Preseason Thunder

Be one of the first to see NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow at California Speedway in January.
California Speedway will be part of NASCAR's Preseason Thunder from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1. This will be the first time the Car of Tomorrow, NASCAR's innovative new stock car every Sprint Cup team will use in 2008, will be run on the Fontana track.
“We are thrilled to host NASCAR Preseason Thunder, which will give our fans a preview of how the Car of Tomorrow will change the racing when it debuts at California Speedway this February,” said Gillian Zucker, President of California Speedway. “Everyone I have spoken with about the Car of Tomorrow — from drivers, to crew chiefs, to team owners to officials — talks about how drafting will become a major factor, like Daytona or Talladega, without restrictor plates. It should be a great show for California’s racing fans.”
The Sprint Cup Series will be at California Speedway for the second race of the 2008 schedule, Feb. 22-24. The Car of Tomorrow was used limitedly during the 2007 season. NASCAR did not use the new car on most of the larger tracks in the series.
“The Car of Tomorrow will change racing,” said Kyle Petty, a driver for Petty Enterprises and veteran of over 800 Cup races. “I think it’s better suited for a 2-mile race track and truly believe that when we run it out in California, you are going to see a great race. Next year’s races have the potential to be the best California races we’ve ever had.”
NASCAR will run three test sessions on Jan. 31 (9 a.m.-noon, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. and 6 p.m.-9 p.m.) and two test sessions on Feb. 1 (9 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-5 p.m.) Admission to the grandstands will be free for all sessions. Fans that purchase tickets for the Auto Club 500 by Jan. 31 will also be granted access to the infield rooftops during testing.
Fans who have not purchased their tickets for the February NASCAR race weekend can still gain access to the infield rooftops with a $5 donation to the NASCAR Foundation. Additionally, members of California Speedway’s Hard Card program -- season ticket holders who have renewed their seats for 2008 -- will have access to a special question and answer session with fan favorite driver Robby Gordon after the Jan. 31 afternoon’s testing session.
The Preseason Thunder schedule was determined by a group of Cup crew chiefs and includes nine tracks before the 2008 Cup season starts at Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500.