The big question is, how will the COT race? Following testing at Bristol a few weeks ago, reviews have been mixed.
Appearing at Monday's annual Urban Youth Racing School awards dinner in Society Hill, Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, offered a terse criticism when asked how the COT handles.
"Terrible," Busch said. "It pushes. It doesn't want to turn at all. Reed Sorenson [who drives the No. 41 Dodge] said he went off in the corner one time and said he went straight into the fence."
Informed that Dale Jarrett said recently that because the COT handles like Cup cars from the late 1980s and early '90s, he thinks veteran drivers will have an advantage, Busch smiled and said, "If their cars drove that way back then, I give them props for not hitting the wall every time."
Tony Stewart's initial impression of the COT was unfavorable. The first time he drove it, on a short track in Lakeland, Fla., he described it on his Sirius satellite radio show as "a basket of junk."
"It drives like a station wagon, an old station wagon, an old Oldsmobile station wagon, green, with wood panel trim on the sides," he said.
Casey Mears and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are more positive.
"When tested at Bristol, it wasn't too bad," said Mears, the No. 25 Chevrolet driver who also attended Monday's dinner. "We got it running pretty good."
After the Bristol testing, Earnhardt, driver of the No. 8 Chevy, said: "It has really exceeded my expectations at this point. I really do feel safer in this car."
Drivers should be safer because their seats are closer to the center of the car. The roof is 2 1/2 inches higher, giving drivers more room.
Energy-absorbing foam between the roll-cage door bars and door panels also will protect drivers from side-impact crashes.
