Kyle Busch

NASCAR: Busch tops Phoenix Friday Cup practice

Kyle Busch was the fastest in the final Cup Series practice session of 2023 at Phoenix Raceway, posting a single lap of 130.814 mph.

The early edge among the Championship 4 participants goes to Ryan Blaney, who put down the fastest single lap of the title contenders with a 130.425 mph circuit around the 1-mile oval and showed long-run speed as the No. 12 Team Penske Ford was quickest in 15 and 20 consecutive lap average.

Christopher Bell was just behind Blaney as he was fourth overall in practice with a 130.378 mph single-lap time and has the short-run speed landing the fastest five and ten consecutive lap average in Friday evening’s 50-minute session.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson were a tad slower than the aforementioned. Byron landed seventh on the board with a 130.011 mph lap, while Larson was the only Championship 4 driver outside the top 10 with a 129.847 mph circuit around the track.

Byron posted top-five average times in five, 10, 15 and 20 consecutive laps. Larson was only 10th in 10 consecutive lap average and outside the top 10 in the 15 consecutive lap chart, but posted the eighth-best 20 consecutive lap average.

Non-title contenders Bubba Wallace (130.676 mph), Ross Chastain (130.378 mph), Joey Logano (130.072 mph), Tyler Reddick (130.011 mph), Ty Gibbs (129.959 mph) and Brad Keselowski (129.847 mph) were top 10 in practice.

In the final practice session of his career, Kevin Harvick was 12th with a 129.833 mph lap.

Practice 1 Results

Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed Behind Gap
1 8 Kyle Busch 3CHI Chevrolet 27.520 130.814 —.— —.—
2 23 Bubba Wallace Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota 27.549 130.676 -0.029 -0.029
3 12 Ryan Blaney (P) Menards/Dutch Boy Ford 27.602 130.425 -0.082 -0.053
4 20 Christopher Bell (P) Rheem/DEWALT Toyota 27.612 130.378 -0.092 -0.010
5 1 Ross Chastain Worldwide Express Chevrolet 27.612 130.378 -0.092 -0.000
6 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 27.677 130.072 -0.157 -0.065
7 24 William Byron (P) Axalta Chevrolet 27.690 130.011 -0.170 -0.013
8 45 Tyler Reddick Toyota Toyota 27.690 130.011 -0.170 -0.000
9 54 Ty Gibbs # Monster Energy Toyota 27.701 129.959 -0.181 -0.011
10 6 Brad Keselowski Castrol Edge Ford 27.725 129.847 -0.205 -0.024
11 5 Kyle Larson (P) HendrickCars.com Chevrolet 27.725 129.847 -0.205 -0.000
12 4 Kevin Harvick Busch Light Harvick Ford 27.728 129.833 -0.208 -0.003
13 19 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops Toyota 27.745 129.753 -0.225 -0.017
14 21 Harrison Burton Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford 27.747 129.744 -0.227 -0.002
15 16 AJ Allmendinger Action Industries Chevrolet 27.750 129.730 -0.230 -0.003
16 34 Michael McDowell Love’s/Delo Ford 27.757 129.697 -0.237 -0.007
17 43 Erik Jones Allegiant Allways Rewards Chevrolet 27.761 129.678 -0.241 -0.004
18 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Toyota 27.761 129.678 -0.241 -0.000
19 17 Chris Buescher Fastenal Ford 27.785 129.566 -0.265 -0.024
20 31 Justin Haley Campers Inn RV Chevrolet 27.790 129.543 -0.270 -0.005
21 9 Chase Elliott NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 27.791 129.538 -0.271 -0.001
22 48 Alex Bowman Ally Chevrolet 27.798 129.506 -0.278 -0.007
23 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Fry’s/Cheez-It Chevrolet 27.823 129.389 -0.303 -0.025
24 99 Daniel Suarez Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet 27.824 129.385 -0.304 -0.001
25 14 Chase Briscoe Mahindra Tractors Ford 27.845 129.287 -0.325 -0.021
26 2 Austin Cindric Discount Tire Ford 27.861 129.213 -0.341 -0.016
27 42 Carson Hocevar(i) Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet 27.863 129.204 -0.343 -0.002
28 10 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 27.864 129.199 -0.344 -0.001
29 41 Ryan Preece United Rentals Ford 27.868 129.180 -0.348 -0.004
30 7 Corey LaJoie NEGU Chevrolet 27.869 129.176 -0.349 -0.001
31 3 Austin Dillon Get Bioethanol Chevrolet 27.946 128.820 -0.426 -0.077
32 38 Todd Gilliland Boot Barn Ford 27.995 128.594 -0.475 -0.049
33 77 Ty Dillon Gainbridge Chevrolet 28.098 128.123 -0.578 -0.103
34 15 JJ Yeley(i) Total Point/Patriot Mobile Ford 28.114 128.050 -0.594 -0.016
35 78 BJ McLeod(i) Pala Casino Chevrolet 28.223 127.556 -0.703 -0.109
36 51 Ryan Newman(i) Serial 1 E-Bikes Ford 28.324 127.101 -0.804 -0.101