FONTANA, California -- As part of NASCAR's Preseason Thunder, several NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series teams will participate in a test session at California Speedway from January 31 - February 3, 2005. As of early January, nine NASCAR Busch Series drivers have confirmed for the first two days of the test and 32 NEXTEL Cup Series drivers have confirmed for the remaining two days of the test.
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series test dates, February 2 - 3, will be open to the general public, free of charge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"This open test will officially kick off our 'Speed Month' as we build toward the upcoming NASCAR Tripleheader, February 25 27," said Speedway President Bill Miller. "The test is very important to the teams, but it is also very important to us in launching this final ticket sales drive. A sneak peak like this will help whet the appetite of fans, or those who are curious and wanting to learn more about NASCAR racing, to witness the sport up close in anticipation of the big event weekend."
Guests will be invited to park inside the oval in the Suite Parking Lots and view the test session from above the Terrace Suites on Pit Road to get up close to the action. A few additional entertainment-type opportunities are also being worked on for guests who attend the test, including a Terrace Suite opening, which will allow guests to experience how the NASCAR weekend's Suite Action puts them right on top of the action in one of the Speedway's well-appointed luxury suites. A three-day Suite Action package for February 25-27 is $1,100 and a two-day for February 26-27 is $950.
Individual tickets for the upcoming race weekend will also be on sale, and guests who purchase tickets at the test to any one of the three February 25-27 race dates will receive a free license plate frame. Those that have already purchased tickets and bring a friend to the test who purchases a race ticket will receive a free license plate frame as well as the ticket purchaser.
Sunday's Auto Club 500 tickets are on sale for $65 and $105. Saturday's ticket, which includes NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series qualifying, the NASCAR Busch Series Stater Bros. 300, the Miller Lite Rock 'n Racing Concert and a fireworks show, is $40 and $50. Friday's ticket, which includes NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying, NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series practice and the "night time thunder" of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series American Racing Wheels 200, are $30 with children 12 and under free with a paid adult admission.
Party Zone passes, featuring driver question and answer sessions on race weekend, are also on sale. This fan hospitality area is located inside the Infield and every Party Zone pass includes a pit pass for the day purchased. Saturday's pass is $85, Sunday's pass is $125 and a combined two-day pass is $175. A weekend pit pass, which will allow guests to tour pit road prior to each day's race, is also available. Guests can sign the Start/Finish Line on Sunday prior to the Auto Club 500. For guests 18 and over, a weekend pit pass is $55 - those under 18 are free on Sunday when accompanied by a paying adult. A grandstand ticket is required to use the Party Zone pass or pit pass.
For ticket and event information, call 800-944-RACE [7223] or visit www.californiaspeedway.com.
- 2005 Auto Club 500 -
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Drivers (2/2-3):
Haas CNC Racing Inc, Mike Bliss, No. 0
MB2 Motorsports, Joe Nemechek, No. 01
Penske Racing South, Rusty Wallace, No. 2
Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Busch, No. 5
Roush Racing, Mark Martin, No. 6
Richard Childress Racing, Dave Blaney, No. 7
Dale Earnhardt Inc., Dale Earnhardt Jr, No. 8
Evernham Motorsports, Kasey Kahne, No. 9
MBV Motorsports, Scott Riggs, No. 10
Penske Racing South, Ryan Newman, No. 12
ppc Racing, John Andretti, No. 14
Roush Racing, Greg Biffle, No. 16
Roush Racing, Matt Kenseth, No. 17
Evernham Motorsports, Jeremy Mayfield, No. 19
Wood Brothers, Ricky Rudd, No. 21
Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon, No. 24
Hendrick Motorsports, Brian Vickers, No. 25
Richard Childress Racing, Kevin Harvick, No. 29
Richard Childress Racing, Jeff Burton, No. 31
Robert Yates Racing, Elliott Sadler, No. 38
Chip Ganassi Racing, Sterling Marlin, No. 40
Chip Ganassi Racing, Casey Mears, No. 41
Chip Ganassi Racing, Jamie McMurray, No. 42
Petty Enterprises, Jeff Green, No. 43
Hendrick Motorsports, Terry Labonte, No. 44
Petty Enterprises, Kyle Petty, No. 45
Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson, No. 48
BAM Racing, Ken Schrader, No. 49
Penske Jasper, Travis Kvapil, No. 77
Robert Yates Racing, Dale Jarrett, No. 88
Evernham Motorsports, Bill Elliott, No. 91
Roush Racing, Kurt Busch, No. 97
NASCAR Busch Series Drivers (1/31-2/1):
Evernham Motorsports, Paul Wolfe, No. 6
Richard Childress Racing, Clint Bowyer, No. 2
ppc Racing, Michel Jourdain Jr, No. 10
Joe Gibbs Racing, JJ Yeley, No. 18
Joe Gibbs Racing, Denny Hamlin, No. 20
ppc Racing, Kenny Wallace, No. 22
Braun Racing, Shane Hmiel, No. 32
Chip Ganassi Racing, Reed Sorenson, No. 41
Labonte Haas Racing, Justin Labonte, No. 44
