Hendrick trio suit up for Goodyear Tire Test this week at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 14, 2010) – Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are among the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who will participate in the Goodyear tire test on the new racing surface at Daytona International Speedway. Currently, 18 drivers are scheduled to tour the 2.5-mile speedway in advance of the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 20. The test, which will be held Wednesday, Dec. 15 and Thursday, Dec. 16, will be the first time race cars will turn laps on the new asphalt of Daytona International Speedway. The historic track was repaved recently for only the second time in its history. Martin and Gordon are participating on Wednesday, while Earnhardt will run both days. The Goodyear tire test will be open to the public. Fans can enter free-of-charge through the lobby of the Daytona International Speedway ticket office for seats in the Oldfield Grandstands. On July 5, Lane Construction began the historic repaving project and used an estimated 50,000 tons of asphalt to repave more than 1.4 million square feet of Daytona International Speedway with a target completion date of Jan. 1, 2011. Two test sessions already have been scheduled for January -- the Roar Before The Rolex 24 on Jan. 7-9 and NASCAR Preseason Thunder with the Sprint Cup Series tams on Jan. 20-22. Speedweeks 2011 will kick off with the 49th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series race on Jan. 29-30 and conclude with the 53rd annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, the prestigious season-opening event to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. For tickets and more information on Daytona International Speedway events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.