Clint Bowyer is one of several Cup drivers slated to run the entire Busch Series. Credit: Autostock

Star-studded field starts NBS testing at Daytona

Even without champ, three-day session has no shortage of talent

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- It is hard not to notice the absence of Martin Truex Jr. from the Busch Series in 2006, but that doesn't mean the series is going to get any easier.

The Busch cars hit the track for the first time on Friday with a three-day test for next month's Hershey's 300 at Daytona International Speedway.

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The Busch Series test is the final restrictor-plate tune-up until Speedweeks in February. After Daytona, the Busch Series cars will follow the Nextel Cup Series with an important three-day test at Las Vegas.

A handful of Nextel Cup regulars are running both the Nextel Cup and the Busch Series schedule. It used to be considered a big deal. A novelty. A massive undertaking.

Not anymore. Not after teams noticed the benefits of extra track time.

The influx of Nextel Cup regulars running the full Busch schedule -- Reed Sorenson, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick -- makes it tough to predict a clear front-runner in the Busch Series.

"[There is] a lot more talent this year. It is definitely going to be tougher this year,' said Clint Bowyer, who finished second to Truex last year. "You're going to have four Martin Truexes this year, if not more."

Kyle Busch says he is running both schedules because he wanted to win the Busch title he lost in 2004.

"I wanted to do it because I missed out on the championship and I wanted to go back and try to win it," said Busch. "I ran like 16 races last year and it wasn't too bad."

Both Busch and Harvick have new crew chiefs to get used to at the test this weekend. Harvick's team hired Shane Wilson after Penske Racing shut down its third team. Busch will undertake his first full season with former Hendrick engineer Chad Walter.

"Shane has a lot of experience and I don't think we will miss a beat," said Harvick. "We never have missed a beat with the Busch program."

Richard Childress Racing will use Harvick in 29 races and Jeff Burton in the other five, giving the No. 21 Chevrolet the potential to win the owners title for the second time since 2003.