The SPEEDINE -- NASCAR Preseason Thunder 2008

HIGH POINT, N.C. (January 7, 2008) - As Toyota’s most successful NASCAR team in 2007, Bill Davis Racing begins Preseason Thunder testing for the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 with optimism.

“We are excited about our race teams as we move into the second year of the Toyota Sprint Cup program. With the progress the #22 CAT Sprint Cup team made over the second half of last season, the potential shown by the #27 and the success of both Mike Skinner and Johnny Benson in the Craftsman Truck Series, there is no reason to doubt our ability to compete at the highest level of these two NASCAR Series,” said General Manager Mike Brown.

Last season, the #22 CAT Toyota Camry driven by Dave Blaney qualified for 33 of the 36 races (versus 26 for the next ranking Camry driver) in the Nextel Cup Championship finishing 31st and winning the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 pole at New Hampshire International Speedway. By winning Toyota’s first ever pole in Nextel/Sprint Cup racing, Blaney qualified the CAT Camry for the February 9th Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.

In preparation for “The Great American Race,” the opening session of Preseason Thunder testing opens today with Jacques Villeneuve behind the wheel of the same #27 Bill Davis Racing Camry in which he qualified 6th at the super speedway debut of the “Car of Tomorrow” at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last October 7th.

"Sponsorship for the #27 program has not yet been finalized," said Team Owner Bill Davis. "We're out talking to companies across a range of categories. The 50th Daytona 500 is a great opportunity to debut as a car sponsor."

Session two of Preseason Thunder features the Bill Davis Racing Toyota Craftsman Truck Series Tundras of #5 Mike Skinner, #23 Johnny Benson and #22 rookie Phillip McGilton. Session three will include the Sprint Cup CAT Camry of Dave Blaney. More on these sessions will follow.

Daytona testing for the # 28 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Camry of Michael Annett in a Bill Davis Racing ARCA RE/MAX development program successfully concluded with a strong showing by the winner of last October’s ARCA Series at Talladega.

FROM THE AUTO CHANNEL:

NASCAR (DAYTONA, FLA.) - Green Flag Ahead: 2008 NASCAR Preseason Thunder At Daytona

Decorations have been packed away, New Year’s resolutions decided – the calendar flipped.

And while team members may still swap how-I-spent-my-holiday-vacation stories, it’s time to re-fire the engines.

Monday, Jan. 7 marks the start of NASCAR Preseason Thunder – the sport’s annual January test sessions. First Up: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which kicks off its 2008 preparations at Daytona International Speedway.

This year’s Daytona tests precede two NASCAR milestones – the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17, and the first race for NASCAR’s new car – the now-generation race car – on Daytona’s historic, 2.5- mile surface.

NASCAR Sprint Cup teams test in two sessions: All teams that were in odd-number positions in the car owner standings as of July 17, 2007 are scheduled to test from Monday, Jan. 7 through Wednesday, Jan. 9. The following week, teams in even-number positions in the car owner standings as of July 17, 2007 are scheduled to test from Monday, Jan. 14 through Wednesday, Jan. 16. A complete listing of the drivers that are scheduled to test can be found on www.NASCARmedia.com.

“We’re feeling pretty good about it,” said Chad Knaus, crew chief for reigning and two-time series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet). “We’ve got a couple of good cars we’re bringing. It’s going to be fun to have this car at Daytona and we’re looking forward to getting back to the track.”

Although on-track competition ceases each November with the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, race shops continue to hum. NASCAR Preseason Thunder offers the first barometer of all that winter industry.

“A lot of people think when they wave the green flag at Homestead, we all leave and go to the beach,” Knaus said. “That’s not what happens. We’ve been in here working five and six days a week and haven’t really taken that much time off. Contrary to what people think, we really have been working hard, but our guys are now looking forward to going to the race track.”

All NASCAR Preseason Thunder sessions begin at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., weather permitting. Each includes a lunch break from noon until 1 p.m. Media covering all sessions will have daily interview opportunities in the media center (see next week’s schedule on page 3 of this release).

Eight of 12 drivers who competed in the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will test next week – Johnson, series runner-up Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet), third-place finisher Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet), fourth-place finisher Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford), fifth-place finisher Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota), seventh-place finisher Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge), ninth-place finisher Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) and 11th-place finisher Martin Truex Jr. (No. 01 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet).

Also testing next week: Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge), the 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

NASCAR Nationwide Series teams will split into two Daytona sessions later this month. Teams in odd-number positions in the car owner standings as of July 17, 2007 will test from Friday, Jan. 18 through Sunday, Jan. 20. Teams in even-number positions will test from Sunday, Jan. 20 through Tuesday, Jan. 22. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series tests from Friday, Jan. 11 through Sunday, Jan. 13.

Fan Fest Offers Driver Q&As, Entertainment … Along with the opportunity to watch NASCAR Preseason Thunder, fans can enjoy an afternoon and evening at Daytona’s Sprint FANZONE once each session. Among the Fan Fest activites: Driver question-and-answer sessions, show cars, bands, a silent auction, displays and pit-stop demonstrations. Cost is $15 per session. Fans can watch each day’s test at no cost, beginning at 9 a.m.

• Jan. 8: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Fan Fest • Jan 12: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fan Fest • Jan. 15: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Fan Fest • Jan. 19: NASCAR Nationwide Series Fan Fest

FROM NASCAR.com:

SPEED ANNOUNCES 2008 PRESEASON THUNDER LINE-UP

Before all of the holiday decorations have been put away and the last fruit cake has been re-gifted, SPEED will be setting up shop in Daytona Beach, Fla., Charlotte, N.C., Las Vegas and Fontana, Calif., to bring NASCAR fans 22 days of testing coverage as part of Preseason Thunder beginning Jan. 7.

"This season opens with quite a few questions to be answered," said SPEED president Hunter Nickell. "There will be a lot of interest in seeing NASCAR back on the track for the first time in '08. Dale Jr. in a Hendrick car, Kyle Busch in a Gibbs car, the COT at every track, new title sponsors ... there is no shortage of storylines for 2008 and SPEED will be there from the very beginning. We'll be there all season, and we'll be there at the end. NASCAR fans have come to expect that from SPEED and our team will deliver."

Testing coverage will be comprehensive as SPEED will cover sessions for the Sprint Cup Series, the Nationwide Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. In addition, for the first time, SPEED will offer multiple shows from the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour, hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway.

John Roberts will anchor SPEED's Sprint Cup coverage on-site, with assistance from Larry McReynolds, Jeff Hammond and Bob Dillner. Roberts also will host the Craftsman Truck Series session, with analysis from Ray Dunlap and Phil Parsons; and Nationwide Series testing, with Dunlap providing analysis. The full NASCAR on SPEED on-air team will participate in the 30-minute shows throughout the month, both on-site and from the Charlotte-based SPEED studios.

Following coverage of Preseason Thunder, SPEED will make the much-anticipated move to HD for 100 hours of coverage from Daytona Speedweeks beginning Feb. 7. In addition, SPEEDtv.com will re-launch in widescreen format Feb. 6.

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2008 DAYTONA TESTING:

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