Nationwide Testing Wraps At Daytona

Kyle Larson (32), Regan Smith (7), Brendan
Gaughan (62) and Chase Elliott at DIS.
 

The NASCAR Nationwide Series got its turn to test the high banks of Daytona International Speedway this weekend in preparation for the season-opening DRIVE4COPD 300 on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Nationwide Series stars including Regan Smith, Ty Dillon, Chase Elliott, James Buescher, Trevor Bayne and Ryan Blaney participated in the two-day testing session that concluded Sunday.  

With teams participating in both single-car runs as well as some drafting sessions, Elliott and his father, , two-time Daytona 500 champion Bill Elliott, topped the charts on Saturday. The younger Elliott, kicking off his rookie campaign in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports, was fastest in the No. 9 Chevrolet with a lap of 187.993 mph, followed by his father in the No. 5 Chevrolet at 187.974.  

Dylan Kwasniewski was fastest on Sunday for Turner Scott Motorsports in the No. 31 Chevrolet, with a lap of 190.022 mph. Chase Elliott was once again near the top of the speed charts, posting the second fastest lap at 189.950 mph.  

Buescher, who left Turner Scott Motorsports to join RAB Racing and the No. 99 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season, fondly recalled his victory in the 2012 Nationwide opener at Daytona. Buescher  was 11^th entering Turn 4 on the final lap, when a multi-car accident broke out in front of him. He was able to maneuver his way through the accident to bring home the victory. 

“It was really big,” said Buescher. “At that point, I had never won a NASCAR sanctioned event. I was relieved to finally win a race, and the fact that I won one when everybody was crashing, there was a lot of doubters that said it was a fluke, and the fact that we were able to go follow that up with four more wins in the Truck Series that year and a championship I think solidified that win that we had here in the Nationwide Series. It makes this place even more special.” 

Preseason Thunder will conclude on Monday and Tuesday with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series testing. Fans can watch the testing at no cost from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands.