When persistent rain shortened the two-day Preseason Thunder test session at Daytona International Speedway to one eight-hour session on Friday, the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team kicked into high gear and managed to complete its testing agenda.
Once the track was dried and cleared for testing, the Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew began making numerous changes to the No. 21 Ford Fusion before posting a best speed of 191.657 miles per hour. That speed came without the benefit of a drafting partner as the team and driver Trevor Bayne focused solely on single-car runs.
All told, the No. 21 Ford Fusion ran 117 miles in the session that ran until 9 p.m. Friday.
“It was like old-school testing,” team co-owner Eddie Wood said. “There was no time to look at the data. It was strictly by the stopwatch.”
Wood had high praise for crew chief Donnie Wingo and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew for their quick, efficient work. They were able to change the car and get back in line to go back on the track every 30 to 35 minutes. “The crew did a great job, but there’s still work to be done,” he said. Because of the hurried session on Friday, there’s plenty of data to be analyzed once the team returns to its North Carolina shop.
“Once we get back home, all the Ford teams will get together and sort that all out.” Wood said.
Bayne and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will return to Daytona International Speedway next month for the Sprint Cup Series season opener on Feb. 23rd.
