Day Three: NASCAR Preseason Thunder At Daytona
Kasey Kahne led the morning session with a speed of 201.545 mph, with Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jimmie Johnson also posting times near the top of the charts.
Teams continued to collaborate with NASCAR throughout the day, in particular with the afternoon pack drafting session, to work towards the goal of reducing the ease of the tandem draft and making it an exception instead of the norm.
“Once we leave here, obviously there will be a lot of energy spent on looking through all of the data that we’ve collected this week," said NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby. “Looking through lap times and speeds and watching film and footage. I would like to have the final rules package out as quickly as we can just to make sure the teams have enough time to react to everything."
Drivers and crew chiefs have been very positive regarding the test, the sharing of information and the adjustments being made by NASCAR.
“They’re (NASCAR) definitely thinking ahead and doing a lot of research and development back at their shop," said 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion crew chief Darian Grubb. “Just coming here with a pre-planned effort with some of the changes and things that they’ve already done has been a real positive. They’ve got the data being collected and have a good idea of what they want to do and what they want to accomplish. As they filter that out to us, we go out and hit the race track with it and see how that changes our cars."
“AJ [Allmendinger] and I were able to log a lot of laps today and I feel good about our package for the 500," said Penske Racing driver Brad Keselowski. “It's getting harder to perform the two-car draft so maybe we'll see some pack racing when we come back. I had a blast running in the pack today."
The afternoon session kicked off with pack drafting for most teams. Top speed of the afternoon was 200.562 mph, posted by Jeff Gordon.
NASCAR officials were also pleased with the test and will be taking this data back to the Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. to assist in getting the final rules package together for next month’s Daytona 500.
“We’ve had a good test and gained a lot of information," said Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. “We know that when we come out of here, there will be some loose ends we have to tie up as we get all of our information together and come up with our final plans for Speedweeks. I can say that all in all everything is going according to plan."
Combined Times Over 3 Days
| Rank | Car No. | Driver | Manu. | Time | Speed | Session |
| 1 | 51 | Kurt Busch | Chevy | 43.677 | 206.058 | D2PM |
| 2 | 78 | Regan Smith | Chevy | 43.678 | 206.053 | D2PM |
| 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 43.729 | 205.813 | D2PM |
| 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevy | 43.743 | 205.747 | D2PM |
| 5 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Chevy | 43.743 | 205.747 | D2PM |
| 6 | 27 | Paul Menard | Chevy | 43.881 | 205.100 | D2PM |
| 7 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevy | 43.882 | 205.095 | D2PM |
| 8 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | 43.903 | 204.997 | D2PM |
| 9 | 56 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota | 43.941 | 204.820 | D2PM |
| 10 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | Toyota | 43.944 | 204.806 | D2PM |
| 11 | 56 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota | 43.962 | 204.722 | D2AM |
| 12 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | Toyota | 43.962 | 204.722 | D2AM |
| 13 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Dodge | 43.964 | 204.713 | D2PM |
| 14 | 22 | AJ Allmendinger | Dodge | 43.965 | 204.708 | D2PM |
| 15 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Chevy | 44.044 | 204.341 | D2PM |
| 16 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Chevy | 44.044 | 204.341 | D2PM |
| 17 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevy | 44.046 | 204.332 | D2PM |
| 18 | 20 | Joey Logano | Toyota | 44.074 | 204.202 | D2PM |
| 19 | 39 | Ryan Newman | Chevy | 44.078 | 204.183 | D2PM |
| 20 | 6 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Ford | 44.103 | 204.068 | D2PM |
| 21 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | 44.105 | 204.058 | D2PM |
| 22 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | 44.190 | 203.666 | D2PM |
| 23 | 21 | Trevor Bayne | Ford | 44.228 | 203.491 | D2PM |
| 24 | 55 | Mark Martin | Toyota | 44.300 | 203.160 | D2PM |
| 25 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford | 44.304 | 203.142 | D2AM |
| 26 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Ford | 44.304 | 203.142 | D2AM |
| 27 | 13 | Casey Mears | Ford | 44.453 | 202.461 | D2PM |
| 28 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 44.466 | 202.402 | D1PM |
| 29 | 20 | Joey Logano | Toyota | 44.469 | 202.388 | D1PM |
| 30 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Dodge | 44.505 | 202.224 | D1PM |
| 31 | 22 | AJ Allmendinger | Dodge | 44.506 | 202.220 | D1PM |
| 32 | 55 | Mark Martin | Toyota | 44.610 | 201.748 | D2AM |
| 33 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Chevy | 44.655 | 201.545 | D3AM |
| 34 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevy | 44.655 | 201.545 | D3AM |
| 35 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Ford | 44.689 | 201.392 | D2PM |
| 36 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chevy | 44.692 | 201.378 | D2AM |
| 37 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Chevy | 44.693 | 201.374 | D2AM |
| 38 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford | 44.693 | 201.374 | D2PM |
| 39 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Chevy | 44.710 | 201.297 | D2PM |
| 40 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevy | 44.794 | 200.920 | D1PM |
| 41 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevy | 44.795 | 200.915 | D1PM |
| 42 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevy | 44.874 | 200.562 | D3PM |
| 43 | 22 | AJ Allmendinger | Dodge | 44.877 | 200.548 | D3PM |
| 44 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Dodge | 44.877 | 200.548 | D3PM |
| 45 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chevy | 44.878 | 200.544 | D2PM |
| 46 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | 44.882 | 200.526 | D2PM |
| 47 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Chevy | 44.892 | 200.481 | D3PM |
| 48 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | 44.965 | 200.156 | D1PM |
| 49 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | 45.006 | 199.973 | D3PM |
| 50 | 20 | Joey Logano | Toyota | 45.007 | 199.969 | D3PM |
| 51 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Chevy | 45.047 | 199.791 | D1PM |
| 52 | 56 | Martin Truex | Toyota | 45.090 | 199.601 | D3PM |
| 53 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | Toyota | 45.091 | 199.596 | D3PM |
| 54 | 51 | Kurt Busch | Chevy | 45.121 | 199.464 | D3AM |
| 55 | 55 | Mark Martin | Toyota | 45.122 | 199.459 | D3AM |
| 56 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevy | 45.134 | 199.406 | D3AM |
| 57 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevy | 45.136 | 199.397 | D3AM |
| 58 | 42 | Juan Pablo | Chevy | 45.190 | 199.159 | D3PM |
| 59 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevy | 45.215 | 199.049 | D3AM |
| 60 | 78 | Regan Smith | Chevy | 45.216 | 199.045 | D3AM |
| 61 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chevy | 45.248 | 198.904 | D3PM |
| 62 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt | Chevy | 45.310 | 198.632 | D3PM |
| 63 | 55 | Mark Martin | Toyota | 45.368 | 198.378 | D3PM |
| 64 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevy | 45.378 | 198.334 | D3PM |
| 65 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 45.419 | 198.155 | D3PM |
| 66 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Ford | 45.446 | 198.037 | D3PM |
| 67 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | 45.451 | 198.015 | D3PM |
| 68 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | 45.452 | 198.011 | D3PM |
| 69 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford | 45.488 | 197.854 | D3PM |
| 70 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | 45.540 | 197.628 | D3PM |
| 71 | 78 | Regan Smith | Chevy | 45.541 | 197.624 | D3PM |
| 72 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevy | 45.776 | 196.610 | D2PM |
| 73 | 55 | Mark Martin | Toyota | 45.782 | 196.584 | D1PM |
| 74 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | Toyota | 45.782 | 196.584 | D1PM |
| 75 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevy | 45.907 | 196.049 | D2AM |
| 76 | 51 | Kurt Busch | Chevy | 45.915 | 196.014 | D2AM |
| 77 | 22 | AJ Allmendinger | Dodge | 45.961 | 195.818 | D2AM |
| 78 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevy | 46.057 | 195.410 | D2AM |
| 79 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Chevy | 46.063 | 195.385 | D2AM |
| 80 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Chevy | 46.070 | 195.355 | D2AM |
| 81 | 27 | Paul Menard | Chevy | 46.072 | 195.346 | D2AM |
| 82 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevy | 46.075 | 195.334 | D2PM |
| 83 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 46.091 | 195.266 | D2AM |
| 84 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevy | 46.129 | 195.105 | D2AM |
| 85 | 39 | Ryan Newman | Chevy | 46.134 | 195.084 | D2AM |
| 86 | 20 | Joey Logano | Toyota | 46.135 | 195.080 | D2AM |
| 87 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevy | 46.155 | 194.995 | D2AM |
| 88 | 6 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Ford | 46.164 | 194.957 | D1PM |
| 89 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | 46.184 | 194.873 | D2AM |
| 90 | 6 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Ford | 46.192 | 194.839 | D2AM |
| 91 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Chevy | 46.193 | 194.835 | D2AM |
| 92 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | Toyota | 46.199 | 194.809 | D3PM |
| 93 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevy | 46.204 | 194.788 | D2AM |
| 94 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | 46.209 | 194.767 | D2AM |
| 95 | 78 | Regan Smith | Chevy | 46.232 | 194.670 | D2AM |
| 96 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chevy | 46.283 | 194.456 | D3AM |
| 97 | 21 | Trevor Bayne | Ford | 46.292 | 194.418 | D2AM |
| 98 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Dodge | 46.364 | 194.116 | D2AM |
| 99 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevy | 46.462 | 193.707 | D3PM |
| 100 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevy | 46.482 | 193.623 | D1PM |
| 101 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | 46.559 | 193.303 | D2AM |
| 102 | 27 | Paul Menard | Chevy | 46.560 | 193.299 | D3PM |
| 103 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Chevy | 46.644 | 192.951 | D3AM |
| 104 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Chevy | 46.687 | 192.773 | D1AM |
| 105 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | 46.703 | 192.707 | D2AM |
| 106 | 27 | Paul Menard | Chevy | 46.721 | 192.633 | D3AM |
| 107 | 36 | Dave Blaney | Chevy | 46.724 | 192.620 | D2PM |
| 108 | 27 | Paul Menard | Chevy | 46.726 | 192.612 | D1PM |
| 109 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevy | 46.744 | 192.538 | D3PM |
| 110 | 13 | Casey Mears | Ford | 46.752 | 192.505 | D2AM |
| 111 | 21 | Trevor Bayne | Ford | 46.777 | 192.402 | D3PM |
| 112 | 27 | Paul Menard | Chevy | 46.785 | 192.369 | D1AM |
| 113 | 51 | Kurt Busch | Chevy | 46.787 | 192.361 | D1AM |
| 114 | 51 | Kurt Busch | Chevy | 46.835 | 192.164 | D1PM |
| 115 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | Toyota | 46.856 | 192.078 | D2PM |
| 116 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Chevy | 46.868 | 192.029 | D3AM |
| 117 | 6 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Ford | 46.885 | 191.959 | D1AM |
| 118 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Chevy | 46.887 | 191.951 | D1PM |
| 119 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Chevy | 46.893 | 191.926 | D1PM |
| 120 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Chevy | 46.904 | 191.881 | D3AM |
| 121 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Chevy | 46.911 | 191.853 | D1AM |
| 122 | 36 | Dave Blaney | Chevy | 46.923 | 191.804 | D2AM |
| 123 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevy | 46.933 | 191.763 | D1AM |
| 124 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | 46.941 | 191.730 | D1PM |
| 125 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevy | 46.945 | 191.714 | D1PM |
| 126 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 46.955 | 191.673 | D3AM |
| 127 | 21 | Trevor Bayne | Ford | 46.967 | 191.624 | D3AM |
| 128 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Chevy | 46.969 | 191.616 | D1PM |
| 129 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | 46.987 | 191.542 | D1AM |
| 130 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | 46.997 | 191.502 | D1PM |
| 131 | 6 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Ford | 47.001 | 191.485 | D3PM |
| 132 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Chevy | 47.004 | 191.473 | D1AM |
| 133 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford | 47.007 | 191.461 | D1PM |
| 134 | 39 | Ryan Newman | Chevy | 47.010 | 191.449 | D1PM |
| 135 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevy | 47.010 | 191.449 | D3AM |
| 136 | 22 | AJ Allmendinger | Dodge | 47.013 | 191.436 | D3AM |
| 137 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevy | 47.019 | 191.412 | D1AM |
| 138 | 21 | Trevor Bayne | Ford | 47.022 | 191.400 | D1AM |
| 139 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevy | 47.025 | 191.388 | D1AM |
| 140 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Chevy | 47.032 | 191.359 | D1AM |
| 141 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 47.037 | 191.339 | D1AM |
| 142 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevy | 47.052 | 191.278 | D1PM |
| 143 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Ford | 47.056 | 191.261 | D3AM |
| 144 | 20 | Joey Logano | Toyota | 47.059 | 191.249 | D1AM |
| 145 | 21 | Trevor Bayne | Ford | 47.061 | 191.241 | D1PM |
| 146 | 56 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota | 47.095 | 191.103 | D1PM |
| 147 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chevy | 47.102 | 191.075 | D1PM |
| 148 | 20 | Joey Logano | Toyota | 47.102 | 191.075 | D3AM |
| 149 | 39 | Ryan Newman | Chevy | 47.110 | 191.042 | D1AM |
| 150 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | 47.122 | 190.994 | D1AM |
| 151 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | 47.134 | 190.945 | D1AM |
| 152 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Chevy | 47.160 | 190.840 | D1AM |
| 153 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Chevy | 47.176 | 190.775 | D1AM |
| 154 | 6 | Ricky Stenhouse | Ford | 47.176 | 190.775 | D3AM |
| 155 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | 47.188 | 190.726 | D3AM |
| 156 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | 47.195 | 190.698 | D3AM |
| 157 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | Toyota | 47.199 | 190.682 | D1AM |
| 158 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | Toyota | 47.217 | 190.609 | D3AM |
| 159 | 55 | Mark Martin | Toyota | 47.225 | 190.577 | D1AM |
| 160 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford | 47.238 | 190.525 | D1AM |
| 161 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Ford | 47.255 | 190.456 | D1AM |
| 162 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford | 47.260 | 190.436 | D3AM |
| 163 | 78 | Regan Smith | Chevy | 47.266 | 190.412 | D1PM |
| 164 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chevy | 47.269 | 190.400 | D1AM |
| 165 | 56 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota | 47.276 | 190.371 | D3AM |
| 166 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | 47.285 | 190.335 | D1PM |
| 167 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Ford | 47.296 | 190.291 | D1PM |
| 168 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | 47.317 | 190.206 | D3AM |
| 169 | 78 | Regan Smith | Chevy | 47.374 | 189.978 | D1AM |
| 170 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | 47.408 | 189.841 | D3AM |
| 171 | 22 | AJ Allmendinger | Dodge | 47.419 | 189.797 | D1AM |
| 172 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | 47.435 | 189.733 | D1AM |
| 173 | 36 | Dave Blaney | Chevy | 47.453 | 189.661 | D1PM |
| 174 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Dodge | 47.504 | 189.458 | D1AM |
| 175 | 13 | Casey Mears | Ford | 47.508 | 189.442 | D1AM |
| 176 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Dodge | 47.534 | 189.338 | D3AM |
| 177 | 56 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota | 47.633 | 188.945 | D1AM |
| 178 | 13 | Casey Mears | Ford | 47.671 | 188.794 | D1PM |
| 179 | 36 | Dave Blaney | Chevy | 47.739 | 188.525 | D3AM |
| 180 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | Toyota | 47.855 | 188.068 | D3AM |
| 181 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | Toyota | 47.983 | 187.566 | D2AM |
| 182 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | Toyota | 48.038 | 187.352 | D1PM |
| 183 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | Toyota | 48.304 | 186.320 | D1AM |