Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott were the fastest drivers in a pair of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practices at ISM Raceway on Friday (Nov. 8) for the Bluegreen Vacations 500.
Opening Practice
After the conclusion of the first practice session of the afternoon, Busch was at the top of the chart with a speed of 137.562 mph. Denny Hamlin (137.478 mph) and Matt DiBenedetto (137.169 mph) completed a Toyota sweep of the top three positions. The top five were closed out by Joey Logano (137.075 mph) and Kyle Larson (137.049 mph).
Elliott was the slowest among the playoff drivers, 18th fastest, with a lap speed of 134.620 mph.
Larson owned the best 10 consecutive lap average speed, 135.217 mph, and was the only driver to break the 135 mph barrier. Martin Truex Jr. had the second-best 10 consecutive lap average (134.362 mph) and Kevin Harvick was third (134.315 mph).
Final Practice
Elliott claimed the top spot in second practice with a speed of 138.627 mph. Notably, this practice session took place mainly under the lights which will not happen in the race on Sunday, barring lengthy delays.
Ryan Blaney was second fastest with a speed of 137.206 mph, Harvick was third (136.913 mph), Truex was fourth (136.820 mph), and Alex Bowman rounded out the top five (136.581 mph).
Larson was the slowest playoff driver in the second practice, placing 11th with a speed of 135.353 mph.
In the second practice, Hamlin had the best 10 consecutive lap average. His average speed was 135.437 mph. DiBenedetto followed the No. 11 Toyota with a speed of 135.353 mph. Blaney was third with an average speed of 135.165 mph.
The Cup Series will qualify tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.
About the author
Josh Roller is a 2019 graduate of the Sports Capital Journalism Program at IUPUI in Indianapolis. While in school, he covered the 2018 Indianapolis 500 and the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship. He was an extern for INDYCAR in 2019 and interned with Charlotte Motor Speedway's Communications Department in 2020. Besides writing the Xfinity Breakdown for Frontstretch, he also does a weekly podcast with a friend he met at the 2018 Indy 500, Rob Peeters, called the Racing with Rob and Roller podcast.
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