The world is likely still buzzing from Ross Chastain’s move to get into the Championship Four from last weekend at Martinsville, but Chastain, and his Trackhouse Racing team, are likely buzzing from the excitement, due to the speed in their No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro.
Chastain, who looks to capture a championship in Sunday’s 312-lap contest at Phoenix Raceway, posted the fastest time in the NASCAR Cup Series’ 50-minute session on Friday, with a time of 27.019 seconds (133.240mph).
Ryan Blaney posted the second-quickest lap in the session, just four hundredths slower than the session leader. Blaney was eliminated from championship contention after last weekend’s event at Martinsville.
Driving the No. 12 Ford Mustang for Team Penske, Blaney led the 36-driver field in five-lap, 10-lap, 15-lap, and 20-lap averages in the session, while Chase Elliott led the field in 25-lap averages.
Kyle Busch, in his final race for Joe Gibbs Racing, clocked in third-quickest, with Tyler Reddick and Kevin Harvick completing the top five on the speed charts.
Denny Hamlin, who was on the negative end of Chastain’s heroic last-lap move at Martinsville, clocked in sixth place, while championship contender Joey Logano posted the seventh-quickest time.
Rookie of The Year winner Austin Cindric recorded the eighth-fastest time in the session, with Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Chase Elliott completing the top-10.
Christopher Bell – who on two occasions has secured a walk-off victory to advance further in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – clocked in a miserable 20th place in the session, by far the lowest of the four drivers eligible for the title.
Qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series season-finale at Phoenix Raceway will take place on Saturday, November 5th at 3:30 pm ET, immediately after NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying.
Practice Results:
