NASCAR bans testing for 2009

Nov 14, 2008 - 2:42 PM HOMESTEAD, Florida (Ticker) -- The economic downturn has hit the auto racing world.

NASCAR on Friday informed racing teams that is has banned all testing at its sanctioned tracks beginning next season to save millions of dollars in their 2009 budgets.

The elimination of testing includes the traditional preseason Daytona 500 testing and is for all three of NASCAR's top divisions. Teams will not be permitted to test at any track where a Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series or Truck Series event is held.

The decision is a complete reversal from a few months ago, when NASCAR was considering widening the testing schedule to as many as 24 days at any track.

Testing helps NASCAR teams prepare for races by allowing them to run laps, making changes to a car's chassis and gauging how it responds on the track.

NASCAR started this season with 12 days of testing available to all teams. More tests were added after teams had tire problems at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March.

The cost of competing in NASCAR's top series has soared in the past two years as the organization switched to a new car and higher fuel prices boosted expenses for the trucks, airplanes and motor coaches that teams use to travel the circuit.