Daytona rules package set for 2013 race cars

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The rules package is set and the hours are counting down until Hendrick Motorsports' four drivers are able to test the 2013 Chevrolet SS race car on the storied Daytona International Speedway. Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are among the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers participating in Preseason Thunder, and the three-day session kicks off Thursday, Jan. 10 to signal the unofficial on-track start for the 2013 NASCAR season.

“This test is an opportunity for the teams to prepare their cars for Speedweeks and the 55th running of the Daytona 500,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “This is the teams’ test and provides an excellent lead in to the upcoming 2013 season. There has been a lot of work put into the development of the Gen-6 car by the manufacturers, teams and NASCAR. It will be exciting to see the new cars on the track for Daytona Preseason Thunder.”

After several tests for the new car, including one restrictor-plate test at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, the rules package has been set heading into Preseason Thunder.

The rules package for Daytona includes:

•Plate size: 29/32" (same plate size as 2012)
•Spoiler size: 4" high x 53" wide
•Spoiler angle: 70 degrees
•Front Grille size: 1-3/4" high x 23" wide
•Radiator Relief valve: 32 psi

In addition to the year’s first on-track testing, the track also will host Preseason Thunder Fan Fest on Thursday night, January 10. Fan Fest will include autograph sessions, driver fan forums, show cars and displays, music and a photo opportunity with the 2013 Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 trophy.

Tickets for Daytona Preseason Thunder Fan Fest are $20 on Thursday and $10 for Friday and Saturday and are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Children 12 and under will receive free admission. The four Hendrick Motorsports teammates are scheduled to appear during the 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. timeslot.

Daytona International Speedway will also host special driver chat sessions on the speedway’s social media channels following the end of testing Thursday evening from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Fans can submit questions for Twitter chats by including #DaytonaTesting and the driver’s official Twitter handle. NASCAR’s official Twitter feed @NASCAR will also provide updates throughout the three-day session. Fans can also participate in live driver chats hosted on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.

SPEED will broadcast live coverage of testing on all three days from 1-5 p.m. ET. Additionally, SPEEDTV.com will stream testing live from 9 a.m.-noon ET each day.