Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: 24 Nextel, Busch drivers to test at LVMS

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Eleven more NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers, including reigning series champion Matt Kenseth and Las Vegas native Kurt Busch, have indicated they will take part in the open test next month at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Kenseth and Busch join fellow Roush Racing drivers Mark Martin and Greg Biffle, Evernham Motorsports drivers Bill Elliott, Jeremy Mayfield and Kasey Kahne, Joe Gibbs Racing's Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte, Wood Brothers Racing's Ricky Rudd and Ricky Craven (Cal Wells' PPI Motorsports) as the most recent Cup drivers to register for the Jan. 26-29 test. Each driver will be allowed to test only two of the four days.

The most recent additions bring the total to 24 Nextel Cup and three Busch Series drivers expected to test on the LVMS 1.5-mile oval. Last year's four-day test session at LVMS attracted nearly 50 Cup and Busch drivers.

Other Nextel Cup drivers who have registered for the test are Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Brian Vickers (Hendrick Motorsports), Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman (Penske Racing South), Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray and Sterling Marlin (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sebates), Dale Jarrett (Robert Yates Racing) and Ward Burton (Haas CNC Racing).

Jason Leffler (Haas CNC Racing), J.J. Yeley (Joe Gibbs Racing) and Mike Bliss (Joe Gibbs Racing) are the lone Busch Series drivers who have committed to the test. Biffle also plans to test the No. 60 Roush Racing Busch entry that week.

The test will be open to the public, free of charge.

Kenseth increased his career earnings to $19,096,585 in four full seasons plus six races.

Jeff Gordon finished second in the voting, Kevin Harvick was third, Steve Park finished fourth and Tony Stewart was fifth. ...

Ricky Craven was named the 2003 NASCAR USG Person of the Year for his work in community service and charitable events. Craven was honored for his work on the annual Ricky Craven Charity Snowmobile Ride, held each January in his home state of Maine. The event has raised more than $500,000 for charity in its six-year existence.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.