2013 Daytona Preseason Thunder dates scheduled for Jan. 10-12

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teams to Shake Down New 2013 Sprint Cup Series Car Prior to 55th Annual Daytona 500

Daytona Preseason Thunder, the annual three-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test session at Daytona International Speedway in advance of the prestigious season-opening 55th annual Daytona 500, will be held on Jan. 10-12.

Race action

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

The new-look cars will conduct test sessions between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day, weather permitting. Each session includes a lunch break from noon until 1 p.m.

“Daytona Preseason Thunder is an exciting time for both the teams and the fans as NASCAR begins the roll out of the new 2013 car,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “NASCAR fans are looking forward to seeing the production modeled race cars on the track beginning with the sport’s most prestigious race of the year – the 55th annual Daytona 500.”

Race fans can also rev up their new year at the Daytona Preseason Thunder Fan Fest – the companion event to the January test sessions. Along with watching Daytona Preseason Thunder track activity from the Sprint FANZONE, fans can enjoy Fan Fest on Thursday, Jan. 10 from 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

The schedule of driver question-and-answer and autograph sessions will be finalized closer to the event. Tickets for the Daytona Preseason Thunder Fan Fest, which include autograph session wristbands, will be available for purchase at a later date.

Fans can also watch each day’s testing at no cost from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands.

The Roar Before The Rolex 24, the tune-up session for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge teams in advance of the 51st anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, is scheduled for Jan. 4-6. Ticketholders for the 2013 Rolex 24 At Daytona will be admitted free for testing.

Dayton International Speedway