DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., -- The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will kick off with a pair of much anticipated test sessions at historic Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the prestigious season-opening 48th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 19.

The list of teams expected to participate in the first NEXTEL Cup Series test session on Jan. 9-11 include (list is tentative and subject to change):

Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
TBA, No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet
Elliott Sadler, No. 38 M&M’s Ford
Ryan Newman, No. 12 Alltel Dodge
Jeremy Mayfield, No. 19 Dodge
Dale Jarrett, No. 88 UPS Ford
Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet
Jeff Gordon, No. 24 DuPont Automotive Finishes Chevrolet
Jeff Burton, No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet
Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Dodge
David Stremme, No. 40 Coors Light Dodge
Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Target Dodge
Ken Schrader, No. 21 Motorcraft/Air Force Ford
Bobby Labonte, No. 43 Cheerios Dodge
Bobby Hamilton Jr., No. 32 Tide Ford
Scott Riggs, No. 10 Valvoline Chevrolet
Boris Said, No. 36 MB2 Motorsports Chevrolet
Robby Gordon, No. 7 Jim Beam Chevrolet

The list of teams expected to participate in the even-numbered NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series test session on Jan. 16-18 include (list is tentative and subject to change):

Greg Biffle, No. 16 National Guard Ford
Kurt Busch, No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge
Mark Martin, No. 6 AAA Ford
Casey Mears, No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge
Jamie McMurray, No. 26 Sharpie Ford
Carl Edwards, No. 99 Office Depot Ford
Kevin Harvick, No. 29 GM Goodwrench/Reese’s Chevrolet
Matt Kenseth, No. 17 DeWalt Ford
Joe Nemechek, No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet
Kyle Busch, No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet
Brian Vickers, No. 25 Ditech.com Chevrolet
J.J. Yeley, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet
Sterling Marlin, No. 14 Waste Management Chevrolet
Brent Sherman, No. 49 Schwan’s Dodge
Kyle Petty, No. 45 Georgia-Pacific Dodge
Jeff Green, No. 0 NetZero Chevrolet
Dave Blaney, No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet
Michael Waltrip, No. 55 NAPA Chevrolet
Martin Truex Jr., No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
Clint Bowyer, No. 07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet

NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest dates, which will coincide with January’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Busch Series testing sessions at the “World Center of Racing,” will be held on the following days:

Jan. 10 NASCAR Nextel Cup Fan Fest
Jan. 13: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Fan Fest
Jan. 17: NASCAR Nextel Cup Fan Fest
Jan. 21: NASCAR Busch Fan Fest

The Fan Fest events, which include fan forums, bands, show cars, pit stop demonstrations and displays, start at 5 p.m. but fans will be able to enter the NEXTEL FANZONE beginning at 9 a.m. to watch all of the exciting testing action. Admissions for the NEXTEL Cup Fan Fest dates are $15 while Busch and Craftsman Truck Series admissions are $10.

Fans can watch all of the January testing sessions free from the Oldfield Grandstands located just outside of DAYTONA USA:

Jan. 5-7 Grand American Rolex 24 At Daytona testing (all cars)
Jan. 9-11: NASCAR Nextel Cup (odd owner’s points)
Jan. 13-14: NASCAR Craftsman Truck (all trucks)
Jan. 16-18: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (even owner’s points)
Jan. 20-22: NASCAR Busch Series (all cars)
Tickets for NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.