NASCAR slows speeds at Dega
With a smaller restrictor-plate, only 27 drivers went over 190. Paul Menard turned the fastest lap of the day at 193.045 mph in a Chevrolet. Speeds reached 196 mph on Monday, and 44 drivers topped 190 mph.
“We have the tools to slow them down. NASCAR did a good job with that," driver Ryan Newman said. “Basically we’re just acclimating the car to the race track."
“It drives like it’s on a rail," Carl Edwards said. “We have to work on the visibility through the cars. You can’t see anything in front of you when you’re tucked up behind somebody. But other than that, it seems fine."
Several drivers said the COT already is acclimated to restrictor-plate racing in terms of bump drafting. Because of the uniformity of the cars, the bumpers match perfectly, which the drivers speculated should allow for more and possibly safer bump drafting.
“You’re going to see a lot of bump drafting – a lot of bump drafting – just because of the way these cars are built and the way the bumpers line up," Casey Mears said. “I think the race is going to be good, and it’s going to be a big ol’ tight group like always."
“I’m excited about (the COT)," 2004 series champion Kurt Busch said. “It’s going to change the element of how Talladega races, and I think it will be twice as exciting."
Tuesday Afternoon Speeds
Pos No. Name Make Best Tm Best Spd
1 15A Paul Menard Chv 49.605 193.045
2 5A Kyle Busch Chv 49.652 192.862
3 29B Kevin Harvick Chv 49.693 192.703
4 21B Ken Schrader Frd 49.731 192.556
5 9A Kasey Kahne Dge 49.784 192.351
6 01A Aric Almirola Chv 49.785 192.347
7 19B Elliott Sadler Dge 49.807 192.262
8 70H Johnny Sauter Chv 49.831 192.170
9 96A Tony Raines Chv 49.854 192.081
10 34 Kevin Lepage Dge 49.854 192.081
11 48A Jimmie Johnson Chv 49.857 192.069
12 88A Kenny Wallace Frd 49.866 192.035
13 40A David Stremme Dge 49.889 191.946
14 2A Kurt Busch Dge 49.928 191.796
15 8A Dale Earnhardt, Jr Chv 49.969 191.639
16 10B Scott Riggs Dge 50.005 191.501
17 43A Bobby Labonte Dge 50.013 191.470
18 1A Martin Truex, Jr Chv 50.013 191.470
19 12A Ryan Newman Dge 50.034 191.390
20 18 J.J. Yeley Chv 50.055 191.310
21 11B Denny Hamlin Chv 50.061 191.287
22 44B Dale Jarrett Tyt 50.074 191.237
23 55A Michael Waltrip Tyt 50.076 191.229
24 27A Jacques Villeneuve Tyt 50.124 191.046
25 38A David Gilliland Frd 50.164 190.894
26 20 Tony Stewart Chv 50.193 190.784
27 20B Tony Stewart Chv 50.378 190.083
28 16A Greg Biffle Frd 51.146 187.229
29 22A Dave Blaney Tyt 51.199 187.035
30 49 John Andretti Dge 51.352 186.478
31 07A Clint Bowyer Chv 51.404 186.289
32 55B Michael Waltrip Tyt 51.415 186.249
33 11 Denny Hamlin Chv 51.643 185.427
34 18B J.J. Yeley Chv 51.662 185.359
35 45A Kyle Petty Dge 51.714 185.172
36 78A Joe Nemechek Chv 51.723 185.140
37 44A Dale Jarrett Tyt 51.746 185.058
38 84A AJ Allmendinger Tyt 51.809 184.833
39 42A Juan Pablo Montoya Dge 51.826 184.772
40 24A Jeff Gordon Chv 51.844 184.708
41 83A Brian Vickers Tyt 51.851 184.683
42 98A Jason Keller Dge 51.906 184.487
43 00A David Reutimann Tyt 51.929 184.406
44 66G Jeff Green Chv 51.958 184.303
45 31A Jeff Burton Chv 52.035 184.030
46 4A Ward Burton Chv 52.111 183.762
47 60A Boris Said Frd 52.128 183.702
48 17M Matt Kenseth Frd 52.277 183.178
49 26A Jamie McMurray Frd 52.349 182.926
50 09A Sterling Marlin Chv 52.358 182.895
51 07A Clint Bowyer Chv 52.722 181.632
52 6B David Ragan Frd 52.735 181.587
53 6A David Ragan Frd 52.817 181.305
54 99A Carl Edwards Frd 53.457 179.135
55 25B Casey Mears Chv 28:13.190 5.656