CONCORD, N.C. - The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway rolled on Tuesday with a visit to the Haas-CNC Racing wind tunnel and a session with the Dodge racing camp among the highlights.
Sprint hosted a reception for the media in anticipation of the first year as title sponsor of NASCAR's top division.
Changes will come when the company takes title sponsorship of the former NEXTEL All-Star Challenge event at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May.
This year's race will be known as the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXIV and run May 17 at LMS.
The event will again consist of four segments with an increase of each from 20 to 25 laps.
Also the preliminary event for those not with a spot in the All-Star race will be called the Sprint Showdown.
The tour visited Haas-CNC Racing's wind tunnel facility as part of the second day's schedule.
Windshear Inc., headquartered near the Concord Regional Airport, offers a 180 mph rolling road, one of only three win the world.
A fan powered by a 5,100 horsepower motor is part of the facility which the team utilizes for aerodynamic and draft testing.
Haas-CNC drivers Scott Riggs, who will pilot the No. 66 State Water Heaters Chevrolet and Jeremy Mayfield, slated to drive the Haas Automation No. 77 Chevy, were also on hand.
A session with the Dodge motorsports group included appearances by five teams and 12 drivers.
Mike Accavitti, Director Dodge Brand and SRT Global Marketing talked about the company's racing heritage and the Charger's history in NASCAR racing.
"Our progress slowed somewhat in 2007, but we're confident we have a very talented group of teams capable of producing wins, top-fives and top-tens."
The company also announced plans to auction the 43rd Dodge Challenger on eBay to coincide with Petty Enterprises celebrating 50 years of racing at Daytona International Speedway. Proceeds of the auction will be donated to the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
A visit to Joe Gibbs Racing wrapped up the day's activities.
Joe Gibbs, who retired as head coach of the Washington Redskins two weeks ago, was on hand and introduced son J.D. who will continue to run the day-to-day operation of the team.
Sprint Cup teammates Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and newcomer Kyle Busch met the media along with Joey Lagano, who will drive in the Camping World Series until making his Nationwide Series debut at Dover in May.
Wednesday's activities include visits to the new Petty Enterprises headquarters, DEI, Hendrick Motorsports and a dinner session at Michael Waltrip Racing World in Mooresville, N.C.
