Late last year, NASCAR banned testing at all its sanctioned tracks in response to the deflating economy. Sponsors, owners, and drivers watched their available funds diminish and, for the smaller players in NASCAR, testing became financially infeasible.
Nearly a year later, things aren’t much better, but NASCAR has reneged on its all-out ban and approved 14 tracks for testing. NASCAR teams are continuously prohibited from practicing at circuits that host national-level events; however, acceptable test tracks can host events at the regional level, which includes Camping World East and West, Whelen Modified Tour, and Whelen Southern Modified Tour. Teams are also free to practice at non-NASCAR facilities.
The following regional tracks are NASCAR-approved for testing in 2010:
1) Adirondack International Speedway -- Lowville, New York (New Bremen) -- Half-mile oval
2) All-American Speedway -- Roseville, California -- 0.300-mile oval
3) Colorado National Speedway -- Dacono, Colorado -- 0.375-mile oval
4) Douglas County Speedway -- Roseburg, Oregon -- Half-mile oval
5) Greenville-Pickens Speedway -- Greenville, South Carolina -- Half-mile oval
6) Lime Rock Park -- Lakeville, Connecticut -- 1.53-mile road
7) Madera Speedway -- Madera, California -- 0.333-mile oval
8) Miller Motorsports Park -- Tooele, Utah -- 3.06-mile road
9) Portland International Raceway -- Portland, Oregon -- 1.98-mile road
10) South Boston Speedway -- South Boston, Virginia -- 0.400-mile oval
11) Thompson International Speedway -- Thompson, Connecticut -- 0.625-mile oval
12) Thunderhill Raceway -- Kyle, Texas -- 0.375-mile oval
13) Toyota Speedway at Irwindale -- Irwindale, California -- Half-mile oval
14) Tri-County Motor Speedway -- Hudson, North Carolina -- 0.400-mile oval