RCR and Rookies Top the Speed Charts at Daytona

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The #3 Dow Chevrolet, driven by Austin Dillon (not pictured), sits in the garage area during NASCAR Preseason Thunder at Daytona International Speedway on January 10, 2014 Photo - Getty Images

The #3 Dow Chevrolet, driven by Austin Dillon (not pictured), sits in the garage area during NASCAR Preseason Thunder at Daytona International Speedway on January 10, 2014
Photo – Getty Images

Sunoco Rookie of the Year Hopeful Shines in First NASCAR Sprint Cup Test of 2014

Richard Childress Racing is hitting the road running fast at Daytona to start off their 2014 season. Austin Dillon is bringing the No. 3 back to the Sprint Cup Series as he contends for Rookie of the Year honors.  He knows the pressure that comes along with racing the No. 3 car made famous by seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt. But, apparently pressure is not an issue with an impressive performance in the No. 3 at the top of the speed charts on the first and only day of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing at Daytona. Dillon’s 195.109-mph run led all drivers in single-car runs during the practice session for the 56th running of the Daytona 500. (Feb 23, 1 pm ET on FOX)

“I’m honored to be in the 3,” said Dillon, who is driving a number that Dale Earnhardt drove to victory 24 times at Daytona. The defending NASCAR Nationwide Series will be a top contender for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in 2014. “This is special and walking into this [NASCAR Sprint] Cup garage this weekend is pretty cool. There are so many heroes in this garage for me, and just being in this garage is going to be pressure.”

Another RCR car, the No. 33 with Brian Scott behind the wheel ran at 194.582-mph as the second fastest on the track in today’s practice session. And right behind him is Matt Crafton in RCR’s No. 27 car at 194.342-mph.

Aric Almirola in another famous car, the No. 43 ran 193.828-mph to take fourth-place, while another Rookie of the Year contender, Kyle Larson ran 193.411-mph making his No. 42 car the fifth fastest on the track.

So where did six-time champion, Jimmie Johnson finish? His fastest lap was 193.021-mph, putting him at 11th on the speed charts.

Sprint Cup Series Practice Session Speeds

With a rainout on Thursday, the pressure was on all drivers Friday, as teams scrambled to make the most of their limited testing session, reduced to a single 8-hour window.

Forty-one drivers tested their Gen 6 cars, to begin the car’s second year of Sprint Cup
Series competition. With this test session NASCAR is introducing a new 4.5-inch spoiler, designed to add more rear downforce for stability. The results were positive. Thirty-three cars topped 190-mph and the new aero package performed well in traffic, during testing in the draft throughout the last hour of testing.

“It’s a comfortable zone for the teams to be into, so really this test is all about the teams and those guys working on their set-ups and their engine packages and things of that nature,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition and racing development. “So far speeds look to be what we expected.”

Pemberton was pleased with what he saw from all of Friday’s drivers, including retired NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace. The man who drove Team Penske to NASCAR prominence donned a throwback Miller Lite fire suit and turned laps for Brad Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford.

NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona continues for four more days, as the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ top drivers take to the track Saturday and Sunday. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers will test Monday and Tuesday. Testing sessions for all four remaining days are set to begin at 9 a.m.