Craven, Kluever plan Truck test at Talladega

CONCORD, N.C. -- Although the season is over and there is no racing on television, that does not mean the teams are taking it easy. Only two weeks after the season finale in Homestead, Roush's two Craftsman Truck Series teams are already preparing for their first 2005 test in a few weeks.

New drivers Ricky Craven and Todd Kluever will get their first opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Ford F-150s at Talladega Superspeedway on Dec. 13-14. The teams will be concentrating on aerodynamics and chassis set-up for the 2005 trucks.

"I'm really looking forward to our first test," Craven said. "I've only competed in one truck race so far in my career (at New Hampshire) so I'm anxious to get going and start working with everybody. NASCAR has a new rear-spring package for 2005 so we've got to spend some time deciding how to set-up the truck for Daytona. We'll be testing there in January, which will be helpful as well."

Kluever, Roush's rookie driver, will have a busy month ahead of him. Not only will he be testing at Talladega, but moving to North Carolina from his home state of Wisconsin.

"I'm going to fly to Charlotte next week and spend some time at the shop before we go to Talladega," Kluever said. "I plan to go back home a few days after the test and move down for good after Christmas. It's still all a little overwhelming because everything has happened so fast. It was only five weeks ago that I showed up at North Wilkesboro and sat in a truck for the first time. Now in less than two weeks I'll be going to Talladega to test our Daytona truck. It's still pretty hard to believe."