Practice report

NASCAR Cup All-Star

Larson spins, but still leads All-Star Race practice

Kyle Larson was fastest in first practice for the All-Star at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday.

Lee Spencer

Edited: May 19, 2017, 9:01 PM

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Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Larson jumped to the top of the board with a single-lap speed of 189.274mph after completing 27 laps.

“We were extremely fast in the (2016) All-Star race and was leading with two or three laps to go and (Joey) Logano got by me,” Larson said. “Came up just a little bit short of winning a big race like that was special. I just hope I can go there again and be competitive.”

Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top 10 in single-lap speeds.

Keselowski set the quick pace with a speed of 187.526mph after four laps. Jimmie Johnson (185.370mph), Kurt Busch (185.370mph), Kyle Larson (185.217mph) and Martin Truex Jr. (184.723mph), rounded out the top-five fastest single-lap runs. At the six-minute mark, NASCAR waved the yellow flag after Larson spun out of Turn 4 as he was completing his second lap. Larson collected his car and came to pit road. Fifteen drivers had been on the track prior to the No. 42 car’s spin.

Keselowski remained on top 15 minutes into the 70-minute session. Followed by Kevin Harvick (186.413mph), Kyle Busch (185.739mph) and Johnson.

After the first half-hour, the only change in the top-five single lap speeds was Ryan Newman, who moved up to fourth (186.123mph). Sixteen drivers had been on the track. Kurt Busch’s 21 laps were the most completed at that point.

With 20 minutes remaining in first practice, Kurt Busch had jumped to the top of the speed chart on the option tire with a lap of 188.081mph. Newman was second (187.735mph) followed by Keselowski, McMurray and Larson.

Johnson had similar results to Busch and moved up to second (187.865mph). With 18 minutes to go, Kyle Busch moved up to second (187.833mph), but then Harvick came out on option tires and vaulted to the top of the speed chart with a lap of 189.095mph. After four laps, Harvick’s lap speed dropped to 183.511mph.

With eight minutes remaining, Kyle Busch moved up to second (188.594mph).

NASCAR told the crews that pit road practice would start at 2:10p.m and continue for 17 minutes. Without a speed limit for qualifying, drivers were given the opportunity to test the limits.

At the 1:11 mark, Hamlin hit the wall coming out of Turn to bring out the red flag. Hamlin said he had no idea what happened.

“It got around backwards.” Hamlin said. “Something broke, it just didn’t feel right.”

The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team was forced to bring out a backup car.

Seven minutes later, his teammate Kyle Busch slid sideway through Turns 3 and 4 trying to make the exit onto pit road. Unlike Hamlin, Busch kept his car off of the wall.

NASCAR announced they were extended the practice to 2:30. Shortly after, Johnson stumbled trying to get on pit road and took the No. 48 Chevy back on the track.

Cla#DriverManufacturerLapsTimeGapIntervalMph 1 42 united_states Kyle Larson Chevrolet 33 28.530 189.274 2 4 Kevin Harvick Ford 34 28.557 0.027 0.027 189.095 3 2 Brad Keselowski Ford 36 28.575 0.045 0.018 188.976 4 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 37 28.633 0.103 0.058 188.594 5 78 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 30 28.688 0.158 0.055 188.232 6 41 united_states Kurt Busch Ford 39 28.711 0.181 0.023 188.081 7 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 36 28.744 0.214 0.033 187.865 8 31 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 32 28.764 0.234 0.020 187.735 9 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 36 28.843 0.313 0.079 187.220 10 20 Matt Kenseth Toyota 37 28.877 0.347 0.034 187.000 11 17 united_states Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 52 28.940 0.410 0.063 186.593 12 5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 30 28.971 0.441 0.031 186.393 13 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 31 29.041 0.511 0.070 185.944 14 37 Chris Buescher Chevrolet 29 29.143 0.613 0.102 185.293 15 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 33 29.159 0.629 0.016 185.192 16 22 united_states Joey Logano Ford 13 29.239 0.709 0.080 184.685

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