DOVER, Del. -- A NASCAR test session next month at Talladega Superspeedway for its new car will help series officials determine if they can use larger holes in a restrictor plate there and at Daytona.

Gary Nelson, a former Cup series director who consults NASCAR, says he hopes NASCAR's car of tomorrow will allow series officials to someday get rid of the carburetor restrictor plates that limit horsepower and keep speeds around 190 mph at Daytona and Talladega.

Teams have been asked to bring engines they'd normally use at a track like Michigan or Charlotte to the test, which will be held Oct. 9, the day after the Talladega race. Former driver Brett Bodine, who leads NASCAR's efforts on the new car, says the plan is to see what size of a restrictor plate can be used.

The new car, which debuts at Bristol next spring, is larger than and not as sleek aerodynamically as the current car. That should allow NASCAR to increase the size of the holes in the restrictor plate and give drivers more throttle response. The new car is scheduled to run at Talladega next fall during the championship chase.

Nelson said the biggest purpose of the test is to figure out the engine package for the races at Daytona and Talladega and "maybe there is an alternative or elimination of the restrictor plate down the road.''

Nelson made it one of his goals when he became the Cup series director in 1991 to get rid of restrictor plates. He never did before moving to another position at NASCAR in 2002 and later starting his own research and development company.

NASCAR has used restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega since 1988. Before the change, Bill Elliott ran a qualifying lap of 212.809 mph at Talladega. Elliott Sadler won the pole there last spring in the most recent Cup race with a lap of 188.511 mph.

Childress denial

Car owner Richard Childress denied allegations made this week in a suit by a former employee. The Charlotte Observer reported that Anthony Corrente's lawsuit alleges that engines in the Childress-owned cars of Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton were illegal at Daytona although NASCAR never found anything wrong.

Said Childress: "The allegations made about RCR in a lawsuit filed by a disgruntled former employee are absolutely untrue.

"Specifically, our cars passed NASCAR inspection both before and after qualifying for the 2006 Daytona 500. Additional allegations made are also untrue. We will make no further comments until after the issue is resolved in a court of law.''

Long time coming

Jeff Gordon won his first pole Friday since June 2005 at Infineon Raceway.

Gordon ran a lap at 156.162 mph. Scott Riggs qualified second but said his team might have to change engines and start at the rear of the field. Riggs said he over-revved his engine on his qualifying attempt.

Matt Kenseth qualified third with Ryan Newman and Joe Nemechek completing the top five. Series leader Kevin Harvick qualified 25th. Denny Hamlin, who is second in the points standings, qualified 23rd.

Goin' racing

Mark Martin says he's "can't imagine any other scenario for me in 2007" than to race in the truck series fulltime for Roush Racing along with running 10-12 Cup races in a car owned by Boris Said, pending sponsorship.

Said's team uses Roush equipment and personnel.

Martin hinted he could return to Cup full time, especially if he's refreshed after running in the truck series, which does not run as many races.

"I go do this truck thing and I get a chance to catch my breath, I would say that there is a good chance that I'd come back full time in '08,'' Martin said. "I don't know what I want to do and I'll never know until I get a break.''

Pit stops

Four drivers hit the wall Friday during practice and qualifying and will go to backup cars. They are Casey Mears, Tony Raines, David Gilliland and rookie J.J. Yeley. ... David Ragan qualified 37th and will make his first Cup start. He's auditioning for a full-time ride in Mark Martin's car next season for Roush Racing.