After struggling at times this season, the defending Xfinity Series champ appears ready to bounce back.
Chase Elliott jumped atop the leaderboard in the final seconds with a blistering 191.215 mph lap to top Friday’s lone NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) practice at Michigan International Speedway.
Aric Almirola put down a fast 190.446-mph lap of his own in the final seconds to take second in the session. Brian Scott and Chris Buescher put down identical 190.285-mph circuits around the 2-mile track to tie for third and fourth on the charts, with Buescher’s Roush Fenway Racing teammate Darrell Wallace Jr. (190.134 mph) rounding out the top five.
Defending race winner Paul Menard put down the sixth-quickest lap, followed by the returning Kyle Busch. Joey Logano, Ty Dillon and Denny Hamlin made up the back half of the top 10.
The NXS saw only one practice session after a scheduled early-afternoon session was rained out. Final practice started nine minutes early, before running until 3:55 p.m. ET.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will return to Michigan International Speedway tomorrow for Coors Light Pole Qualifying at 10:15 a.m. ET, followed by the Great Clips 250 Benefiting Paralyzed Veterans of America at 1:30 p.m. ET. Both qualifying and the race will be televised on FOX Sports 1.
2015 GREAT CLIPS 250 PRACTICE SPEEDS
Aaron Bearden is a Frontstretch alumnus who’s come back home as the site’s Short Track Editor. When he isn’t working with our grassroots writers, he can be found talking about racing on his Morning Warmup newsletter, pestering his wife/dog or convincing himself the Indiana Pacers can win an NBA title.