In the latest NASCAR practice session, Joey Logano showcased his prowess behind the wheel of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, seizing the top spot on the speed chart. His average lap speed of 131.166 mph edged out Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, closely trailing at 131.080 mph.
Fords have been dominating the pole positions this season, claiming victory in the first three races. Logano, with two pole wins under his belt, triumphed at both the Daytona 500 and last week’s event in Las Vegas.
Tyler Reddick, representing Toyota, demonstrated impressive speed as well, securing the third position with a lap speed of 131.066 mph. However, his session was marred by a spin-out incident with approximately three minutes remaining, resulting in flat-spotted tires.
John Hunter Nemechek clinched the fourth spot, followed by Austin Cindric rounding out the top five contenders.
This practice session marked the debut of this year’s new aero rules for all road courses and most oval tracks measuring 1.058 miles or less.
Cup cars underwent modifications including a simplified diffuser, adoption of 2023 short track/road course splitter stuffers, removal of engine panel strakes, a 3-inch spoiler, and simplified diffuser strakes.
Erik Jones, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, and Carson Hocevar completed the top-10 speeds, showcasing their competitive edge on the track.
The session encountered some challenges, with Daniel Hemric experiencing a spin-out in Turns 3 and 4 approximately 21 minutes into the practice. Despite tagging the wall in his No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, Hemric’s car sustained minimal damage, allowing him to return to the track after repairs.
NASCAR had to halt the session around the 33-minute mark due to debris on the track, briefly interrupting the on-track activities.
In the segment where drivers completed at least 10 consecutive laps, Toyotas emerged as the frontrunners, with Bubba Wallace leading the pack with an average speed of 129.374 mph, closely followed by Bell and Nemechek, highlighting their consistency and endurance on the circuit.