AVONDALE, Ariz. — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Matt Sullivan/Getty Images North America photo —
Surprise, surprise. (Not really.)
Kyle Busch soared to the top of the speed charts on his mock qualifying run during Friday’s second and final NASCAR XFINITY Series practice session at Phoenix International Raceway, posting a time quicker than the current track record of 26.627 seconds (135.201 mph) held by Joey Logano during the 85-minute period.
Busch’s lap of 26.570 seconds (135.491 mph) around the one-mile Avondale oval puts him in prime position to score his sixth XFINITY win of the 2015 season during Saturday’s DAV 200: Honoring America’s Heroes (4 p.m. ET, NBCSN/Live Extra, MRN, SiriusXM). The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran is also the all-time leading NXS winner at Phoenix, with seven trophies to his name at the ‘Jewel in the Desert’.
Behind Busch, Ty Dillon finished Happy Hour in the same position he finished first practice — second-quick on the time sheets. Dillon posted a time of 26.575 seconds (135.466 mph) on his final of 60 timed laps in the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, and sits third in a four-man championship battle in the XFINITY ranks with two races remaining on the schedule.
Dillon’s RCR teammate, Brendan Gaughan, was the final driver to break the current track record in practice; he toured PIR in 26.608 seconds (135.298 mph) to go third-quickest overall.
Series points leader Chris Buescher made an impressive rebound in his Ford Mustang, improving from 12th in first practice to fourth (26.687/134.897) in the final round, and reigning series champion Chase Elliott (26.710/134.781) capped off the ‘Fast Five’.
First practice leader Austin Dillon — who smashed even Busch’s quick lap with his run earlier in the day — was seventh (26.860/134.028), unable to improve on his time despite running the most laps (63) of anyone in final practice. Defending race winner Brad Keselowski clocked in eighth on the pylon, and fellow Sprint Cup regular Kyle Larson was 10th for HScott Motorsports with Chip Ganassi.
Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the NASCAR XFINITY Series takes place on Saturday at 12:45 p.m. ET (NBCSN/Live Extra, MRN, SiriusXM).
RESULTS: NASCAR XFINITY Series; Final Practice; Phoenix International Raceway; Nov. 13, 2015
- Kyle Busch
- Ty Dillon
- Brendan Gaughan
- Chris Buescher
- Chase Elliott
- Erik Jones
- Austin Dillon
- Brad Keselowski
- Daniel Suarez
- Kyle Larson
- Darrell Wallace Jr.
- J.J. Yeley
- Ryan Sieg
- Regan Smith
- Brian Scott
- Kasey Kahne
- Elliott Sadler
- Ryan Reed
- Mike Bliss
- Dakoda Armstrong
- Jeremy Clements
- Dylan Kwasniewski
- Anthony Kumpen
- David Starr
- Ross Chastain
- Blake Koch
- Joey Gase
- Landon Cassill
- Mario Gosselin
- Jeff Green
- Timmy Hill
- B.J. McLeod
- Ross Kenseth
- Harrison Rhodes
- T.J. Bell
- Eric McClure
- Matt Waltz
- Korbin Forrister
- Carl Long
- Morgan Shepherd
- Ruben Pardo
- Mike Harmon
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.
The 21-year-old 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
Email Race Chaser Online: news@racechaseronline.com
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