Notes: Hornaday, Cook pace speeds at AMS test

HAMPTON, Ga. -- The trucks hit the asphalt at 10:30 a.m. and concluded their session at 8 p.m.

Under grey winter skies, 27 teams in the Craftsman Truck Series took to the track Tuesday for Round Two of preseason testing at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Ron Hornaday finished a rain-shortened Day One atop the chart with a best speed of 171.271 mph. Terry Cook laid down a fast lap of 31.493 seconds, (171.467 mph) to lead Day Two.

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Three Toyota drivers, former Atlanta race winner Todd Bodine, Cook and Mike Skinner ended their first day not far behind the defending series champion.

Testing ended on Wednesday. Following Cook on the speed chart were Bodine, Chad McCumbee, Jack Sprague and Hornaday. Teams used the test to prepare for the American Commercial Lines 200 at AMS on March 7. Skinner, the defending ACL 200 winner, was seventh-quickest with a lap of 31.795 seconds (169.838 mph).

At a media reception held Tuesday night in downtown Atlanta, Rick Crawford discussed his thoughts on the day of testing. "We brought two trucks down here, each with a slightly different body style. We've been a little loose since we've been here, but we're hearing that up and down the garage. Right now we're trying to adjust to the harder tire compound and the new motor rule."

Crawford also said, "With the new tapered spacer, the trucks run pretty much wide open around here, but in race conditions there will be some lifting and that will put the racing into the hands of the drivers a little more than in the past.

"I don't think these changes will affect the style of racing we see around here. I'm sure in fact it will be just as exciting for the fans."

Crawford's crew chief, Kevin "Cowboy" Starland, echoed those comments during a brief break Wednesday afternoon. "We came to Atlanta to focus on two things. The first is a new tire compound that is slightly harder than what we ran here last year and the second is the effect of the tapered spacer that we're running at all of the tracks this year," he said.

"We've spent this second day, where we have actually had a decent amount of track time, working on the trucks and finding out what they need with the new tire and motor configuration. We are hoping what we learn here this week will carry over to some of the other faster tracks and intermediate tracks like California Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Michigan International Speedway."

A satisfied director

As the overcast skies opened to bright sun Wednesday afternoon, Truck Series Director Wayne Auton said, "Now that the weather has changed, teams are really getting some good data on the new engine package which the trucks will run this season. With approximately 70 horsepower and 500 rpm [less], they are receiving good feedback from their drivers on how the truck compares to running here last season.

"The teams are having a chance to get a good fuel run in, which allows them to see what the new, reduced fuel cell size will do to their mileage, in addition to the aero underneath the truck."

Vehicles in all three NASCAR national series will carry roughly 17.75-gallon fuel cells in 2008 -- a reduction of 4.25 gallons from a year ago in the Truck Series.

Auton expects this year's racing to be just as competitive as in previous years.

"It should be an exciting season if testing is any indication how the different makes have done with both the Daytona test and the testing here," said Auton.

Home Sweet Home

Atlanta testing was a trip home for Georgia native Joey Clanton, who will drive the Roush Fenway Racing No. 09 Zaxby's Ford during the 2008 season. The track is familiar territory to Clanton who grew up in nearby Tyrone. He cut his racing teeth racing Super Late Models and Legends cars around Atlanta Motor Speedway and other prestigious tracks throughout Georgia and the Southeast.

"I'm glad to be back here at Atlanta Motor Speedway," Clanton said. "I've got a great group of guys behind me who are committed and focused on winning. This is my home track. There have always been great opportunities here at Atlanta and I'm hoping to win one for the home crowd." (Continued)