TALLADEGA AL (1-28-08) - As has become the standard over the last ten years, five-time Daytona winner Bobby Gerhart took advantage of his last free weekend before the Daytona kick-off to test one final time in preparation for the 45th annual ARCA 200 at Daytona Saturday afternoon, February 9th.

The test took place at Talladega Superspeedway Saturday and Sunday, January 26th and 27th, where ten teams participated. All unofficial speeds recorded were from single-car runs. There was no drafting.

After a mix of rain and sleet prevented all on-track activity Saturday morning, the skies cleared off in time for testing to begin at 2:30 local time Saturday afternoon.

Gerhart, in the same Lucas Oil-sponsored Chevy Monte Carlo that won last year's Daytona race, was unofficially fastest overall with a speed of 184.320 mph. "The car was wicked fast," said Bill Gerhart, Bobby's brother and crew chief. "The test went very well. We feel like we are very well prepared for Daytona. We're going to have to be. We think the competition will be stronger than ever."

Shelby Township, Michigan driver Robb Brent, in a Ford owned my Ron Keselowski, was unofficially second fastest at 183.250 mph.

Blake Feese, in a second Gerhart Chevy, was third at 182.705 mph. Feese, entered at Daytona in a Sadler Brothers Ford, won at Talladega in 2004.

Kalamazoo, Michigan veteran Larry Hollenbeck, also in a Chevy, was fourth fastest at 181.364 mph.

Wayne Hixson Motorsports tested with two drivers, rookie Brandon Kelley and veteran Ron Cox, in the no. 23 Chevy. Their unofficial speeds were comparable with Kelley at 180.650 and Cox at 180.401.

Florida drivers' Steve Bramley and Dewayne Bryan were next with Bramley, in a Chevy, posting a speed of 180.339 and Bryan at 180.224.

Open-wheel veteran Brian Tyler made an appearance in the 01 Toyota Camry, coming away with an unofficial speed of 179.405.

Also in attendance was Phoenix, Arizona's Gabi DiCarlo, who in Doug Stringer's Chevy, posted an unofficial speed of 179.390.

Registration at Daytona opens at 8:00 am Tuesday, February 5th before haulers enter the garage area at 10 am. Tuesday and Wednesday are slated for inspection procedures only prior to the first on-track activity on Thursday with practice scheduled from 12 noon to 5 pm. SIM Factory Pole Award Qualifying is scheduled for 12 noon Friday followed by a final practice session from 5:10 to 6:15 pm.

The 45th annual ARCA 200 at Daytona is LIVE on SPEED Saturday, February 9th at 4:00 pm ET.