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 |