In the last few minutes of opening NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Ben Rhodes jumped a host of Chase drivers on the leaderboard to pace the opening session.
The No. 41 Toyota posted a lap of 132.076 mph, the only driver to reach the 132 mph bracket.
The first of the five consecutive Chase drivers in the order was five-time winner this season William Byron (131.811 mph), more than a half-tenth off the top speed. His Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate Christhoper Bell was third on the chart (131.256 mph).
A pair of GMS Racing teammates, Johnny Sauter (130.990 mph) and Ben Kennedy (130.707 mph), were the other Chase drivers among the top 5.
Other Chase drivers include Matt Crafton, who was sixth on the chart. John Hunter Nemechek was 10th, and Timothy Peters and Daniel Hemric were the lone playoff competitors outside of the top 10 in 13th and 18th.
Cup Series regular Matt DiBenedetto filled in for John Wes Townley, who is in Kentucky for the ARCA Series race this evening. The No. 05 had the seventh quickest time.
Five drivers made a 10-lap run, led by Byron (129.776 mph). Last weekend’s polesitter Spencer Gallagher was second in that category, followed by Austin Wayne Self, Matt Mills and Alon Day. Gallagher turned 29 laps, the most of all drivers in the series during opening practice.
Click here for full opening practice results at New Hampshire
About the author
Dustin joined the Frontstretch team at the beginning of the 2016 season. 2020 marks his sixth full-time season covering the sport that he grew up loving. His dream was to one day be a NASCAR journalist, thus why he attended Ithaca College (Class of 2018) to earn a journalism degree. Since the ripe age of four, he knew he wanted to be a storyteller.
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