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Newman fastest in first Homestead Cup practice

Ryan Newman topped the chart in first Sprint Cup Series practice at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The driver of the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 30.789 and a speed of 175.387 mph. Martin Truex Jr. was second in his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota with a time of 30.795 and a speed of 175.353 mph. Kyle Larson was third in his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet with a time of 30.812 and a speed of 175.256 mph. Joey Logano was fourth in his No. 22 Team Penske Ford with a time of 30.828 and a speed of 175.165 mph. Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top-five in his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet with a time of 30.867 and a speed of 174.944 mph.

Brad Keselowski was sixth in his No. 2 Penske Ford. AJ Allmendinger was seventh in his No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet. Kyle Busch was eighth in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Carl Edwards was ninth in his No. 19 JGR Toyota. Chase Elliott rounded out the top-10 in his No. 24 HMS Chevrolet.

Kevin Harvick, who posted the 15th fastest single lap, posted the fastest 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 168.283 mph.

The Sprint Cup Series cars are back on track this evening at 6:00 for qualifying.

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November 18, 2016
Stewart is frustrated to not have won any crown jewel races, but is glad to have run them

Tony Stewart, pondering whether failing to win any of the crown jewel events in NASCAR and IndyCar frustrates him, said it does, but “it was pretty damn cool to just have the opportunity to go race those races.”

Speaking to the media earlier this afternoon at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet was asked if there was anything missing from his resume that bothers him.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed that I didn’t win a Daytona 500, a Southern 500 and most of all an Indy 500,” Stewart said. “But, I look at it and look at where I was when I was 15 years old, and 18 years old, I never even thought I would get a chance to race those races let alone in all three of them have opportunities to win the race. In a perfect world, yes, I would have loved to be able to cross those three off the list. But at the same time, I look at the big picture and it was pretty damn cool to just have the opportunity to go race those races.”

In 617 career Sprint Cup Series starts across 18 seasons, Stewart has amassed 49 career wins (13th on the all-time wins list). He’s won at all but three of the tracks at which he’s raced (Darlington Raceway, Kentucky Speedway and Rockingham Speedway). He’s got three Sprint Cup Series championships from 2002, 2005 and 2011 to his name. He set a new standard for rookie drivers when he took the sport by storm in 1999 with three wins, 12 top-fives, 21 top-10’s, two poles, 1223 laps led, a 10.3 finishing average and and Rookie of The Year honors on his way to finishing fourth in points.

He also has an IndyCar title from 1997 on his resume.

However, absent from his hall of fame came in any of NASCAR’s “Winston Million” races: the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600 or the Bojangles’ Southern 500.

He also failed to capture an Indianapolis 500 victory. Although he has two wins at The Brickyard in NASCAR.

But as he stated, he’s glad to have run those races.

He also has no desire to run another NASCAR race after this Sunday, even to get that elusive Daytona 500 victory.

“This is it. This is the last one,” he added. “I think I learned my lesson from Jeff (Gordon). Jeff tried to do somebody a favor this year and got roped into running half the season (laughs). Thank you Jeff for teaching me a lesson before I got roped into it. So, no, I’m not planning on that at all. We are going to be busy. In all honesty and I don’t have a schedule set next year, but I just know the things that I’m planning, my schedule next year is going to be much busier than it already is this year. There is just not going to be room for it.”

November 18, 2016
NASCAR Racing Schedule for Homestead

The NASCAR Sprint Cup, XFINITY and the Camping World Truck Series travel to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend for the season finale. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

All times are Eastern.

Wednesday, Nov. 16:

Live Stream: (Watch live)
11 a.m. ET: Championship 4 Crew Chief Video Conference

Thursday, Nov. 17:

Live Stream:
3:05 p.m. ET: Media Day (Watch live)
4:10 p.m. ET: Miss Sprint Cup Championship 4 Chat (Watch live)

Friday, Nov. 18:

On Track:
8:30-9:30 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series First Practice – FS1
10:30-11:25 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – FS1
12:30-1:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series First Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2-3:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
3:45 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
5-5:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6:15 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
8 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Ford EcoBoost 200 (134 laps, 201 miles) – FS1

Garage Cam: (Watch live)
Noon: Sprint Cup Series
1:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
10:15 a.m.: Darrell Gwynn Foundation
11:45 a.m.: Tony Stewart
2 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship 4 owners – Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske
7:30 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)
10 p.m.: Post-Camping World Truck Series Race (time approx.)

Saturday, Nov. 19:

On Track:
10-10:55 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series Second Practice – CNBC/NBC Sports App
11:15 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – CNBC/NBC Sports App
1-1:50 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
3:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Ford EcoBoost 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) – NBCSN/NBC Sports App

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
2 p.m.: Sprint Cup Championship 4 manufacturers – Jim Campbell, Ed Laukes and Dave Pericak
6:30 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

Sunday, Nov. 20:

On Track:
2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 (267 laps, 400.5 miles) – NBC/NBC Sports App

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
11 a.m.: NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France
7 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Race (time approx.)

Find NBCSN in your area | Watch live online at NBCSports.com

Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

November 16, 2016
Knaus says Indy turned around the 48 team’s season

Asked where the 48 team’s season started to turn around, Chad Knaus points to the Brickyard as being where they began their run to the championship finale.

Speaking to the media during a teleconference earlier today, the crew chief of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was questioned about, given the early season success and run of poor performance by his team and the entire Hendrick organization during the summer, when he felt the performance of his team started to level up to the point that they could compete for the championship.

“I think about Indianapolis was the turning point for the 48 car,” Knaus said. “Now, albeit we didn’t have very good finishes throughout the summer months, that’s not necessarily indicative of how we raced. We had some very strong performances, much like I said at Indianapolis. Were we as fast as the guys that were perfectly up front? No, not really, but we were running in the top-five and we passed a lot of cars there, so I think that was a great start for us.

“Pocono we had some good races, so on and so forth. Once again, I don’t know that we had the finishing results that we wanted, but we were starting to show signs of performance. Once we got a little bit later into the season, Darlington showed up, Michigan, tracks like that, we really started to put some finishes together and some very, very strong performances.

“So I think about that time of the year.”

Despite four wins on the season and competing for a record-tying seventh championship this Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, this season for Jimmie Johnson will end up being statistically one of his most under-performed seasons. A finish less than fifth would make 2016 the season with the second-fewest top-fives of his career. He’ll also finish the season with both less than 20 top-10’s for the first time in his career and less than half of his finishes being top-10 finishes. A lead lap finish this weekend would avoid this season having the fewest lead lap finishes since his rookie season.

During the six-race stretch from Pocono Raceway to New Hampshire Motor Speedway during June and July of this season, Johnson posted finishes of 35th, 16th, 13th, 35th, 32nd and 12th, which amounted to a 23.8 finishing average. Three of his four DNF’s on the season came during that six-race stretch.

The entire Hendrick organization was under-performing during this stretch. There were weeks where none of the Hendrick cars finished inside the top-10.

To make matters worse, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was ruled out medically halfway through the season due symptoms of a concussion that stemmed from his wreck at Michigan International Speedway. Alex Bowman and Jeff Gordon have split time, with Bowman taking a slightly larger share, driving the No. 88 car the latter half of the season.

Even rookie Chase Elliott, who was the most consistent of any HMS driver for much of the season, started to slip in performance in the summer months to the point that his Chase hopes went from a sure thing to questionable.

Knaus made no bones about the lack of speed through the summer months at HMS. He discussed how all the crew chiefs banded together to work the problem out and that, he believes, is what solved their dilemma.

“But yeah, it’s no secret that we were not performing the way we wanted to throughout the bulk of the season as a company, so we all buckled down,” he added. “I think the crew chiefs have put their heads together very well, and really started to work well together. Not that we weren’t before, but we just did it with more vigor than what we had in the past, and I think that’s a direct reason why we have the results that we do now. I think all of our teams are running great. I think at one time, Sunday, last week, we were first, second, third and fifth, I think, so the best showing we have had in a race competitively like that in a while.

“I think everybody at Hendrick Motorsports is doing a great job of pushing our performance and making that a priority, and it should carry on, I hope, into next season.

November 16, 2016
Harvick proves a non-factor at Phoenix

Kevin Harvick was a virtual non-factor at a track he’s practically owned the deed to as of late, and not even a top-five finish was enough to transfer him to the championship race for the third straight year.

Coming to Phoenix International Raceway this weekend, the driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet had won five of the last six races and led no fewer than 139 laps in each of them. This weekend, his car was just off the mark.

From the start of the weekend, Harvick and team couldn’t find the setup that best suited his car, saying that he just began way off on Friday.

It didn’t start better for him on raceday as he went from the top-10 to outside the top-10 in the second run of the race because his car was loose and progressed to “plowing through the center.”

He had a chance to steal the victory in overtime after a turn 1 wreck involving Matt Kenseth and Alex Bowman, who ironically put on a drive one would expect from Harvick, but nothing materialized on the final restart and he settled for a fourth-place finish.

“We just started way too far off on Friday. We never got a handle on the racecar,” Harvick said. “They made it a ton better in the race and we were in contention there at the end and just came up short. Just really proud of everybody for the effort that they put in. It was a very challenging Chase for us for all the mechanical failures and situations that we had going on. We kept rebounding and winning races and today we were a lap down and came back to have a chance at the end. That says a lot about the character of our race team and we just came up short this year.”

He missed making the Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway by 20-points.

With the Chase reset, Harvick leaves Phoenix 11th in points five back of Chase Elliott.

November 14, 2016
Logano Books Championship Ticket with Win at Phoenix

With one final championship berth on the line, it was only fitting that the race went into overtime and it was also fitting that late race calamity allowed Joey Logano to sneak his way into the Championship 4.

Alex Bowman led the field to the green flag at 2:48 p.m. and it only took until Turn 4 for a car, the 42 of Kyle Larson, to spin out and bring out the first caution.

It went back green on the sixth lap and settled into a long green run. During the stretch, Kevin Harvick’s car fell back as he was complaining of his car first being loose, then “plowing through the center.” Martin Truex Jr. entered the top-10 for the first time on lap 63 after starting 40th.

Green flag stops started on lap 79 and caution flew for the second time on lap 82 when Ryan Newman locked up trying to slow down getting onto pit road, spun out and slammed into the back of Larson. The damage to Larson was minimal.

During the caution, Truex was held a lap for “pulling up to pit.”

Back to action on lap 91, Logano worked his way to the lead two laps later. Jimmie Johnson drove by Logano on the backstretch to take the lead on lap 120. Debris on the frontstretch brought out the third caution on lap 132. Logano exited pit road first.

Johnson was also held a lap “pulling up to pit.”

The race restarted on lap 140. Bowman drove past Logano on the backstretch to retake the lead on lap 158. Debris in Turn 1 brought out the fourth caution on lap 210.

On the ensuing lap 218 restart, a three-car accordion-effect wreck in Turn 2 involving Austin Dillon, Greg Biffle and Johnson brought out the fifth caution.

The next run went close to 30 laps after restarting with 84 laps to go before a two-car wreck involving Newman and Truex brought out the sixth caution. Denny Hamlin opted to stay out and take the lead.

On the ensuing restart with 51 to go, he lost the lead to Matt Kenseth.

After debris slowed the race for the seventh time, it went back green with 43 to go.

Bowman had the strongest car during the run and worked his way up to second with under 20 to go. But with an almost four-second gap, his only hope of catching Kenseth was a caution.

A wreck by Michael McDowell with two to go gave him the break he needed.

On the first overtime attempt, Kyle Busch got Bowman loose as he tried to go for the inside line going into Turn 1. In doing so, Bowman was left with no room to avoid hitting Kenseth going into Turn 1 and punted him into the wall.

Based on the scoring loop, Logano was placed in the lead.

The following restart was a clean restart and he drove on to score the victory.

It’s his 17th career victory in 290 Sprint Cup Series starts, third of 2016, first at Phoenix International Raceway and 25th top-10 finish of the season.

Kyle Busch came home runner-up.

It’s his 24th top-10 finish of 2016 and 15th in 23 races at Phoenix.

Larson rallied back from his lap 1 spin to round out the podium.

Harvick, who had made Phoenix his playground since 2012, was a non-factor in a fourth-place finish.

“We just started way too far off on Friday,” Harvick said. “We never got a handle on the racecar. They made it a ton better in the race and we were in contention there at the end and just came up short. Just really proud of everybody for the effort that they put in. It was a very challenging Chase for us for all the mechanical failures and situations that we had going on. We kept rebounding and winning races and today we were a lap down and came back to have a chance at the end. That says a lot about the character of our race team and we just came up short this year.”

Teammate Kurt Busch rounded out the top-five.

Bowman, who led a race-high of 194 laps, finished sixth.

“It was a really fun day,” Bowman said. “Greg (Ives, crew chief) and all the guys made great changes all day. We had the best car all day long. Really disappointed. I hate that we got into Matt (Kenseth) like that. Just really disappointing end to the day, but one of those deals. Just a racing deal. I don’t know if his spotter cleared him or what, but I was up against the inside wall when we made contact. It says a lot about Hendrick Motorsports and Greg Ives and the whole Nationwide Chevy team. We were so strong all day, fastest car, but the fastest car didn’t win the race this weekend.

“Man, it’s just really disappointing. But everybody at Hendrick Motorsports, the Hendrick engine shop, Nationwide, Axalta, it just means so much for them to put faith in me. I don’t think I have ever led a Cup race before and to lead as much as we did and to run like we did today is amazing.”

Twenty-one cars finished on the lead lap and 38 were running at the finish.

Only Gray Gaulding, fuel pump, and Truex, accident, retired from the race.

The race lasted three hours, eight minutes and 59 seconds at an average speed of 102.866 mph. There were eight lead changes among five different drivers and nine cautions for 53 laps.

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November 13, 2016
Victory Eludes Dominant Bowman at Phoenix

Alex Bowman had a dominant day in the Valley of the Sun from start to finish, but it wasn’t enough for the native son to score his first series victory.

The weekend started off with a bang for the driver of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after he claimed his first Sprint Cup Series pole.

He put on a performance reminiscent of what Kevin Harvick had come to deliver the last few years at Phoenix International Raceway, leading 194 circuits on three different stints.

He lost the lead for good after a two-car wreck brought out the sixth caution of the race with 56 laps to go with Denny Hamlin opting not to pit, he still played a factor in who won the race.

On the run to the checkered flag in the final 40 lap, Bowman had the strongest car in the field. He was passing cars with ease and cutting into Matt Kenseth’s lead by the time he made it to second with less than 20 to go, but the almost four-second gap wasn’t shrinking fast enough and his chance at victory were fading.

Michael McDowell wrecking out with two to go gave him one more shot to earn his first victory.

On the restart in overtime, however, he got blocked down next to the wall by Kyle Busch and ended up punting Kenseth into the wall, ending his chances at racing for the championship.

“We had a great car. We took four there and restarted on the bottom twice. Our car didn’t really take off on restarts all day long very well, so had to make our way back up through there, and we got to second at the end and had that caution come out, and didn’t get a terrible restart, and the 18 turned me sideways getting into the corner, and I ‑‑ I don’t know, it almost feels like ‑‑ I almost feel like the 20 thought he was clear because I was against the ‑‑ I wasn’t at the best angle but I was also against the inside wall when we made contact. I guess he said something on the radio that he thought he was clear,” Bowman said in his post-race press conference.

“I hate it for Matt. You take somebody out like that. I would have raced the hell out of him for the win, but definitely don’t want to do that.”

He didn’t make much ground on the final restart and came home sixth.

It still ended up being his best career finish and the 194 laps led were the most of any Hendrick Motorsports driver, other than Jimmie Johnson, since Jeff Gordon at Martinsville Speedway in October of 2014.

November 13, 2016
Kyle Busch Wins at Phoenix, as Championship 4 XFINITY Field is Set
By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

AVONDALE, Ariz. – It was just another routine Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway for Kyle Busch.

But nothing else in the Ticket Galaxy 200 was at all ordinary.

All the drama unfolded behind Busch, as eight drivers scrambled for four positions in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase’s Championship 4 Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Busch led 190 of 200 laps on the way to his 10th NASCAR XFINITY Series victory of the season, his 10th at the one-mile track and the 86th of his career, extending his own series record.

Busch beat runner-up Austin Dillon to the finish line by 6.115 seconds. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ran third in his first XFINITY Series start since 2013.

“It means a lot,” said Busch, who won his 170th race across NASCAR’s top three touring series. “That’s what we set out to do tonight, and we’ve been really fast here at Phoenix.

“We’ve had some great race cars and Chris Gayle (crew chief) and all these guys do such a great job each and every week preparing these things – and it’s fun to win here.”

Justin Allgaier and Daniel Suarez secured spots in the Championship 4 with respective fourth and fifth-place finishes, as did Erik Jones, who recovered from a pit road mistake on Lap 93 to finish 10th.

But the real tension waited until after the race, when Elliott Sadler sat anxiously on pit road as NASCAR officials decided whether loose lug nuts would cost Sadler, the 13th-place finisher, the services of his crew chief, Kevin Meendering, in the season finale.

NASCAR found two loose lug nuts, and that means Meendering will serve a suspension next week. Sadler did not know who his crew chief will be at Homestead – though he was lobbying, somewhat facetiously, for team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. to take over the pit box.

“The emotions of the last 30 minutes have been tough,” Sadler said. “We knew one was loose, and one was in question. Kevin’s pretty much become my best friend, and Kevin’s made me a race car driver again this year.

“We’ve saved our Darlington car – our best car – for Homestead. We’ve put all our eggs in that car. We’ve done everything right as a race team to go to Homestead with a legitimate shot of walking away a champion. Now that we know he’s going to be suspended, it’s going to be tough.”

NASCAR XFINITY Series Managing Director Wayne Auton said there was never a possibility of Sadler losing his spot in the Championship 4.

“At the end of the race, we bring all the cars down to the entrance of pit road for inspection of the wheels and the lug nuts,” Auton said. “We observed that the No. 1 car had two lug nuts not secured to the wheel. With that being said, all the teams were very much aware at the start of the Chase of the violations that could come about.

“We’ve advised the team that they’re going to be looking for a crew chief for next week and a monetary fine of about $10,000. It’s clearly in the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series rule book.”

Blake Koch finished eighth and lost the final Championship 4 position to Sadler by four points. Joining Koch on the Chase sidelines were Ryan Reed, who finished sixth, and Brendan Gaughan and Darrell Wallace Jr., who were wrecked and eliminated before the race was 150 laps old.

Gaughan, who needed a victory to advance to Homestead, was playing fuel strategy when his right front tire went flat on the frontstretch on Lap 138. Gaughan pounded the Turn 1 wall and retired in 35th place.

“It was about to play out the way we wanted,” Gaughan said after exiting the infield care center. “Did not want to be the caution. Did not want to hit that hard – but we took a shot.”

Wallace’s grandmother had passed away during the week before the race, and the No. 6 Ford carried her name, “Granny Jan,” above the driver’s door. On Lap 148, Koch ducked to the inside off Turn 4 and knocked Wallace’s Mustang into the inside frontstretch wall.

“My grandmother was giving me the ride of my life,” Wallace said, his voice breaking with emotion. “That was the most fun I have had all year. Just circumstances took us out. It’s just hard. Thanks, Granny, I love you. We will go on to Homestead and let her ride again.”

NASCAR XFINITY Series Race – Ticket Galaxy 200
Phoenix International Raceway
Avondale, Arizona
Saturday, November 12, 2016
1. (1) Kyle Busch(i), Toyota, 200.
2. (8) Austin Dillon(i), Chevrolet, 200.
3. (13) Ricky Stenhouse Jr(i), Ford, 200.
4. (9) Justin Allgaier (C), Chevrolet, 200.
5. (6) Daniel Suarez (C), Toyota, 200.
6. (3) Ryan Reed (C), Ford, 200.
7. (22) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 200.
8. (4) Blake Koch (C), Chevrolet, 200.
9. (11) Brad Keselowski(i), Ford, 200.
10. (2) Erik Jones (C) #, Toyota, 200.
11. (14) Brennan Poole #, Chevrolet, 200.
12. (17) Aric Almirola(i), Ford, 200.
13. (10) Elliott Sadler (C), Chevrolet, 200.
14. (15) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 200.
15. (19) Justin Marks, Chevrolet, 200.
16. (20) Cole Whitt(i), Toyota, 200.
17. (24) JJ Yeley, Toyota, 199.
18. (16) Brandon Jones #, Chevrolet, 199.
19. (12) Dakoda Armstrong, Toyota, 199.
20. (21) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 199.
21. (30) Brandon Gdovic, Chevrolet, 199.
22. (26) Ryan Preece #, Chevrolet, 199.
23. (33) Alex Labbe, Chevrolet, 197.
24. (32) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 197.
25. (36) BJ McLeod #, Ford, 197.
26. (37) Brandon Hightower, Dodge, 196.
27. (35) Austin Theriault(i), Chevrolet, 196.
28. (40) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 191.
29. (39) Mike Harmon, Dodge, 190.
30. (38) DJ Kennington, Ford, Engine, 165.
31. (23) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, Accident, 150.
32. (5) Darrell Wallace Jr (C), Ford, Accident, 148.
33. (18) Corey LaJoie, Toyota, Accident, 148.
34. (34) Garrett Smithley #, Chevrolet, Accident, 145.
35. (25) Brendan Gaughan (C), Chevrolet, Accident, 136.
36. (27) Ray Black Jr #, Chevrolet, Accident, 103.
37. (28) Jeff Green, Ford, Accident, 90.
38. (7) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, Accident, 54.
39. (31) Timmy Hill(i), Toyota, Brakes, 14.
40. (29) Matt DiBenedetto(i), Toyota, Vibration, 3.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 97.31 mph.
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 03 Mins, 19 Secs. Margin of Victory: 6.115 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 6 for 39 laps.
Lead Changes: 6 among 4 drivers.

Lap Leaders: K. Busch(i) 0; E. Jones (C) # 1-3; K. Busch(i) 4-95; T. Dillon 96-100; K. Busch(i) 101-152; J. Allgaier (C) 153-154; K. Busch(i) 155-200.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): K. Busch(i) 3 times for 190 laps; T. Dillon 1 time for 5 laps; E. Jones (C) # 1 time for 3 laps; J. Allgaier (C) 1 time for 2 laps.

Top 10 in Points: D. Suarez (C) – 3,111; E. Sadler (C) – 3,102; E. Jones (C) # – 3,097; J. Allgaier (C) – 3,096; B. Koch (C) – 3,092; R. Reed (C) – 3,089; D. Wallace Jr (C) – 3,048; B. Gaughan (C) – 3,032; B. Poole # – 2,178; T. Dillon – 2,174.
November 12, 2016
Kyle Busch Fastest in Final Cup Practice at Phoenix

Kyle Busch topped the chart in final Sprint Cup Series practice at Phoenix International Raceway.

The driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 26.401 and a speed of 136.358 mph. Brad Keselowski was second in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford with a time of 26.415 and a speed of 136.286 mph. Joey Logano was third in his No. 22 Penske Ford with a time of 26.431 and a speed of 136.204 mph. Alex Bowman was fourth in his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet with a time of 26.462 and a speed of 136.044 mph. Austin Dillon rounded out the top-five in his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with a time of 26.475 and a speed of 135.977 mph.

Chase Elliott was sixth in his No. 24 HMS Chevrolet. Kyle Larson was seventh in his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet followed by Ryan Blaney who was eighth in his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. Martin Truex Jr. was ninth in his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top-10 in his No. 20 JGR Toyota.

Jimmie Johnson was 11th, Kevin Harvick was 14th, Carl Edwards was 15th, Kurt Busch was 20th and Denny Hamlin rounded out the Chase drivers in 22nd.

Bowman posted the fastest 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 135.417 mph.

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November 12, 2016
Truex Fastest in Second Practice at Phoenix

Martin Truex Jr. topped the chart in second Sprint Cup Series practice at Phoenix International Raceway.

The driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 26.573 and a speed of 135.476 mph. Brad Keselowski was second in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford with a time of 26.586 and a speed of 135.410 mph. Jamie McMurray was third in his No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet with a time of 26.646 and a speed of 135.105 mph. Kyle Larson was fourth in his No. 42 Ganassi Chevrolet with a time of 26.655 and a speed of 135.059 mph. Joey Logano rounded out the top-five in his No. 22 Penske Ford with a time of 26.664 and a speed of 135.014 mph.

Kevin Harvick was sixth in his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet followed by Chase Elliott in seventh in his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Kyle Busch was eighth in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Kurt Busch was ninth in his No. 41 SHR Chevrolet and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-10 in his No. 11 JGR Toyota.

Jimmie Johnson was 11th, Matt Kenseth was 13th and Carl Edwards rounded out the Chase drivers in 20th.

Truex posted the fastest 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 134.539 mph.

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November 12, 2016