The stars of the NASCAR Cup Series got their first taste of the refreshed Atlanta Motor Speedway with their only practice session of the weekend Saturday (March 19), and in a surprise, it was JTG Daugherty Racing driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. claiming the top spot with a lap at 186.616 mph, just a hair quicker than Kyle Busch, who clocked in at 186.391 mph.
The top 10 for practice shaped up like this: Stenhouse, Busch, Christopher Bell, Harrison Burton, Joey Logano, Michael McDowell, Justin Haley, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. and Cody Ware.
Like the Camping World Truck and Xfinity series before them, the Cup drivers had their qualifying washed out Friday, so last week’s winner Chase Briscoe will start on pole for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. Stenhouse, who was quickest in Cup practice, will start 28th, while Busch starts fourth.
NASCAR Cup Series Practice Results for Atlanta
FOX will have TV coverage of the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 from Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday, March 20, starting at 2:30 p.m. ET, with the green flag flying just after 3 p.m.
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Seeing as there has been a practice period, there should be no reason for a “Competition Caution” but we know NA$CAR will have one anyway. Another 8 or so laps of commercials and announcer drivel to go along with the usual TV timeouts.