Seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt will return to the driver's seat for the first time since December back surgery by heading a list of 36 drivers from the NASCAR Winston Cup and NASCAR Busch Series who have scheduled testing times Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Three-time champion Jeff Gordon and two-time champion Terry Labonte will join rookie of the year contenders Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Scott Pruett and Stacy Compton for the test. Teams will be preparing for the March 5, CarsDirect.com 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race and the March 4, Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series event.
Many of the Winston Cup competitors will be shooting for $1 million as part of Winston's No Bull 5 promotion, which will give the top five finishers from the Daytona 500 a shot at $1 million should they win the CarsDirect.com 400.
In all, 18 NASCAR Winston Cup teams are scheduled to test and 18 NASCAR Busch Series teams are slated. Each team will test for two of the three days.
The following teams are scheduled to test for the CarsDirect.com 400: Earnhardt, Terry Labonte, Compton, Jeremy Mayfield, Robby Gordon, Derrike Cope, Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Fuller, Ricky Carven, Wally Dallenbach Jr., Chad Little, Bobby Hamilton, Michael Waltrip, Earnhardt Jr., Pruett, Sterling Marlin, Kenny Irwin and Robert Pressley.
Scheduled to test in preparation for the Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series race are Kevin Harvick, Mike Dillon, Casey Atwood, Kevin Grubb, Jay Sauter, Gus Wasson, Jason Jarrett, Bobby Hillin Jr., Jason Leffler, Mike McLaughlin, David Green, Tim Fedewa, Hermie Sadler, Todd Bodine, Anthony Lazzaro and two cars from SABCO Racing, which has not announced drivers.
The testing will be open to the public for a $5 donation to Speedway Children's Charities.
The CarsDirect.com 400 NASCAR Winston Cup event is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. (Pacific time) on Sunday, March 5 and will be televised on ABC Sports. The Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series race is Saturday, March 4 at 1 p.m. (PT) and will be televised on ESPN2. Qualifying for the Sam's Town 300 is slated for Thursday, March 2, while CarsDirect.com 400 qualifying will be held Friday, March 3.
