The racing world, during an otherwise slow time of the year, is focused on the ARCA test session at Daytona Speedway Friday through Sunday. The Associated Press, ESPN, Speed TV and ESPN are not descending on the speedway to report on Grant’s practice sessions. IRL racer Danica Patrick, in her first public performance in a stock car, has generated more interest in a routine test session than is shown in many NASCAR races. Danica is holding a press conference in North Carolina Thursday, before boarding a private jet for the short flight to the Daytona Beach airport which is only a few hundred yards outside the high banks of the speedway. Grant, meanwhile, will be loading the BeasleyAllen Kenworth rig for the long drive down I 95 to the race track. While Danica is meeting the press in Florida or waiting in her motorhome during the time it takes her JR Motorsports crew to ready her car, Grant and a few of his friends will be setting up the BeasleyAllen car for practice.

“I’m sure Danica is excited to be heading to Daytona, but she isn’t looking forward to Friday any more than I am. Eleven years ago I raced my kart around the big track and I am excited to be running a stock car on the high banks. Just as racing at Talladega was a dream come true, running Daytona at more than170 miles per hour is something I have thought about for a long time. I am not worried about who gets attention during the test. We are going to stay focused on the reason we are testing this weekend to be in a position to win the race February 6th.” The season opener, to be televised live on Speed TV, will be sandwiched between Cup pole qualifying and the Budweiser Shootout Cup race.

Weather permitting, the test will allow the racers to shake down their cars and get up to speed Friday, when drafting will not be allowed. The 2nd day of the test will allow drafting and the drivers will be sure to draft only with other racers they trust. Drafting, even in practice, can be dangerous but Grant believes he needs to know before the race how his car will react to different cars, whether in front of them, behind them or in a pack with other cars on either side. Because of the drafting practice, the 2nd day of the test will be extremely intense. If weather doesn’t interfere with Grant’s testing, he will head back to North Carolina Saturday evening, but if the current forecast of rain for Friday is accurate, the drafting day will be Sunday.

For reports on testing this weekend and for current lap times, visit www.arcaracing.com.