NASCAR: Larson tops Cup practice in Phoenix

The NASCAR Cup Series’ (NCS) western swing concludes this weekend as the series takes on the one-mile tri-oval of Phoenix Raceway. The trip to the Avondale, Arizona, venue marks the first short-track race of 2023, which will also feature the debut of the new aerodynamic package that will be run on the series’ short ovals and road courses this season.

Teams were given increased practice time for this weekend’s event, with NASCAR’s premier series hitting the track for a 50-minute practice session Friday afternoon. Upon completion of practice, teams are allowed to make adjustments before going through technical inspection, which will take place on Saturday prior to the qualifying session that will set the lineup for Sunday’s United Rentals Work United 500.

Kyle Larson topped the leaderboard at the conclusion of practice, driving his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 to a fastest lap of 27.427 seconds.

Just behind was Ryan Blaney in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford at 131.105 mph.

Completing the top five behind them were Alex Bowman in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy, Joey Logano in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford and Chase Briscoe in the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

Ross Chastain, the series points leader, was 26th-fastest with a speed of 128.315 mph in the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet.

NASCAR officials took the hood louvers from the four Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets at Phoenix Raceway, and the sanctioning body will bring them to the NASCAR Research & Development Center for further evaluation next week in Concord, North Carolina.

During initial inspection Friday, league officials discovered a potential issue that needs further examination. Hendrick cars were permitted to use those louvers in practice, with officials taking them after the opening session at the 1-mile track.

There is no penalty to Hendrick cars this weekend, and any potential penalties would be announced next week. The Hendrick organization can replace the hood louvers prior to inspection on Saturday and in advance of qualifying

The 50-minute session served as the debut for NASCAR’s new rule package, featured on most short ovals and all road courses in 2023. The configuration includes a 2-inch spoiler and fewer strakes underneath the car, reducing downforce by approximately 30%.

Fords performed notably well in single-lap speed during the Friday warm up, placing seven of the manufacturer’s entrants inside the top 10, including RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski in sixth, Wood Brothers Racing sophomore Harrison Burton in eighth and SHR teammates Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola rounding out ninth and 10th.

Toyota, on the other hand, did not place a car inside the top 15 in one-lap speeds. The quickest of Toyota’s six cars was Bubba Wallace in 16th, who wheeled the No. 23 23XI Racing Camry around the track at 129.413 mph.

Ten-lap averages saw Larson quickest of the bunch at 129.311 mph, ahead of Blaney, Logano, Harvick and Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron. Wallace turned in the sixth-quickest 10-lap average over Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, Stenhouse and 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick.

Farther down the speed chart in both categories was Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Busch, the two-time Cup Series champion, posted the 29th-fastest single lap at 127.927 mph and didn’t fare much better in 10-lap runs: 27th at 126.353 mph. Teammate Austin Dillon was 15th-quickest in one-lap speeds but ranked 30th of the 34 cars which ran 10 laps, turning an average speed of 125.428 mph.

NASCAR Cup Final Practice Results

Best 10 Consecutive Laps

* Car must run 10 consecutive laps on the track to be included in the above chart.