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Credit: TASCOR Media
Focus: Daytona Speedweeks
By Ben Fischer, TASCOR-LEAGUE.COM
October 26, 2006
4:51 PM CEST (GMT +0200)
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- When the TASCOR Cup Series kicks off in February, with the inaugural Daytona 300, it will not just be the begin of a new league and series, but it will also mark the end of the 2007 Daytona Speedweeks, the first in TASCOR history. Daytona International Speedway already now is forming its role as TASCOR's primary location, the second home to TASCOR along with Charlotte, North Carolina's Lowe's Motor Speedway.
To many teams and drivers but also fans looking for the racing action to return after a long three-month winter break, Preseason Thunder Testing in January marks the real, but yet unofficial start of the season, including in 2007. Preseason Thunder Testing represents the first real opportunity for teams and drivers to test their newly developed cars they plan to enter for the 'big show', the Daytona 300. While Daytona International Speedway opens Preseason Thunder Testing mid-January, Las Vegas Motor Speedway comes into the mix with another three testing days in late January.
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However, to most people in the garage, Preseason Thunder testing still claims its part in the Speedweeks. Officially, 2007 Daytona Speedweeks open on January 27-28, 2007 as the inaugural 12 Hours at Daytona will take the crowd's attention. The endurance event will feature Sports Cars such as of Mercedes, Jaguar, Mazda and Toyota. Over a total of twelve hours the winner will be determined and it is expected several TASCOR drivers will take on Daytona International Speedway's infield road course.
Just twelve days later, on January 10, the 2007 Daytona Speedweeks continue with the inaugural running of the TASCOR Shootout under the lights at the world's most famous 2.5-mile track in Florida. For the first season of TASCOR, the event will feature all full-time TASCOR Cup Series drivers of 2007, as recently announced. The qualifying events for the Daytona 300, Daytona 300 Pre-Qualifying and the TASCOR Duel at Daytona will take place one day later, on January 11, 2007.
While the Daytona 300 Pre-Qualifying determines the lineup for both TASCOR Duel races, the fastest two drivers in the session will be rewarded with a guaranteed spot in the prestigious 300-mile event. The TASCOR Duel races one and two go over a distance of 60 laps, 150 miles and will decide if one will have to go home or gets to taste a starting spot in the Daytona 300.
Finally the TASCOR Truck Series will kick off points racing on January 16, 2007 with its season opening Florida Dodge Dealers 200. The event will run in spectacular fashion under the lights of the 'World Center of Racing' and be the first of 25 races through 2007, that will determine the first ever TASCOR Truck Series champion. The Florida Kisses 250 follows up one day later, kicking off the first season of Grand Atlantic Series competition. It is expected many TASCOR Cup Series drivers will join the event for further preparations for the Daytona 300 on Sunday.
The Daytona 300 on February 18, 2007 finally will conclude the first edition of Daytona Speedweeks and will determine the first winner of the prestigious 300-miler at the high speed oval. The winning team, owner and driver will be rewarded with the biggest VMS purse of the year, as the Daytona 300 by far is the best paying event for teams to participate in. As an additional, but no less important gift, the race winner will be rewarded with the points lead in the TASCOR Cup Series, twenty-five rounds before the inaugural 'Chase for the TASCOR Cup' begins.
"I am sure many folks are as excited as us about Speedweeks coming up in February and I personally think it will be a great time. It takes a lot of organization and commitment from everyone at TASCOR to get the first season of TASCOR to a smooth start. Daytona is just the perfect place for us to get going and therefore I for one am really looking forward to see the action get kicked off," TASCOR President Ben Fischer said.
TASCOR Speedweeks will be covered closely on TASCOR-LEAGUE.COM with detailed updates about Preseason Thunder testing, speeds and the latest rumors floating around the garage. Be sure to check back here regularly during that time.
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