18 Cup teams to participate in Goodyear tire test next week

Tony Stewart helps Daytona International Speedway
President Joie Chitwood III paint the start-finish line
on the newly paved section of the track in October.

Next week, 18 Sprint Cup drivers will descend on Daytona International Speedway for the first of two testing sessions on the storied racetrack's new surface.

Goodyear will hold a tire test Wednesday, Dec. 15, and Thursday, Dec. 16, to determine the best tire compound for the season-opening Daytona 500 in February. The test marks the first time the racecars will grace the new blacktop.

The repaving process at Daytona started in July following the Coke Zero 400, just the second time in its history the track has been resurfaced. 

The two-day Goodyear test presents teams with their first opportunity to collect information about Daytona's new asphalt. NASCAR has scheduled an open test for Jan. 20-22 for all Cup teams.

The 53rd annual Daytona 500 will be held Feb. 20, 2011.

The following teams and drivers are scheduled to participate in next week's tire test (list is subject to change):

• Earnhardt Ganassi Racing: Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya

• Penske Racing: Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski

• Hendrick Motorsports: Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

• Roush Fenway Racing: David Ragan and Matt Kenseth

• Germain Racing: Casey Mears

• Wood Brothers Racing: Trevor Bayne

• Richard Childress Racing: Jeff Burton and Paul Menard

• JTG Daugherty Racing: Bobby Labonte

• Gunselman Motorsports: Todd Bodine

• Furniture Row Racing: Regan Smith

• Red Bull Racing: Reed Sorenson

• K-Automotive Motorsports: Brian Keselowski

Testing will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. The two-day session is open to the public, with free access to the Oldfield Grandstands through the ticket office lobby.