Preseason Thunder at Daytona set for Jan 16-17

Daytona International Speedway won't have any NASCAR testing in January, but the site for the 51st running of the Daytona 500 will have its annual Preseason Thunder Fan Fests on Jan. 16-17.

Fan forums, show cars, music, a blood drive and the Richard Petty Driving Experience will all be part of the activities, as will autograph sessions with top NASCAR drivers.

Tickets are $15 and go on sale Saturday at 9 a.m. Each autograph session will be limited to 100 people per driver in advance. To purchase tickets and request access to the special autograph sessions, call (800) PITSHOP. Ride-only packages for the Richard Petty Driving Experience can be purchased on-site, but driving packages must be purchased in advance at (800) BE-PETTY.

The schedule for autograph sessions includes:

Friday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. -- Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Reed Sorenson, Aric Almirola, Casey Mears, Greg Biffle, Travis Kvapil, David Gilliland, Mike Skinner and Jon Wes Townley.

Saturday, Jan, 17, noon to 4 p.m. -- Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin, David Ragan, Colin Braun, Erik Darnell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Paul Menard and Alex Garcia.

Saturday 4-8 p.m. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Ron Hornaday Jr.

Additional drivers and more details about the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests will be released in the coming weeks.

Dave Despain re-ups with Speed

Speed has signed Dave Despain to a new two-year deal, keeping the popular host of the Sunday night program Wind Tunnel on the team through 2010.

“Very few people can step from one motor sports discipline to another with the ease and proficiency that Dave manages on a weekly basis,” said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. “Dave has worked hard to become one of the true icons in racing and SPEED is privileged to have him continue as part of our team.”

Johnson's NHRA team to be based in Indiana

The new National Hot Rod Association team being formed by five-time Top Fuel championship winning crew chief Alan Johnson will locate its shop in Brownsburg, Ind., which is also home to many of drag racing's other top teams.