LEXINGTON, Ohio — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Jamie Sabau/Getty Images North America photo —
Road course specialist and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East team co-owner Justin Marks proved he still knows how to get it done behind the wheel on Friday afternoon at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, pacing final practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200.
With the top three laying down their best laps on their final trip around the 2.258-mile permanent road course, Marks made sure he was a cut above the rest — throwing a 85.052 second (95.575 mph) clip up on the board in his No. 42 Linksys Chevrolet that was unmatched by anyone else in the 40-car field.
Richard Childress Racing’s Ty Dillon was runner-up to Marks after pacing the opening practice, only able to muster a 85.084 second (95.539 mph) lap in the afternoon go-round.
A pair of Fords followed the two Chevrolets, with Team Penske’s Alex Tagliani (85.382/95.205) and Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher (85.430/95.152) going third and fourth, respectively, and making it four different teams in the top four spots in Happy Hour.
Buescher’s teammate Elliott Sadler (85.598/94.965) rounded out the fast five.
Defending series champion Chase Elliott was eighth, ringer Boris Said was 10th in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 and Darrell Wallace Jr. was a disappointing 13th in final prep for Saturday’s 200-mile finale.
2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion Dylan Kwasniewski, from Las Vegas, Nev., had a solid showing at the wheel of the Obaika Racing No. 97, timing in 15th-fastest overall.
Qualifying for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 takes place at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, with coverage online via NBC Sports Live Extra.
RESULTS: NASCAR XFINITY Series Final Practice; Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course; August 14, 2015
- Justin Marks
- Ty Dillon
- Alex Tagliani
- Chris Buescher
- Elliott Sadler
- Brian Scott
- Regan Smith
- Chase Elliott
- Brendan Gaughan
- Boris Said
- Ben Rhodes
- Kenny Habul
- Darrell Wallace Jr.
- Andy Lally
- Dylan Kwasniewski
- J.J. Yeley
- Ryan Reed
- Cale Conley
- Ryan Sieg
- Brandon Jones
- Daniel Suarez
- Jeremy Clements
- Tomy Drissi
- Dylan Lupton
- Dakoda Armstrong
- Michael Self
- David Starr
- Carlos Contreras
- Ryan Ellis
- Blake Koch
- Tim Cowen
- Eric McClure
- Derrike Cope
- Joey Gase
- Mike Harmon
- Morgan Shepherd
- John Jackson
- Josh Reaume
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network. Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s. He is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for both the United Sprint Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: speed77radio@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
