It’s not the Daytona 500, but there’s nothing quite like knowing that NASCAR teams are on a race track somewhere getting ready for it.
Multiple Monster Energy NASCAR Cup teams are at Phoenix Raceway today and tomorrow for the first test of 2017.
The two biggest stories of the weekend are Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s first track activity with other cars since his concussion last year and Daniel Suarez’s first time in a Cup car.
We start this social roundup with Earnhardt climbing into his car.
No, you're not seeing double. @DaleJr is climbing in the @nationwide88 Chevy and @AlexBRacing is here testing @TeamChevy's wheel force car. pic.twitter.com/6vx4P3tVJ1
— No. 5 Team (@Hendrick5Team) January 31, 2017
Earnhardt officially got the test underway when he pulled his No. 88 Chevrolet out of the garage and became the first driver to hit the track.
But after awhile, Earnhardt returned to the garage for repairs to his brakes.
1st car on the track for the @PhoenixRaceway test. I was hoping to set the track on 🔥but I set my brakes on 🔥 instead. Minor delay.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 31, 2017
Meanwhile, Suarez is going through his test with the help of the driver he replaced - Carl Edwards. Here you see Edwards and Suarez talking things out in the garage.
There's a special guest at the @PhoenixRaceway test: Carl Edwards! He's helping @Daniel_SuarezG with his 1st drive in a Cup #Camry. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/kfJmVwKhU8
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) January 31, 2017
First time in the car for 2017. Test is going pretty good so far. @Target @CreditOneBank pic.twitter.com/Gl1oeXz9Cj
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) January 31, 2017
First day back to school.. ok way better than the first day back to school. Testing the @JTGRacing @kroger @chevy today @PhoenixRaceway
— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) January 31, 2017
We certainly remember seeing @joeylogano near the finish line recently. 😏 Welcome back! pic.twitter.com/zTKWaWWMZC
— Phoenix Raceway (@phoenixraceway) January 31, 2017
#NASCAR | Check out @KevinHarvick taking his first lap in a @StewartHaasRcng Ford Fusion @PhoenixRaceway testing pic.twitter.com/2qW4GRXYuZ
— Ford Performance (@FordPerformance) January 31, 2017