BY TEAM FORD RACING CORRESPONDENT

Charlotte, N.C. — Time for the Nextel Cup teams to get back at it - at least for the “odd” ones that is.

Preseason Thunder begins today and kicks off the start of the 2004 season when the “odd” numbered [owners] points finishers unload their new 2004 rides to test for the “Great American Race” – the Daytona 500.

Leading this group of entries to Daytona is 2003 Winston Cup Champion Matt Kenseth.

The three-day session [Jan. 6 -8 – with the Jan. 9 as the rain date] is where the road for the 2004 Nextel Cup championship will begin. Also on tap is a peek at the new 2004 Taurus’ performance on the high-banked speedway. What will be interesting to see is whether this new car has less aerodynamic drag than the old one - which was always about a tenth of a second slower than the other makes’ offerings.

The second round of Preseason Thunder for the Nextel Cup Series [Jan. 13 -15 – with Jan.16 as the rain date], and is separated by a three-day test with the Craftsman Truck Series field, is when the “even” numbered points finishers will have their shots at finding all the speed they can.

The odd/even structure is not set in stone. A team can ask for, and be granted, permission to swap weeks if there is some special circumstance on a team’s behalf that should require a rescheduling of session.

Drivers whose teams have been granted a swap in session are Kyle Petty, Scott Wimmer - who is making his rookie appearance for Bill Davis Racing, and Ricky Rudd of the Wood Brothers Motorcraft Ford.

TFR asked Motorcraft Ford co-owner Eddie Wood about the switch in test sessions and learned that the team’s move to the Mooresville, N.C. area, while complete, cost the team several key days in the car preparation process.

“We’ve got one car on the surface plate, and the other is ready to go on it. But we were running out of time,” explained Wood. “I called NASCAR and asked for permission to swap weeks and they were very accommodating with our request.”

WHILE YOU’RE THERE
Also new for 2004, besides the 2004 Taurus of course, is the Preseason Thunder Fan Fest opportunity at Daytona International Speedway. Fan Fest, which is a replacement for the T. Wayne Memorial charity event, features interactive displays, sponsor displays, engine-building competitions and driver meet-and-greets at Daytona USA.

The displays will be positioned along the front stretch of Daytona and will be accessible as the teams test. Access to the track can also be gained, if the fan passes through Daytona USA to the Turn 4 grandstands.

Also part of the Fan Fest are dedicated driver appearances. These sessions will take place on the Wednesday during each session, and run from 5 - 10 p.m. (EST).

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR THE PRESEASON THUNDER FAN FEST DRIVER APPEARANCE SESSIONS
Jan. 7
6 p.m. : Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, Joe Nemechek, Ward Burton
6:45 p.m.: Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Jamie McMurray, Jeremy Mayfield, Ricky Craven
7:30 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip, Kasey Kahne, Derrike Cope, Jeff Green

Jan. 14
6 p.m.: Ryan Newman, Rusty Wallace, Sterlin Marlin, Greg Biffle, John Andretti, Ken Schrader, Ricky Rudd
6:45 p.m.: Jimmie Johnson, Bobby Labonte, Robby Gordon, Elliott Sadler, Jimmy Spencer, Johnny Sauter, Kyle Petty
7:30 p.m.: Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, Jeff Burton, Scott Riggs, Brian Vickers, Casey Mears, Larry Foyt

TENTATIVE PRESEASON THUNDER SCHEDULES
First session (odd)
Matt Kenseth
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Kevin Harvick
Tony Stewart
Kasey Kahne
Kurt Busch
Jamie McMurray
Michael Waltrip
Mark Martin
Jeremy Mayfield
Scott Wimmer
Dale Jarrett
Ricky Craven
Joe Nemechek
Ward Burton
Jeff Green
Derrike Cope

Second session (even)
Jimmie Johnson
Jeff Gordon
Ryan Newman
Bobby Labonte
Terry Labonte
Ricky Rudd
Jeff Burton
Rusty Wallace
Robby Gordon
Sterling Marlin
Greg Biffle
Elliott Sadler
Scott Riggs
Brian Vickers
Jimmy Spencer
John Andretti
Kyle Petty
Johnny Sauter
Casey Mears
Ken Schrader
Larry Foyt