General Motors is being tight-lipped about who will advance to the next level of its driver-development testing program, set for Oct. 10-11 at Nashville Superspeedway.

Already, drivers participating in the evaluation process have tested at a short track and a dirt track. The high-speed concrete oval outside Nashville is the final step.

“We’ve met and discussed the results of the tests, both objective and subjective. We ranked the drivers in groups, from top (going to Nashville) to bottom (not ready for Nashville) with a group in the middle and a practical limit on the number of drivers you can properly evaluate in two days at Nashville,” said Pat Suhy, GM Racing’s NASCAR program manager.

“It was a very difficult process, as some very promising guys got left out. We sent our list of suggested attendees out to the teams for feedback and worked a few changes in based on their input to come up with the final list.

“I’m not sure all the individuals who aren’t coming have been notified. In fairness to them, I’d rather not release any info until we’re a bit closer to the test.”

Among the participants likely to attend the final stage are former ChampCar World Series driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, 25; Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Marc Davis; Jeff Earnhardt, son of Busch and Truck series driver Kerry Earnhardt; and Gibbs development driver Joey Lagano, The Charlotte Observer has learned.

GM officials say the purpose of the program is to place a group of young drivers in a controlled environment to give Chevrolet Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck teams the opportunity to meet them and observe their on-track skills.

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