Goodyear tire test open to fans

The frontstretch grandstands at Lowe's Motor Speedway will be open next Tuesday and Wednesday for fans to watch a Goodyear tire test featuring four NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers.

Richard Petty Motorsports' Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson, JTG Daugherty Racing's Marcos Ambrose and Yates Racing's Paul Menard will be testing tires in preparation for the track's Sprint All-Star Race on May 16 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24.

Ticket-holders for the two events can watch testing from a pit-road grandstand near victory lane on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.

Kahne, Johnson, Ambrose and Menard are also scheduled to participate in a fan forum in front of the infield grandstand from noon to 1 Wednesday.

The forum, moderated by Performance Radio Network's Doug Rice, will allow fans to ask the drivers questions.

"We want to provide as much added value as we can to our ticket-holders, so we worked with Goodyear to allow the fans in to see a little on-track action in preparation for our May races," said LMS President Marcus Smith. "We've also got a great lineup of drivers who've given up part of their lunch break to come out and interact with fans Wednesday."

During both days of the test, the frontstretch grandstand will be open free of charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fans should enter through Gate 5A next to the main ticket office.

Ticket-holders for the May Cup races must check in at the speedway's ticket office on Wednesday to receive verification of their ticket purchase before entering the infield at Gate 26 starting at 10 a.m.