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AAA Motorsports Season Preview: Daytona 500 Kicks Off Auto Racing's New Year
Ragan and the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will tackle the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway during Preseason Thunder — auto racing's answer to spring training — throughout January, and they'll return to start the season in February. AAA is the Official Motor Club of Daytona International Speedway. "Once again, it's evident why Daytona International Speedway is called the 'World Center of Racing,'" said DIS President Robin Braig. "We're excited to host some of motorsports most prestigious and high profile events and look forward to another exhilarating year of racing." Following Daytona, the Sprint Cup Series continues a 36-race tour that covers 22 tracks in 19 states. AAA also returns as the Official Motor Club of the Indianapolis 500. The 92nd edition of this open-wheel classic will be held May 25, 2008, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Indianapolis has close ties to AAA history, as the association served as the first sanctioning body for auto racing in the United States. AAA established the national driving championship in 1909 and sanctioned the Indianapolis 500 from 1911 to 1955. January Motorsports Calendar Preseason Thunder Testing at Daytona: Jan. 7-9 - Sprint Cup Series, first session; Jan. 11-13 - Craftsman Truck Series; Jan. 14-16 - Sprint Cup Series, second session; and Jan. 18-22 - Busch Series. Grand American: In a race featuring superstars from the worlds of sports car racing, NASCAR, and open-wheel racing, the Rolex 24 at Daytona will take place on Jan. 26-27. The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series also visits Daytona for testing Jan. 4-6. 2008 Sprint Cup Series Schedule
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The 50th running of the Daytona 500 — on Feb. 17, 2008 — marks the start of the 2008 Motorsports calendar and the third year of AAA's Motorsports program with the Roush Fenway Racing team. David Ragan returns for his second season behind the wheel of the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion. Ragan, a native of Unadilla, Ga., began his first season with AAA in grand fashion, with a fifth-place finish in the 2007 Daytona 500. A new twist in 2008 is NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow," a now-outdated nickname for the safer style of stock car that will be used at all races in 2008. "The 'Car of Tomorrow' is going to add some excitement down there [in Daytona]," said Ragan. "The [pre-season] testing in January is going to be very crucial. I think we've got our cars and our act together. Hopefully, if we perform well during testing, I think we can win."