News Article

NASCAR TEAMS WRAP UP TESTING AT GIR

October 17, 2007
Brandon W. Mudd

MADISON, Ill. - Teams from Richard Childress Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and Gillett-Evernham Motorsports wrapped up their Car of Tomorrow test sessions at Gateway International Raceway late Wednesday afternoon. Jimmie Johnson spent two days at the 1.25-mile oval, while Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, and Clint Bowyer were here today Wednesday only.

Ray Evernham, co-owner of Gillett-Evernham Motorsports, listens to the communication between his drivers, Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler, and their respective crews during the teams' test at Gateway International Raceway. Photo by Brandon W. Mudd

Despite inclement weather, all four teams were able to gain valuable information for the upcoming NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway Nov. 11. Turns 3 and 4 of GIR are similar to the layout at Phoenix, making Gateway a popular site for teams preparing for that crucial track in the NASCAR Chase for the Championship.

The session was open to the public and many area fans were able to see four of the top stars in American motorsports up close and personal. This isn't the first time the drivers have been on the GIR track; all four have raced here in the NASCAR Busch Series, with Sadler winning the first-ever event here and Bowyer was the runner up in the 2006 race behind Missourian Carl Edwards.

The four will now move on to the fifth race in the Chase for the Championship at Martinsville, where Johnson has won the last two consecutive NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races.

Gateway International Raceway continues to be a busy place with the Fall Bracket Race on the drag strip and the first-ever Gateway Drift event on the 1.6-mile road course this Saturday. NASCAR returns to Madison next week as the Bill Davis Racing teams of Dave Blaney and Jacques Villeneuve are scheduled to test on the oval.