Well, the NASCAR Xfinity Series rookies are back at it again.
Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch, both of whom are too young to remember the last time that the NASCAR Xfinity Series competed at Rockingham Speedway, were quickest in Friday’s 50-minute practice session from the historic North Carolina short track.
Kvapil, driving the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Clarience Technologies Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, laid down his quick lap towards the end of the practice session, posting a time of 22.899 seconds (159.885mph).
MORE: North Carolina Education Lottery 250 Practice Results
Driving the No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, also for JR Motorsports, Zilisch posted the second-quickest lap time in the session, clocking in at 23.052 seconds (158.824mph).
Sheldon Creed, after getting a late start to practice in his No. 00 Road Ranger Ford Mustang Dark Horse, ranked third overall in the session, with Jeb Burton, a former polesitter at Rockingham in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, in fourth.
Daytona winner Jesse Love rounded out the top five in the practice session.
Defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier ranked sixth in the session, with Austin Hill in seventh, Alpha Prime Racing driver Parker Retzlaff eighth, Sammy Smith ninth, and Taylor Gray rounding out the top-10.
Over the final minutes of Friday’s 50-minute practice session, the speed charts shifted significantly, with drivers making qualifying trim runs to prepare for Saturday’s session.
Kasey Kahne, making his return to NASCAR’s National Series in the No. 33 for Richard Childress Racing, was near the top of the charts during the first half of practice, but slid down to 18th.
Prior to practice getting underway at Rockingham Speedway, Kahne opened up about the possibility of coming back for additional NASCAR National Series events beyond this weekend.
“Yeah, I would,” Kahne stated. “This has been as excited and happy [as] I’ve been this whole year, whether it’s Sprint Car racing or pavement racing, in a little while when it comes to racing. I’ve been really looking forward to this race. And I just really thought, just see how it goes. See if things click, if it makes sense. If I feel like I’ve been doing it for 15 years, then yeah, maybe we could get another one in later in the year. If it’s difficult, I don’t know. Maybe one and done. Just have to pay attention, see how it goes, and go from there is my thought.”
Other notables deep in the field during practice included Harrison Burton (24th), Christian Eckes (25th), William Sawalich (26th), Sam Mayer (27th), and Brandon Jones (29th), which likely was a result of the drivers not making qualifying trim runs.
Katherine Legge, a renowned racecar driver who has competed in several prestigious divisions across the globe, returned to the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the first of seven events for Jordan Anderson Racing in the No. 32 Chevrolet. Legge, after improving every run, ranked 36th.
Qualifying for Saturday’s North Carolina Education Lottery 250 at Rockingham will take place tomorrow (Saturday, April 19) at 11:30 PM ET on The CW App.
