NCWTS: Day One Daytona International Speedway Testing Recap

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series took the track today at Daytona International Speedway to prepare for the February season opening event this afternoon. Testing was ran 45 minutes longer than scheduled in the afternoon because of possible bad weather tomorrow forecasted in the area. Many drivers had some positive feedback on the new truck bodies for the 2014 season.

Ben Kennedy led the morning test session with a fast time of 49.405 seconds, 182.168 mph. Kennedy ran a total of 54 laps during the session. He is one of the rookies many drivers can put on their radar to watch out for in 2014.

Jeb Burton led the afternoon draft session with a fast time of 47.085 seconds, 191.144 mph. Burton beat Dylan Kwasnieski’s lap yesterday morning in the Nationwide Series test session in a truck. He turned a total of 94 laps with his best on lap 80. Burton is certainly one of the drivers to watch out for in February.

Ben Kennedy finished off the afternoon in the second spot after running a 47.139 seconds, 190.925 mph lap time. Kennedy went around Daytona International Speedway 106 times with his best lap coming on the 86th time. He was just 0.054 seconds off of his teammates best lap.

Another driver to watch out for is third place finisher John Wes Townly after turning a lap of 47.141 seconds, 190.917 mph. Townley was strong about four weeks ago in the ARCA Racing Series test also held at Daytona. He also captured the victory in the season opening race at Daytona last year in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Matt Crafton ended up in the fourth position with a lap of 47.211 seconds, 190.364 mph. Crafton is not a fan of the pack racing, but says it will provide more interesting things during the race. The 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion was 0.126 seconds off of Jeb Burton’s best time.

Darrell Wallace, Jr. rounded out the top-five after turning a 190.577 mph, 47.225 second lap time. Wallace, Jr. made 64 laps around the speedway with his best lap coming on his 50th time. He hopes testing will carry him to his second career win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener.

Testing will resume tomorrow afternoon weather permitting. You can follow the final day of testing live through nascar.com’s live leaderboard. No TV or online streaming of the test will be provided.

Brett Winningham
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