At least 10 teams expected at track Wednesday
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At least 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are expected to participate in a one-day open team test Wednesday at Darlington Raceway.
The historic 1.366-mile track, the first paved speedway to feature NASCAR competition, will host the Bojangles' Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race Sunday, Sept. 6.
Drivers scheduled to take part in this week's test are: Aric Almirola (Richard Petty Motorsports), Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway Racing), Clint Bowyer (Michael Waltrip Racing), Kurt Busch (Stewart-Haas Racing), Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing), Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports), Joey Logano (Team Penske), Jamie McMurray (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates), Ryan Newman (Richard Childress Racing) and Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing).
The test is scheduled to run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET. (UPDATE: End time pushed up to 4:45 p.m. ET because of expected showers.)
Biffle, Bowyer, McMurray and Newman will also be on hand Tuesday for a single-day Goodyear tire test.
"This is a great, free opportunity for fans to watch NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams race around our famed oval for the first time in nearly 14 months," track president Chip Wile said. "This will be the only time the teams and drivers will be able to see Darlington before the series returns on Labor Day weekend."
The Sprint Cup Series hasn't visited Darlington since April of 2014. An offseason schedule change moved the event back to the holiday weekend, a spot it held on the schedule for more than 50 years.
The open test will be the seventh of the season. Future single-day tests are scheduled for Richmond International Raceway, Chicagoland Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway.
Nearly all of the tests follow one- or two-day Goodyear tire tests at the individual tracks. The Richmond team test, scheduled for June 17, is a recent addition. Meanwhile, a two-day Goodyear tire test at Bristol was changed to a single-day open team test (July 30).
NASCAR banned private team testing for 2015, developing the National Series Master Unified Test Schedule instead to provide teams an opportunity to work with this season's new rules package. Only one team from each Sprint Cup organization is allowed to participate in the open team tests.
The four teams taking part in the Goodyear portion are the only ones from their organizations allowed to participate in the open test, if they choose.
"With the Bojangles' Southern 500 being the second-to-last race before the Chase cutoff, I'm sure the teams will be looking for a little something extra to get to … Victory Lane and potentially secure a Chase berth before times runs out," Wile said.
Two sections of the Colvin Grandstands, located on the backstretch, will be open to fans.
Kevin Harvick, 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, is the defending winner of the Bojangles' Southern 500.
In addition to the Sprint Cup race, Darlington Raceway will also host the VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race Saturday, Sept. 5.