Wednesday, September 16, 2015

With Chase Looming, 13 Drivers Test In Kansas

Thirteen drivers took to the Kansas Speedway oval today in a NASCAR open test session to prepare for the Oct. 18 Hollywood Casino 400, the fifth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. 

“I’m pleased to see how the track is aging. Fortunately, it hasn’t developed any bumps around the track through the hard winters and summers,” said Jimmie Johnson. “In the spring we put on a great race and could run anywhere on the race track. It’s only going to get better as time goes on.” 

Kansas native Clint Bowyer also participated in today’s test at his home track, while his team concentrates on Sunday’s opening event of the 2015 Chase at Chicagoland Speedway.  

“This is a pretty important test today,” said Bowyer. “At this point in the year, you’re kind of just verifying things. It is an advantage, this track being so close in similarities to the Chicago race track. It’s also an important track in the Chase and for when we come back because it’s home.” 

Brad Keselowski, who won at Kansas Speedway in 2011, knows that conditions could be different when his team returns in a month for the Hollywood Casino 400, but they’re happy to get time on the track. 

“The weather is close enough. We have plenty of stuff to try here. We’re happy just to be on the track. And we’ll run with that.”  

While teams testing today are preparing for the Hollywood Casino 400, Goodyear conducted a two-day test on Monday and Tuesday of this week in anticipation of a new aerodynamic package for 2016. 

“The last two days of the test, we were in the potential 2016 package,” said Johnson. “I had a lot of fun with the lower downforce package. I found myself behind a few cars and felt like the car drove really well in traffic.”

Racing returns to Kansas Speedway this October with the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season finale on Oct. 16, the NASCAR XFINITY Series Kansas Lottery 300 on Oct. 17, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 -- fifth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup -- on Oct. 18. Tickets are currently on sale.

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