Among teams testing over the weekend were Ken Schrader Racing's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series No. 52 team, three NASCAR Busch Series teams including Sadler Racing's No. 95, GIC-Mixon's No. 24 with driver Kim Crosby, and Day Enterprises' No. 16 with driver John Hayden,  the No. 66 Peak Performance NEXTEL Cup Series team with driver Hermie Sadler, the NEXTEL Cup Series No. 00 team with test driver Hank Parker, Jr. and two ARCA RE/MAX Series teams - the Day Enterprises No. 6 with driver Justin Ashburn and the RSR No. 00 with driver Ed Kennedy.

Also in the mix Saturday was 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Bobby Hamilton, who was on hand to assist Nashville-based Sadler Racing.  While here, he also had the chance to spend some time at the track with his son, driver of the No. 32 PPI Motorsports Tide Chevrolet Bobby Hamilton, Jr., who was here testing two of his team's cars in preparation for his first ever NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Daytona 500.

After spending over a decade in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, the elder Hamilton returned home to drive for his own NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series operation in 2003, finishing sixth in points. Then last year, he accomplished what he had initially set out to do, winning the championship with his factory-backed Dodge team - a first for the manufacturer in the series.

At Talladega, where Hamilton earned one of his four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series victories in 2001, he also holds the distinction of winning the most competitive race in recent NASCAR history, the April 22, 2001 Aaron's 499 at Talladega that contained 26 different leaders.

"And no cautions," Hamilton said. "I knew it was a real competitive race. There were so many of us guys that had led and went to the back, led, then went to the back.  I knew it was a pretty tough race but I never really looked at it like it was any different than the rest of them. It was just a special race, winning here at Talladega.I always feel it. It's probably the only race track I go to where I walk in, look around for a minute and I feel it. I will always remember it. I was sitting in that garage stall, up there, after everybody was gone and my car's inspection. I was sitting there backed up against the wall and Mike Helton walked in and we talked a little bit.  I always remember things like that."

Hamilton, Jr., who stepped up full-time to NASCAR's premier series in September of last year when he became the primary driver for Cal Wells' No. 32 team, said his father's win at Talladega is a favorite memory of his as well.

"Definitely my favorite memory of Talladega is when my dad won here, because he never showed his hand till the very end and then with two to go, he was leading. The way the place is, I wish they would have made Daytona like this where you can drive wide open on it all day long," Hamilton, Jr. said. This place is just pure, raw speed and that is what makes the racing so good. It's always had grip no matter where you are. And not only that, it's a great time from the minute to you get on the race track to just riding around later in a golf cart. There's tons to do all week; It's just a cool place. That's why people take vacation to come here instead of going to other places."

Although Hamilton, Jr. will run his first ever Daytona 500 in less than two weeks, he said the prospect isn't intimidating or more significant than anything else - mainly because he values every second of every NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race he's running these days and is thrilled to be at this level.

"It's something that so many drivers never get an opportunity to do. They never get an opportunity to run a truck, let alone a NEXTEL Cup car.  So, really to hone in on this particular race - and the Daytona 500 is prestigious - but what is the difference from the Food City 500, or the DieHard 500, as far as goals?" Hamilton, Jr. said. "You've made it to the top level, you're running with all the great drivers in the world. Overall, since the beginning where you knew what was going on, you are dreaming of making it to NEXTEL Cup. When you do, then you don't really worry about a single race. You just worry about staying here a long time. It was a whole dream just to get here."