WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (May 11, 2011) — One of the most anticipated test sessions in the recent history of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East took place Wednesday at historic Bowman Gray Stadium.
Eighteen drivers attended the open test session to prepare for the Bowman Gray Stadium 150 on Saturday, June 4. Current points leader Darrell Wallace Jr. was one of eight drivers currently in the top 10 in the season standings to take part, and he was surprised during his first run on the track.
“I haven’t been to the track in a while and I didn’t know what to expect,” Wallace said. “We are a lot faster than I thought we would be so I really can’t complain. We are hearing that we are one of the fastest cars so far and I am really surprised how fast these cars are here.”
Wallace’s teammate at Revolution Racing, Sergio Peña, also has made several runs and said the track is a lot like he had heard from other drivers.
“I really wasn’t sure what to expect and I have heard a lot of things about this track,” Peña said. “It is my first time here and I really love it. It is pretty tough to drive and it is definitely a driver’s track. You are going to have to be pretty smart during the race.”
Brett Moffitt, Max Gresham, Coleman Pressley, Matt DiBenedetto, Alex Bowman and Cody Hodgson joined Wallace and Peña as top-10 drivers at the track on Wednesday. Others testing the tight quarter-mile were Revolution Racing’s Ryan Gifford and Michael Cherry along with Chad Boat, Cale Conley, Brandon and Richard Gdovic, Ben Kennedy, Corey LaJoie and D.J. Shaw.
Also on hand for the test was Robert Johnson, son of legendary NASCAR driver and car owner Junior Johnson, who will attempt to make his first K&N Pro Series East start at Bowman Gray.
The K&N Pro Series East will return to the track on Friday, June 3 for practice and qualifying under the lights. The inaugural Bowman Gray Stadium 150 is slated for the following night.