Michael McDowell Shocks Field with Top Speed in NASCAR Practise
DAYTONA BEACH, fla. – Michael McDowell, driving the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, unexpectedly topped the leaderboard in a recent NASCAR practice session, clocking in a fastest lap time of 28.883 seconds. The veteran driver’s performance has set the stage for an intriguing competition.
Logano, Cindric Follow Closely Behind McDowell
Joey Logano, piloting the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, secured the second position with a time of 28.898 seconds, just 0.015 seconds behind McDowell. Fellow Team Penske driver Austin Cindric, in the No. 2 Ford, grabbed third place with a lap time of 28.909 seconds, a mere 0.026 seconds off the leader’s pace.
Kyle Busch Among the Top Five
Kyle Busch, driving the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, demonstrated strong speed, finishing fourth with a time of 28.933 seconds. Erik Jones rounded out the top five, piloting the No. 43 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota with a lap time of 28.934 seconds.
Hendrick Motorsports Shows Strong Showing
Alex Bowman in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet secured the sixth position followed by teammate William Byron in eight, demonstrating solid performance from the Hendrick Motorsports stable.
Full Practice Results Snapshot
Here’s a look at the top performers from the practice:
| Row | Pos | Car | driver | Team | lap time | Diff | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 71 | Michael McDowell | Spire Motorsports | 28.883 | 0.000 | 186.961 |
| 1 | 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | 28.898 | 0.015 | 186.864 |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | 28.909 | 0.026 | 186.793 |
| 2 | 4 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | 28.933 | 0.050 | 186.638 |
| 3 | 5 | 43 | Erik Jones | LEGACY MOTOR CLUB | 28.934 | 0.051 | 186.632 |
| 3 | 6 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick motorsports | 28.936 | 0.053 | 186.619 |
| 4 | 7 | 21 | Josh Berry | Wood Brothers Racing | 28.939 | 0.056 | 186.599 |
| 4 | 8 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | 28.944 | 0.061 | 186.567 |
| 5 | 9 | 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports | 28.946 | 0.063 | 186.554 |
| 5 | 10 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | 28.950 | 0.067 | 186.528 |
| 6 | 11 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | 28.964 | 0.081 | 186.438 |
| 6 | 12 | 60 | Ryan Preece | RFK Racing | 28.967 | 0.084 | 186.419 |
| 7 | 13 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | 28.984 | 0.101 | 186.310 |
| 7 | 14 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI racing | 28.991 | 0.108 | 186.265 |
| 8 | 15 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | 28.995 | 0.112 | 186.239 |
| 8 | 16 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | 29.000 | 0.117 | 186.207 |
| 9 | 17 | 10 | Ty Dillon | Kaulig Racing | 29.019 | 0.136 | 186.085 |
| 9 | 18 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | 29.020 | 0.137 | 186.079 |
| 10 | 19 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse racing | 29.021 | 0.138 | 186.072 |
| 10 | 20 | 23 | Bubba wallace | 23XI Racing | 29.035 | 0.152 | 185.982 |
| 11 | 21 | 4 | Noah Gragson | Front Row Motorsports | 29.059 | 0.176 | 185.829 |
| 11 | 22 | 3 | austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | 29.068 | 0.185 | 185.771 |
| 12 | 23 | 99 | Daniel Suarez | Trackhouse Racing | 29.082 | 0.199 | 185.682 |
| 12 | 24 | 19 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing | 29.131 | 0.248 | 185.370 |
| 13 | 25 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | spire Motorsports | 29.133 | 0.250 | 185.357 |
| 13 | 26 | 41 | Cole Custer | Haas factory Team | 29.135 | 0.252 | 185.344 |
| 14 | 27 | 6 | brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | 29.149 | 0.266 | 185.255 |
| 14 | 28 | 88 | Shane Van Gisbergen | Trackhouse Racing | 29.185 | 0.302 | 185.027 |
| 15 | 29 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | joe gibbs Racing | 29.191 | 0.308 | 184.989 |
| 15 | 30 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | LEGACY MOTOR CLUB | 29.243 | 0.360 | 184.660 |
| 16 | 31 | 47 | Ricky stenhouse, Jr. | HYAK Motorsports | 29.285 | 0.402 | 184.395 |
| 16 | 32 | 34 | Todd Gilliland | Front row Motorsports | 29.344 | 0.461 | 184.024 |
| 17 | 33 | 7 | Justin Haley | Spire Motorsports | 29.371 | 0.488 | 183.855 |
| 17 | 34 | 35 | Riley Herbst | 23XI Racing | 29.788 | 0.905 | 181.281 |
| 18 | 35 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | 30.093 | 1.210 | 179.444 |
| 18 | 36 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | — | — | — |
Looking Ahead
With the practice session concluded, teams will be analyzing data and making adjustments in preparation for upcoming qualifying rounds.
How did the regional contenders fare in qualifying?
Michael McDowell Shocks Field with Top Speed in NASCAR Practise
DAYTONA BEACH, fla. – Michael McDowell, driving the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, unexpectedly topped the leaderboard in a recent NASCAR practise session, clocking in a fastest lap time of 28.883 seconds. The veteran driver’s performance has set the stage for an intriguing competition.
Logano, Cindric Follow Closely Behind McDowell
Joey Logano, piloting the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, secured the second position with a time of 28.898 seconds, just 0.015 seconds behind McDowell. Fellow Team Penske driver Austin Cindric, in the No.2 Ford, grabbed third place with a lap time of 28.909 seconds,a mere 0.026 seconds off the leader’s pace.
Kyle Busch Among the Top Five
Kyle Busch, driving the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, demonstrated strong speed, finishing fourth with a time of 28.933 seconds. Erik Jones rounded out the top five, piloting the No. 43 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota with a lap time of 28.934 seconds.
Hendrick Motorsports Shows Strong Showing
Alex Bowman in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet secured the sixth position followed by teammate William Byron in eight, demonstrating solid performance from the Hendrick Motorsports stable.
Full Practice Results Snapshot
Here’s a look at the top performers from the practice:
| Row | Pos | Car | driver | Team | lap time | Diff | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 71 | Michael McDowell | Spire Motorsports | 28.883 | 0.000 | 186.961 |
| 1 | 2 | 22 | Joey logano | Team Penske | 28.898 | 0.015 | 186.864 |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | 28.909 | 0.026 | 186.793 |
| 2 | 4 | 8 | Kyle busch | Richard Childress Racing | 28.933 | 0.050 | 186.638 |
| 3 | 5 | 43 | Erik Jones | LEGACY MOTOR CLUB | 28.934 | 0.051 | 186.632 |
| 3 | 6 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick motorsports | 28.936 | 0.053 | 186.619 |
| 4 | 7 | 21 | josh Berry | Wood Brothers Racing | 28.939 | 0.056 | 186.599 |
| 4 | 8 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | 28.944 | 0.061 | 186.567 |
| 5 | 9 | 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports | 28.946 | 0.063 | 186.554 |
| 5 | 10 | 5 | Kyle larson | Hendrick Motorsports | 28.950 | 0.067 | 186.528 |
| 6 | 11 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | 28.964 | 0.081 | 186.438 |
| 6 | 12 | 60 | Ryan Preece | RFK racing | 28.967 | 0.084 | 186.419 |
| 7 | 13 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | 28.984 | 0.101 | 186.310 |
| 7 | 14 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI racing | 28.991 | 0.108 | 186.265 |
| 8 | 15 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | 28.995 | 0.112 | 186.239 |
| 8 | 16 | 9 | chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | 29.000 | 0.117 | 186.207 |
| 9 | 17 | 10 | Ty Dillon | Kaulig Racing | 29.019 | 0.136 | 186.085 |
| 9 | 18 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | 29.020 | 0.137 | 186.079 |
| 10 | 19 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse racing | 29.021 | 0.138 | 186.072 |
| 10 | 20 | 23 | Bubba wallace | 23XI Racing | 29.035 | 0.152 | 185.982 |
| 11 | 21 | 4 | Noah Gragson | Front Row Motorsports | 29.059 | 0.176 | 185.829 |
| 11 | 22 | 3 | austin Dillon | Richard childress Racing | 29.068 | 0.185 | 185.771 |
| 12 | 23 | 99 | Daniel Suarez | Trackhouse Racing | 29.082 | 0.199 | 185.682 |
| 12 | 24 | 19 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing | 29.131 | 0.248 | 185.370 |
| 13 | 25 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | spire Motorsports | 29.133 | 0.250 | 185.357 |
| 13 | 26 | 41 | Cole Custer | Haas factory Team | 29.135 | 0.252 | 185.344 |
| 14 | 27 | 6 | brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | 29.149 | 0.266 | 185.255 |
| 14 | 28 | 88 | Shane Van Gisbergen | Trackhouse Racing | 29.185 | 0.302 | 185.027 |
| 15 | 29 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | joe gibbs Racing | 29.191 | 0.308 | 184.989 |
| 15 | 30 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | LEGACY MOTOR CLUB | 29.243 | 0.360 | 184.660 |
| 16 | 31 | 47 | Ricky stenhouse, Jr. | HYAK Motorsports | 29.285 | 0.402 | 184.395 |
| 16 | 32 | 34 | Todd Gilliland | front row Motorsports | 29.344 | 0.461 | 184.024 |
| 17 | 33 | 7 | Justin Haley | Spire Motorsports | 29.371 | 0.488 | 183.855 |
| 17 | 34 | 35 | Riley Herbst | 23XI Racing | 29.788 | 0.905 | 181.281 |
| 18 | 35 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | 30.093 | 1.210 | 179.444 |
| 18 | 36 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | team Penske | — | — | — |
looking Ahead
With the practice session concluded, teams will be analyzing data and making adjustments in planning for upcoming qualifying rounds.
NASCAR Practice: Q&A
Who was the surprise leader in practice?
Michael McDowell, driving the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, unexpectedly topped the leaderboard.
How close was the competition at the top?
the top three were incredibly close. Joey Logano was only 0.015 seconds behind McDowell, and Austin Cindric was just 0.026 seconds off the leader’s pace.
What is the importance of these practice results?
Practice sessions allow teams to fine-tune their cars and strategies. The results provide an early indication of which teams and drivers are performing well and could be contenders in the upcoming races.
Which teams showed particular strength?
Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports demonstrated solid performances, with multiple drivers in the top ten.
What happens next for the teams?
Teams will analyze the data from the practice session and make adjustments to their cars in preparation for qualifying rounds.
Keep an eye on qualifying to see if McDowell can maintain his notable speed!
