Richard Petty and Jeremy Mayfield stand by their Chargers as Daytona testing got under way with the unveiling of the new version of the legendary Dodge car!


Richard Petty won three championships and 37 races — more than any other driver — in a Dodge Charger in the 1970's, and he helped usher in the new age of the legendary car at Daytona!


After racing his way into NASCAR's inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup in 2004, Jeremy Mayfield will have a new car and a new crew chief — "Slugger" Labbe — as he tries to make it back to the "playoffs" in 2005!


With a new nose and tail, the goal of the new body design is to create more downforce and better front and rear balance on the track!


The new Dodge Charger, in testing gray, gets rolled out for a run!


While it's got a new body, the Dodge Charger doesn't have a Hemi engine!

redriderbob

 

Kyle Petty talks with his father before turning the 16th fastest lap in the morning session and the 21st fastest lap in the second session. Twenty-six cars tested on Day 1.


The BAM Racing No. 59 Dodge got the day off, but driver Klaus Graf is a road-course specialist who is looking for oval experience. NOTE: He is testing last year's Intrepid.


Michael Waltrip, Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. talk while their crews make adjustments to their cars during the first day of Nextel Cup testing at Daytona.


Gordon led the drivers on the track and led both the early and late sessions of the first day of testing.


Casey Mears was 23rd and 25th fastest in the two practice sessions.


Mears will also drive the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona race for Ganassi Racing this year.

redriderbob

 

Jamie McMurray was second fastest in the drafting session held the afternoon on the 13th. The speeds were not as fast as I thought they would be ....only 186+