NASCAR started three days of testing at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday as the drivers had their first chance to run on the new surface. Columbia native Carl Edwards described what he thought the February 21st race would be like in one word…“wild.”
The Columbia MO. native says the track is so smooth and grips well that he said there is no telling what drivers may try. Carl Edwards on the new Daytona track surface
NASCAR has also made some changes and are considering others. The first major change and it really effects Edwards is that drivers must race for just one championship. Edwards and Brad Keselowski were the only two Sprint Cup drivers who raced in all Nationwide races last year with Edwards finishing second behind his rival. This year, Edwards plans on starting all Nationwide races, but he’s going after the Sprint Cup Championship. He admits he would have liked another shot at Keselowski. Carl loves the competition of Nationwide racing
NASCAR follows a complicated points scoring system that legend has was written down on a cocktail napkin. Now, NASCAR is considering a simpler scoring system of award 43 points for first, 42 for second and so on down the line. No decision has been made, but Edwards and other drivers seem in favor of a simple system. Edwards on the proposed changes
Lastly, Joplin, MO. native, Jamie McMurray who had a break out year last year with three wins including the Daytona 500, signed a long-term contract with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. He finished 14th in the final Sprint Cup standings but had his best season since leaving team owner Chip Ganassi for Roush Fenway Racing following the 2005 season.