Full Throttle

Teams will have a new bumper configuration for the Talladega race later this month that is intended to reduce the amount of bump drafting.

While the new rule reduces the strength of the bumpers, opinion is mixed if the rule change will make a difference. The new rule forces teams to remove steel plates underneath the bumper. NASCAR wanted to maintain the bumper strength for safety but not make it so strong that drivers used it to constantly bump draft.

“It’s just something to talk about on television because it’s not going to be any different than it was before,” said Scott Miller, crew chief for Jeff Burton. “It didn’t change ours very much at all.”

Jeff Gordon differs.

“I hope we see less bump drafting because we just really need to get away from it,” he said. “I’m excited that NASCAR is doing something. I was hoping for something like that a while ago.”

Tire change for Lowe’s races

Dale Jarrett says the tire Goodyear brought for a second test earlier this week at Lowe’s Motor Speedway slows the car and lasts longer.

Jarrett and Kevin Harvick participated in the tire test. Goodyear decided to have a second tire test after seeing high speeds and wear in a test the week before with Jimmie Johnson, Scott Riggs, Bobby Labonte and Harvick.

“Obviously, the speed will pick back up as we get some more time on it and everybody else gets that time on it and as the track gets a little more time on it,”Jarrett said. “I really don’t anticipate seeing any tire problems when we get there in May.”

New deal close for Martin: Mark Martin says he’s close to signing a contract to drive full time in the Craftsman Truck series for Roush Racing in 2007 and 2008. Martin said he would consider running a Cup race but only on the same weekend and at the same track as a truck event.

Elton Sawyer, a former winner in the NASCAR Busch Series and more recently the Driver Development Director at Evernham Motorsports, has been hired by upstart Team Red Bull to be their Director of Competition. Sawyer was responsible for the tutoring and progression of development drivers Erin Crocker and Anthony Foyt in the Evernham farm system. Team Red Bull is expected to have two Nextel Cup entries in 2007, but may participate in other series in order to develop young talent.

NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Busch Grand National Series, Talladega, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle