Nascar – Kyle Larson sets fast time in first Charlotte practice
Kyle Larson clocked the fastest lap in an eventful first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Larson powered the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet to a best lap of 192.082 mph on the 1.5-mile track in the opening on-track preparation for Sunday’s Bank of America 500 (1 p.m. ET, NBC, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The race is the opening event in the Playoffs’ Round of 12.
Ryan Newman landed the second-fastest lap at 191.442 mph in the Richard Childress Racing No. 31 Chevrolet. Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott completed the top five in the 85-minute opening session.
Kyle Busch, the winner of the series’ last two races, had the most adventurous practice session of the 38 drivers to post speeds. At the one-hour mark, Busch was called to the NASCAR competition hauler for consultation after driving a portion of the pit road in reverse. His No. 18 Toyota overshot the entrance to the garage area, and he backed up to make his entry.
With just 10 minutes left in the session, Busch scraped the Turn 4 wall. He limped back to the garage having earned the 17th spot on the practice leaderboard.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. completed four laps before making significant contact with the Turn 4 wall, just before the practice was four minutes old. His Hendrick Motorsports crew prepped a reserve No. 88 Chevrolet, and he returned to the track later in the afternoon ahead of what’s expected to the final Charlotte start of his full-time career. He ended up 26th on the practice leaderboard.
MORE: Keselowski hits the wall | Dale Jr. scrapes Turn 4 wall early
Playoff contender Brad Keselowski also spun in Turn 4, salvaging heavy damage on his Team Penske No. 2 Ford. Keselowski was 20th-fastest on the practice chart.
Seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson, the race’s defending winner, was 15th-fastest in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet.
Coors Light Pole Qualifying is scheduled Friday evening (7:20 p.m. ET, NBCSN) for the fourth of 10 races in the NASCAR Playoffs.
Fonte: Nascar.com
