NASCAR bans all testing in 2009

NASCAR has suspended testing for 2009 at any NASCAR touring series track, including at Daytona International Speedway in January, sanctioning body officials confirmed this morning at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The suspension of testing will include all touring series tracks, but teams will still be allowed to test at NASCAR weekly racing series tracks. A NASCAR official confirmed the suspension of testing but not the details. The ban will include any track that holds a Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Truck or Camping World East or West Series races.

"I think it's the biggest thing for NASCAR right now," said Gillett Evernham Motorsports crew chief Rodney Childers. "It's going to be the right thing to keep the sport healthy. It will be tough on the teams, but it will keep the sport healthy. It's going to put a lot of thought into what you have to do at the shop. Whether it's seven-post work or wind-tunnel work. It's probably not going to be a bad deal."

Teams say that while they will still test at non-sanctioned sites, the number of tests will most likely decline, and money will be saved.

Jimmy Makar, vice president of racing operations for Joe Gibbs Racing, said that while teams will still test, they won't match the total number of tests of this season. He points out that, as of now, this is simply a one-year moratorium on the traditional testing policy in an effort to keep pace with a struggling economy.