"I don't think it's a huge deal," Kenseth said, then added facetiously, "but, yes, if she keeps running that fast, then I think she should have to add a bunch of weight and mount it on the roof."

Earnhardt blows an engine

Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran 11 laps in Wednesday's opening practice before the engine in his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS expired.

Because of the subsequent engine change, Earnhardt will start from the rear of the field in Thursday's first Budweiser Duel 150-mile qualifying race.

"I don't know what happened," Earnhardt said of the engine failure. "We'll just start at the back of the qualifier (Thursday) and try to race up through there."

Newman's spin triggers practice crash

Racing in close quarters with Carl Edwards during the first practice for Thursday's Budweiser Duel 150 qualifying races, Ryan Newman's Chevy SS got loose and spun across the nose of Edwards' Ford. Those two cars and the Toyota of Mark Martin all sustained damaged in the ensuing crash.

"I was up close to Ryan, and then, all of a sudden, his car just got a little loose, and there was no space," Edwards said. "I could have given him more space, but I don't think either one of us really understands why his car got so loose.

"It was just all of a sudden, and he was turned sideways. It's really interesting -- and something I'm going to be careful for during the race."

The wreck was a clear indication that drivers still have much to learn when it comes to controlling NASCAR's new Gen-6 race car.

"I didn't know what happened and he (Edwards) honestly admitted that he didn't know what happened," Newman said. "Just all of a sudden, my car was going across his nose. He did say that he tried to come up and put the air brakes on me (by side-drafting).

"I think, in doing so, it just made my car that loose. I hadn't been loose the entire time. It was just something new and a different characteristic of this car I guess."

The damage was not extensive enough to force any of the three drivers to a back-up car.