designed to reduce horsepower and foster tighter racing – at LVMS.

In addition, 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookie Ryan Preece, Bubba Wallace, veteran drivers Paul Menard and Ty Dillon, 2018 DC Solar 300 winner Ross Chastain, Landon Cassill, Drew Herring and Cody Ware are scheduled to be at the 1.5-mile speedway for the two-day event. Las Vegas-born NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers Noah Gragson and Riley Herbst, as well as former Bullring racer Zane Smith and Chase Briscoe, will participate in the test as well.

“We don’t know what we don’t know," said Brad Keselowski, who will take part in the test, on how the new package will be on track. “You’ll figure it out."

There will be 21 drivers involved, including 16 Cup drivers and two full-time Xfinity drivers, Noah Gragson and Chase Briscoe. Ross Chastain, David Ragan and Drew Herringeach will drive manufacture wheel force cars. Xfinity drivers Zane Smith and Riley Herbstwill also be present.

The test, which is open to the public, will be from 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. ET Thursday and from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. ET Friday.

On Thursday, the first of three drafting practice sessions will begin at 2 p.m ET. The other two drafting practice sessions are scheduled for 6 and 8 p.m. ET.

Friday will feature two drafting practice sessions at Noon and 2 p.m. ET.

Here’s who is scheduled to test.

Cup Series Drivers
No. 00 – Landon Cassill, Starcom Racing, Chevrolet
No. 1 – Kurt Busch, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet
No. 2 – Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford
No. 3 – Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
No. 6 – Ryan Newman, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford
No. 13 – Ty Dillon, Germain Racing, Chevrolet
No. 14 – Clint Bowyer, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
No. 18 – Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
No. 21 – Paul Menard, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford
No. 43 – Bubba Wallace, Richard Petty Motorsports, Chevrolet
No. 47 – Ryan Preece, JTG Racing, Chevrolet
No. 48 – Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
No. 51 – Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing, Chevrolet
No. 95 – Matt DiBenedetto, Leavine Family Racing, Toyota
Chevrolet Wheel Force car Ross Chastain, Chevrolet Racing
Ford Wheel Force car David Ragan, Ford Motor Company
Toyota Wheel Force car Drew Herring, Toyota Racing Development

Xfinity Series drivers
No. 8 Zane Smith, JR Motorsports, Chevrolet
No. 9 Noah Gragson, JR Motorsports, Chevrolet
No. 18 Riley Herbst, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
No. 98 Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford