Notes: Roush dominates first round of Truck testing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Three Roush Fenway Fords topped Friday's morning session with now senior member of the team Erik Darnell posting the quickest speed of 177.420 mph. Rookie Colin Braun followed at 176.790 mph with Joey Clanton third at 176.509 mph.

Braun and Clanton were involved in an incident during the afternoon session that damaged both trucks and caused the teams to terminate testing for the weekend. Roush Fenway trucks have won twice at Daytona -- Carl Edwards in 2004 and Mark Martin in 2006.

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'Long Tow' award

Two days ago, Erin Crocker was vacationing in Ireland, her family's ancestral home. She flew to Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday and on to Daytona Beach, arriving about an hour after the first round of Preseason Thunder commenced.

Naturally, her luggage didn't follow on the trans-Atlantic flight.

Crocker, who anticipates driving David Dollar's Chevrolet in at least the season's first two races at Daytona and California, spent the past week enjoying the Emerald Isle -- home most recently to her mother's grandparents.

She found time, of course, for the must-see tourist stops.

"I kissed the Blarney Stone," she said, "but I've already got the gift of gab."

Eyeing another one

Jack Sprague won the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 250 at Daytona in a three-way, photo finish with Johnny Benson and Travis Kvapil. Eleven months later, Sprague cherishes the accomplishment -- perhaps more so than in Victory Lane.

"It was certainly a victory that I never thought I could achieve just because it's so difficult to win here," Sprague said. "It would obviously be great to win here again ... but it is so hard. It is the hardest race to win, I think, in anybody's career."

Sprague will partner with 2007 series champion Ron Hornaday at Kevin Harvick Inc. this season. He considers Hornaday, likewise a three-time Truck Series champion, a good friend as well as a teammate.

"I think we will be able to make each other stronger sharing information and things like that," Sprague said. "Surely, we aren't going to teach each other how to drive or anything."

Thumbs Up

Craftsman Truck Series director Wayne Auton, overseeing his eighth edition of Preseason Thunder, passed out some compliments midway through Friday's opening day of testing.

Auton was pleased with the number of teams attending and the appearance of their equipment.

"The trucks really look good," he said. "The teams have done their homework."

He indicated feedback from competitors has been positive.

"The trucks look very stable and the drivers are telling us they drive comfortably".

Auton noted that all four manufacturers -- Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota -- are posting similar speeds and all are represented among the top times in single-truck runs.

"With the new intake, the [air] flow under the carburetor is more consistent and that should create the opportunity for racing the fans will enjoy," he said.

Etc.

• Billy Ballew Motorsports will have a distinctly different look in 2008, fielding both Toyota and Chevrolet trucks. Kyle Busch and David Stremme will share the seat in the No. 51 Toyota with a driver to be named next week for the team's No. 15 Chevrolet.

• Derrike Cope will serve as an in-race mentor next month for rookie teammate Brian Scott as he did last October at Talladega Superspeedway. Cope won the 1990 Daytona 500.

Fan Fest

Along with the opportunity to watch Preseason Thunder, fans can enjoy an afternoon and evening at Daytona's Sprint Fanzone once each session. Among the Fan Fest activities: Driver question-and-answer sessions, show cars, bands, a silent auction, displays and pit-stop demonstrations. Cost is $15 per session. Fans can watch each day's test at no cost, beginning at 9 a.m.

• Jan 12: Craftsman Truck Series Fan Fest
• Jan. 15: Sprint Cup Series Fan Fest
• Jan. 19: Nationwide Series Fan Fest