Offseason Test Ban Pays Early Dividends

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Talk about your happy campers.

NASCAR should have canceled offseason testing years ago.
Sure, it's saving teams massive amounts of money in travel, track rental and equipment, but even better -- I can't remember when drivers and teams have been this enthusiastic about firing up their engines.

"I couldn't wait to practice on Friday,'' Owner-driver Michael Waltrip said.

To practice?

These guys are actually appreciating and savoring every lap, practice and qualifying session at Daytona International Speedway this week.

And judging by Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout exhibition, the test ban has had the unintended consequence of making the racing even better -- at least more unpredictable.

"I think it was not being at the racetrack for all that time. ... I think everybody really wanted to go out and see what they had and push as hard as they could because there wasn't anything on the line,'' said Shootout winner Kevin Harvick.

The statistics surely indicate as much. The 75-lap sprint had a record number of race leaders (14) and lead changes (23). And cautions (eight). Unlike past years marked by single-file, wait-and-see racing this show was exciting from green to checkered flags.

And most drivers expect the same kind of action for Thursday's two 150-mile qualifying races and Sunday's Daytona 500.

Latest NASCAR Photos

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: David Ragan, driver of the #6 UPS Ford, spins into a gravel pit during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** David Ragan

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: A view of cars racing during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, races Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Dale Earnhardt Jr.;Kyle Busch

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Crew members work on the #82 Red Bull Toyota, driven by Scott Speed, in the garage are during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Scott Speed

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Crew members work on the #18 M&M's Toyota, driven by Kyle Busch, on pit road during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Crew members work on the #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet, driven by Kevin Harvick, on pit road during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kevin Harvick

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, sits in his car on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Brian Vickers, driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota, sits in his car on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Brian Vickers

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Denny Hamlin (R), driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, talks with his crew chief Mike Ford on the grid prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Mike Ford;Denny Hamlin

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NASCAR driver David Ragan talks with reporters as he leaves the infield care center after he was involved in an accident during the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.(AP Photo/John Raoux)

"I don't know if it's just been a long winter or if that's really as wild as it seems, but that seemed like the wildest race I've been a part of,'' Carl Edwards said climbing out of his Ford Saturday night after the Shootout.

"Guys are up on the wheel, ducking and diving. ... going two-wide, three-wide, sometimes four-wide,'' said Dodge's lead drive Kasey Kahne. "It's fun to drive for sure.''

And for a sport struggling to keep fan interest, corporate bucks and television ratings, that's all good news.

With only a rare exception, the drivers say testing or lack-of has little effect on their performance -- at least in this week's restrictor-plate race at Daytona. Wind tunnel testing and in-shop simulators still give them confidence in preparation with the only real wild-card being tires -- and for that, teams will rotate on tire tests throughout the season.

Waltrip insists that testing during the winter months doesn't make a tangible difference in helping struggling teams chasing the sport's powerhouse organizations anyway.

"You can let those other teams test until they're purple in the face -- they're not going to catch them,'' Waltrip said. "It doesn't make a wider gap it actually closes it up in my opinion.

"I believe at the end of all this, we're going to determine all this on-track testing was a colossal waste of time and money.