virgivaughn: Three-Day Preseason Thunder Test At DIS Wraps Up

Trevor Bayne, driver of the #21 Ford, is pushed by his crew through the garage area during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway on January 12, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

Pemberton: ‘There’s No Telling What You’ll See’

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., – The three-day Preseason Thunder test session for the 55^th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race concluded on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Teams and drivers have spent the past three days shaking down the “Gen 6” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car.

The new race car has greater brand identity for the manufacturers and will make its debut in The Sprint Unlimited, the star-studded non-points event on Saturday night, Feb. 16 that will feature the previous season’s pole winners and past champions of The Sprint Unlimited.

Budweiser Speedweeks will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 24 with “The Great American Race,” NASCAR’s signature event.

For the majority of the three-day test, teams conducted single-car qualifying runs. On Saturday, teams participated in an afternoon drafting session where speeds topped near 200 mph.

NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton provided the attending media an update on the three-day test during the Saturday lunch break and he expects another classic Daytona 500 finish in the prestigious season-opening event.

“When it comes down to the trophy, the check and the trophy queen, all bets are off,” Pemberton said. “I expect them to run hard at the end (of the race) and make sure they are around for the end of the race and make sure they are positioned where they can get (to the checkered flag). There is no telling what you’ll see.”

Fastest of the day: In the morning session on Saturday, 2012 Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth topped the speed charts in the No. 20 Toyota from Joe Gibbs Racing with a lap speed of 194.062 mph. Trevor Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 champion, was second fastest in the No. 21 Ford from Wood Brothers Racing with a lap of 193.686.

Danica Patrick, who will race the full NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule this year with Stewart Haas Racing, was third fastest with a speed of 193.648.

Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition for NASCAR, speaks with the media during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway on January 12, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

In the afternoon, Roush Fenway Racing’s Greg Biffle was fastest at 194.936 mph followed by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Matt Kenseth (194.717) and Kyle Busch (194.578).

Coming up: Next up at Daytona International Speedway will be the 51^st anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 26-27, the kick off to Budweiser Speedweeks At Daytona. Sports car teams from around the world will battle the challenging 3.56-mile road course in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season-opening event.

The Rolex 24 Weekend At Daytona will also feature the GRAND-AM 200 for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge teams on Friday, Jan. 25 and the Ferrari Challenge North America on Friday, Jan 25 at 11:45 a.m. and Saturday, Jan. 26 at 10:30 a.m.

During the Rolex 24 Weekend fans and visitors can also partake in the Daytona 5K & Fun Walk the morning of Jan. 26 along with all Sprint FANZONE entertainment and the Boardwalk Experience carnival festivities.

For more information and the weekend event schedule please visit: http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Tickets-Events/Events/2013/Rolex-24-At-Daytona/Event-Info.aspx.

Two-day tickets for the Rolex 24 At Daytona start at $35 and are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Tickets for Budweiser Speedweeks At Daytona are currently available as well.

Fans can also stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest for the latest news all season long.