DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Chase Briscoe hasn’t wasted any time getting up to speed as a full-time driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Briscoe turned the fastest lap of the day across two hour-long practice sessions at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Friday afternoon, touring the 2.5-mile superspeedway in 45.812 seconds (196.455 mph) with his No. 98 Nutri Chomps/Chewy.com Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing.
After winning last year’s debut event for the series at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, Briscoe is hopeful that his first oval-track win can come during Saturday’s NASCAR Racing Experience 300.
“I feel good about it,” said Briscoe of his car. “It’s just special to be here at Daytona, man. This place is such a big part of our sport and it’s a cool feeling to know that we’ll be taking the green flag tomorrow to race here in the Xfinity Series. These races are so unpredictable with the draft, but I think we’ll have a shot.”
Briscoe also topped the 10-lap averages during practice with a speed of 193.509 mph.
Defending series champion Tyler Reddick was second-quick on the single-lap speed charts, posting a time of 45.838 seconds (196.344 mph) in the No. 2 Pinnacle Financial Partners Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing to lead a train of four Chevrolets that filled the rest of the top five behind Briscoe.
John Hunter Nemechek and Kaulig Racing teammates Ross Chastain and Justin Haley were third through fifth, respectively.
Christopher Bell, who made the final four in the playoffs last season as a rookie, was the fastest Toyota driver during Friday practice, ending the afternoon ninth on the board for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Asked by SPEED SPORT how he was feeling about his new Supra, Bell flashed an ear-to-ear grin.
“I’m stoked, man,” said Bell. “That thing is pretty sweet.”
Haley led the way during a relatively quiet final practice, with a best lap of 47.473 seconds (189.581 mph) in the No. 11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet.
Fellow rookie Noah Gragson was second in Happy Hour, ahead of Ryan Sieg, David Starr and Jeremy Clements.
