AVONDALE, Ariz. — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Sarah Glenn/Getty Images North America photo —
Could Austin Dillon score a fifth NASCAR XFINITY Series win this season at Phoenix International Raceway?
If the speed he showed during Friday’s opening practice session at the one-mile desert oval is any indication, it’s certainly a possibility.
Dillon was a full tenth of a second faster than any of his challengers during the 85 minute round on Friday afternoon, posting a best lap of 26.467 seconds (136.018 mph) at the wheel of the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Camaro to head the pack. Despite the promising showing, however, Dillon’s four wins this year have all come on 1.5-mile intermediate tracks — and his best PIR finish was third in the fall of 2013 — so his team will be looking to maintain their current course through the rest of the race weekend.
His younger brother Ty, who is locked in the niddle of the NXS title fight with two races to go, was right behind him; the No. 3 Chevrolet toured PIR in 26.560 seconds (135.542 mph) to slot in second-fastest overall and give both Richard Childress Racing — as well as the Dillon family — a sweep of the top two spots on the scoring pylon.
Defending series champion Chase Elliott, who sits second in points behind current leader Chris Buescher entering Phoenix, was third on a time of 26.646 seconds (135.105 mph) in the No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet for JR Motorsports.
Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Erik Jones (26.728/134.690) and seven-time Phoenix winner Kyle Busch (26.863/134.013) rounded out the ‘Fast Five’.
Defending race winner Brad Keselowski was eighth-quick in the session driving the 2015 XFINITY owner’s champion No. 22 for Team Penske, while Buescher could only muster the 12th-fastest lap in his Ford Mustang. Buescher carries a 24-point advantage into Saturday’s DAV 200: Honoring America’s Heroes.
XFINITY final practice kicks off at 5 p.m. ET, live on NBCSN and online via NBC Live Extra.
RESULTS: NASCAR XFINITY Series; First Practice; Phoenix International Raceway; Nov. 13, 2015
- Austin Dillon
- Ty Dillon
- Chase Elliott
- Erik Jones
- Kyle Busch
- Kyle Larson
- Brian Scott
- Brad Keselowski
- Daniel Suarez
- Kasey Kahne
- Regan Smith
- Chris Buescher
- Elliott Sadler
- Ryan Sieg
- Brendan Gaughan
- Darrell Wallace Jr.
- Ryan Reed
- J.J. Yeley
- Jeremy Clements
- Dakoda Armstrong
- Ross Chastain
- Blake Koch
- Mike Bliss
- Anthony Kumpen
- David Starr
- Carl Long
- Mario Gosselin
- Joey Gase
- Timmy Hill
- Landon Cassill
- Ross Kenseth
- Matt Waltz
- Korbin Forrister
- T.J. Bell
- Ruben Pardo
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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