NASCAR on TV this week

Kurt Busch Leads First 2019 Gander RV 400 Practice At Dover

Under cloudy and foggy skies at Dover International Speedway, Kurt Busch led the lone Friday practice session Friday (May 3) for the 2019 Gander RV 400. Busch pulled off a lap at 168.444 mph. That’s around four mph faster than the track record qualifying speed set by Brad Keselowski back in 2014.

Busch, who ran 11 laps in Friday’s session, made his Cup Series debut at this track in September 2000. He’ll be seeking his first pole with the No. 1 team of Chip Ganassi Racing during qualifying later this afternoon.

CGR teammate Kyle Larson was second quickest. Kevin Harvick, William Byron and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five drivers.

2019 GANDER RV 400 FIRST PRACTICE RESULTS

Last week’s winner Chase Elliott was ninth fastest. 11-time Dover winner Jimmie Johnson was right behind him in 10th on the speed chart.

37 drivers took time and all will make the race as there are 40 spots available. Among those drivers lagging behind are two of Team Penske’s top contenders. Joey Logano was just 19th on the practice charts while Keselowski wound up 23rd.

Single-car qualifying is scheduled to get underway at 3:40 p.m. ET. MENCS teams will then have two more practices Saturday to gear up for Sunday’s Gander RV 400.

About the author

Bryan Nolen is the Operations Manager and Multimedia Director for Frontstretch.com. He also hosts the Bringing the Heat with Bryan Nolen Podcast and occasionally makes appearances on The Happy Hour Podcast. He has a Sportscasting degree from the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting. He resides in Boise, Idaho, with his wife, his French Bulldog Archer and two rabbits.

Follow him on Twitter @TheBryanNolen

Sign up for the Frontstretch Newsletter

A daily email update (Monday through Friday) providing racing news, commentary, features, and information from Frontstretch.com
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.