NASCAR rookies looking to learn early

Rookie testing has come and gone, but the season is just around the corner for NASCAR. This year’s rookies are looking to learn early.

In the past week, multiple NASCAR teams and organizations sent their drivers to tracks they feel need to be looked at for their program and for the hopes of their young fledgling drivers behind the wheels of their respective race cars. At Atlanta Motor Speedway, three such drivers have already turned laps at the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval track.

Camping World Truck Series rookie and driver of the GMS Racing No. 25 truck, Dalton Sargeant, made his appearance at the long-standing and historical track to turn laps and learn the car and team ahead of the late February event.

“Well, first off, this is my first time at Atlanta Motor Speedway,” Sargeant said. “This is a really great track and I’m looking forward to coming back here in February and being able to race here but I kinda just came into this test as I’m really just trying to get used to all the guys at GMS Racing. Everyone’s doing a great job and working hard on this truck and trying to get it quicker each and every time we go out. I think mainly it’s practice for me running on mile-and-a-half’s and these trucks.”

The second driver to partake in the rookie test was none other than Tyler Reddick, driver of the No. 9 car for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series. Just like Sargeant, Reddick was also looking to learn the track, but unlike the ARCA racing alumni, Reddick has raced before in a truck before his move to JR. Reddick talked about the pressure behind taking a car that’s won titles before.

“There’s obviously a lot of good pressure that comes with stepping into a car like that,” Reddick said. “It’s just won a championship and the last two out of three times it’s been entered to win a championship it’s won so I’m going to try and make it 3-for-4, but obviously we got a long way to go before we get to that point and get to the playoffs and Homestead. All of that work started here at Atlanta and trying to make our cars a little bit better.”

The third and final driver that was in attendance at the AMS Rookie test was Joe Gibbs Racing’s driver of the No. 20 car, Christopher Bell. Bell is also no stranger to Atlanta Motor Speedway, as he won the Truck Series race in his second try. However, Bell may have the leg up on his competition this season in the Xfinity Series.