Notes: Leicht eager to learn from Labonte, RCR bunch (cont'd)

Hamilton happy with new car package

Bobby Hamilton Jr. was pleased with his testing, while applauding this year's engine package. Hamilton, a Nashville, Tenn., native who turned 30 earlier this month, was second-quickest in Thursday morning's session at Las Vegas.

"I'm tickled to death with our testing," he said. "We were a little bit worried, because of the smaller motor. But right now, we're second."

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Hamilton praised this year's engine change with providing a great car. Hamilton will drive the No. 25 Ford in 2008.

"The way they've done the motors -- the way the cars are used to almost a hundred more horsepower -- they took that away and they just drive awesome," Hamilton said. "I can't wait for the race, because the car is going to be so comfortable to drive that you'll be able to pass more. You should be able to go under a guy and not worry about getting loose and stuff like that.

"I applaud NASCAR 100 percent as far as what they've done with the motors and leaving the bodies like they have. It gives us something to drive. When we can drive them, it makes for a better show for the fans."

Keselowski picking up the pace

After struggling a bit Wednesday morning, Brad Keselowski (No. 88 Chevrolet) was able to capitalize on teamwork to gain information that in turn helped him gain speed, thanks to the merger between JR Motorsports and the Hendrick Motorsports Nationwide programs. Subsequent changes moved Keselowski from 40th and 47th on the speed charts in the morning session for the two No. 88 Chevys JRM was testing to 13th and 22nd in the afternoon.

"The Navy Chevy wasn't very fast off the truck [Wednesday]," Keselowski said. "Mark [Martin] and the guys on the No. 5 team were a lot faster. So, we all got together during the break and went over what they were running versus what we were trying. We made some changes and picked up a good bit in the afternoon. We're still not 100 percent where we'd like to be, but we'll keep working on it. I'm sure we'll be even better when we come back in March."

Lap times for Keselowski's two cars continued to improve on Thursday morning, meanwhile, moving to fifth and 16th on the charts.

Toyota continues to set pace

Toyota continued to top the speed charts during Preseason Thunder at Las Vegas. Johnny Benson (No. 20 Toyota) joined Kyle Busch (No. 18 Toyota) and David Reutimann (No. 99 Toyota) atop the speed charts -- turning the fast lap of 182.729 mph (29.552 seconds) during Thursday morning's session.

Reutimann had recorded the fastest lap of 180.675 mph (29.888 seconds) in Wednesday morning's session and Busch had the fastest lap of 181.757 mph (29.710 seconds) on Wednesday afternoon.

Testing goes as expected

Preseason Thunder testing went as planned, according to Nationwide Series director Joe Balash.

"We've got a number of teams here that have tested a lot of different things, trying to get a feel for the first time this year being on a mile-and-a-half track," Balash said. "The temperatures have been a little cool [so] we've had a lot of grip in the tires. The teams are all talking about the speed in the turns this year -- it seems to be up a little bit. As far as our engine package goes, everything with that whole program is as we had expected it to be. I think we're right on target with our RPMs and everything we're looking at with the program."

Bright and sunny Las Vegas

Sunny skies greeted Nationwide Series teams participating in Preseason Thunder testing at Las Vegas on Wednesday and Thursday. While temperatures that dipped into the low 30s at night made for a brisk early morning, it reached into the low 50s during the day. Winds were light, although gusting at times.