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Kyle Busch, Toyota Top Daytona Testing

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By TONY FABRIZIO The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 10, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH - Kyle Busch is showing some speed out of the gate in his new ride with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Busch, who has replaced J.J. Yeley in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 18 Toyota, leaped to the top of the speed charts Wednesday during Daytona testing, leading both the morning (187.796 mph) and afternoon (188.830 mph) sessions.

"Everybody's pretty excited about the team we have over here with myself, Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin," said Busch, who led the three-day test. "Everybody's pretty pumped up and ready to get the season rolling."

A.J. Allmendinger in a Team Red Bull Toyota and Greg Biffle in a Ford were second and third fastest in the morning, and Matt Kenseth in a Ford and Reed Sorenson in a Dodge were second and third in the afternoon.

Toyota, which dominated qualifying in the most recent restrictor-plate race in October at Talladega, has been strong in Daytona testing so far.

"Don't forget, these aren't Daytona 'plate' motors any more," said Lee White, general manager of Toyota Racing Development. "The old traditional plate motor is history. This engine was first raced at Talladega last fall, an open-spec engine, with big main bearings, just like something you would race at Michigan albeit with a restrictor plate.

"Six months before Talladega, we saw that as an opportunity, and we had 15 people working just on that engine. And we were on the pole at Talladega and had six of the top-eight qualifiers. ... So I'm optimistic we can compete for the Daytona 500 pole."

Wednesday afternoon's session completed the three-day test for Sprint Cup teams that were ranked in the odd positions in the owners standings at midseason last year. Teams that were ranked in the even-numbered spots will test at Daytona next Monday through Wednesday.

Wednesday's results, Page 9

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