Teams survived their first race in the Car of Tomorrow (COT) at Bristol. Immediate feedback on the new cars was varied but mostly positive. Most drivers found that the cars drove differently, but the strategies for preparing for the race did not. Each team worked to find the setup that worked best for the car and driver and then tried to make continued improvements. One overall theme throughout the weekend from drivers was that the COT cars feel much tighter than the current cars.
Teams now turn their attention to Martinsville Speedway for this weekend's Goody's Cool Orange 500. Martinsville is another half-mile short track and it will be the second race with the COT. The initial thought is that it will be easy for teams to transfer all of their Bristol notes directly to Martinsville, being that they are both the same length. However, with the huge difference in banking, this weekend could feel like the debut of the COT car all over again.
To give an idea of the challenges facing the teams this weekend, Martinsville's banking in the turns is twenty-four degrees less than that at Bristol. Shock setups and braking systems will be different, as the goal for teams this week will focus around getting the car to turn through a much flatter corner and keeping brakes and brake rotors cool throughout the entire five hundred laps. That will be accomplished through a new standard brake duct on the COT that incorporates three hoses. For more information on the COT visit www.nascar.com.
Fans that have passes to the Fan Zone hospitality areas will be in for an extra treat on Sunday. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon will both make rare hospitality visits on race day. Earnhardt will visit the Bud Fan Zone while Gordon will headline the Pepsi Fan Zone. Both will participate in a question and answer session.
If fans have not purchased their tickets yet, there are still good seats remaining for the Goody's Cool Orange 500 Nextel Cup race. If fans need more racing action they can watch a few of their favorite Cup stars in action on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm during the Kroger 250 Truck Series race. Fans that want to give themselves the VIP treatment have a unique opportunity to purchase luxury suite tickets that give them access to every event throughout the weekend.
Qualifying Record: Tony Stewart (19.306 seconds/98.083 mph) Oct. 21, 2005
Martinsville Race Record: Jeff Gordon (3 hours, 11 minutes, 55 seconds/82.223 mph) Sept. 22, 1996
2006 Nextel Cup Winner: Tony Stewart (margin of victory - 1.083 seconds)
2007 Total Purse: $5,119,100
