By Aaron Bearden, Motorsports Editor
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin combined to claim Friday’s two practice sessions for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.
Final Practice
Ryan Blaney surged atop the charts in the waning moments to claim final practice for Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Blaney’s 128.554 mph. circuit in the final moments of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice served as the quickest lap in the session. Michigan winner Kyle Larson (128.065 mph) followed in second, with with Ryan Newman (127.784 mph), Jamie McMurray (127.487 mph) and Kyle Busch (127.258 mph) rounding out the top five.
Chris Buescher(127.098 mph) , Trevor Bayne (126.704 mph), Erik Jones (126.628 mph), A.J. Allmendinger (126.562 mph) and Clint Bowyer (126.553 mph) completed the top 10.
The fastest laps for most of the top 10 came in the final minutes of the session, as most snuck in a late run in qualifying trim after the session was briefly delayed for intermittent rain. Before that point, Larson’s fast lap had stood atop the charts.
The caution flag flew twice in the session – once for a spin from Timmy Hill, and again shortly after the midway point as rain covered the half-mile oval.
The Cup Series will return for Coors Light Pole qualifying at 5:45 p.m. ET.
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Practice 1
Fresh off of the birth of his second daughter with girlfriend Jordan Fish, Denny Hamlin returned to the garage area in style by topping opening Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Hamlin’s 14.848-second circuit served as the quickest lap around the half-mile oval, besting Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch’s 14.849-second lap by just one thousandth of a second. The Virginian’s average speed on the lap was 129.230 mph, with Busch’s circuit coming in just a tick slower at 129.221 mph.
Kasey Kahne (128.943 mph), Ryan Blaney (128.917 mph) and Clint Bowyer (128.382 mph) rounded out the top five, with Matt Kenseth (128.356 mph), Martin Truex Jr. (128.313 mph), Erik Jones (128.176 mph), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (128.005 mph) and Jimmie Johnson (127.997 mph) rounding out the top 10.
The caution flag flew twice in the session – once for a contact-less spin from Michigan winner Kyle Larson, and again for a small rain shower that washed lightly over Bristol during the midway point of the session.
Early spin for @KyleLarsonRacin, but no contact with the wall.
Impressive. Very impressive. pic.twitter.com/onlM6qcWpQ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 18, 2017
The Cup Series field will return for final practice for Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race from 12:30-1:55 p.m. ET.
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