by Lee Spencer

Around the track

Follow the action:

• Michigan schedule
• Michigan practices

Watch:

• Video Central

Picture perfect:

• Action at Watkins Glen

Read all about it:

• Dale Jr: Changes needed in NASCAR
• Vickers edges Martin for Cup pole

Analysis:

• White: Chasers feel the heat
• Spencer: Drivers to watch at Michigan

Carl Edwards, Mark Martin, Brian Vickers and David Stremme will participate in a two-day tire test starting on Wednesday for Goodyear. Given the problems with the selection of tires for March's Sprint Cup race, it's understandable that Goodyear feels the need to go back to the drawing board — just ask the tire company's poster boy Tony Stewart.

In Goodyear's defense, with the new car, which is heavier and has a higher center of gravity, engineers initially constructed tires that were too soft in hopes of offering more grip. Alas, the tires weren't sturdy enough and other issues ensued. Goodyear worked in earnest to correct the problems, but in many cases there was not enough due diligence done prior to the events in concert with NASCAR. The tire company graciously accepted most of the blame.

Given NASCAR's moratorium on testing, organizations are scrambling between now and Jan. 1 to use the 200 Goodyear tires each team has been allotted to shake down cars for 2009. However, the Goodyear tests that are the most coveted due to the benefits of being able to run at tracks actually on the Sprint Cup schedule with the precise tires.

"The Goodyear tire tests are going to become very crucial and everybody is going to be pushing hard and lobbying for those tests because that's the tire that we race on the tracks we race on," four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon said. "The testing ban, like everything that happens when NASCAR implements a plan, we all screw it up because we find the holes. So right now, Rockingham is a little bit of a hole. It's not the ideal track to test on but as long as there are tires to test we'll be going to some track. I hope that we go there and find out it helps.

"I would really like there to be a test ban. If it's a test ban, then make it a test ban and have no testing, no where even at non-sanctioned NASCAR tracks. It's going to save costs and let's see what happens to competition."

Hot laps

• Todd Parrott has decided to remain with Yates Racing as crew chief of the No. 28 Ford. He will also oversee the company's speedway program. Parrott's relationship with the Yates family dates back to 1996. He won a championship with Dale Jarrett in 1999 ...

• Cully Barraclough moved from the No. 38 team at Yates Racing across the street to Roush Fenway Racing. Barraclough will be car chief for Jamie McMurray on the No. 26 Ford. It's unclear whether there will be two or three teams at Yates next season ...

• The organization formerly known as Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (now part of Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing) released its Nationwide Series team on Tuesday, including crew chief Brad Parrott. Since joining Ganassi in March of 2006, Parrott notched three wins — more than any other crew chief at the organization. Up and comer Bryan Clauson, 19, was to drive for the team next season ...

• Ernie Cope will crew chief Kevin Harvick Inc.'s Nationwide Series team in 2009. Last season, Cope worked as crew chief for KHI's No. 2 Craftsman Truck Series team ...

• Veteran racer Jeff Clark is the new gasman for the No. 20 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing.