Jimmie Johnson leads final Richmond practice
Jimmie Johnson, whose two of three wins at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway have come during the day, was fastest in Saturday’s final Sprint Cup practice session.
Photo by: Action Sports Photography
Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 is the first scheduled day race at Richmond since 1988. Johnson’s two wins came in rain-postponed events – spring 2007 and fall 2008.
Johnson’s top single-lap average speed (120.849 mph) came early in the 80-minute session and prompted Johnson to comment on the higher speeds found on the track.
“It’s just so quick, we are at Richmond, right,” he asked over his team radio. “Hell yeah.”
Johnson also posted the fastest 10-lap average speed (119.667 mph), followed Harvick and Kyle Busch.
Kurt Busch completed the most laps (122) in the session as his No. 41 team tried three different set-ups.
Kasey Kahne posted the second-fastest single-lap speed, followed by Kyle Busch, pole-sitter Kevin Harvick and last weekend’s race winner, Carl Edwards.
Rounding out the Top 10: Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr., A.J. Allmendinger, Paul Menard and Joey Logano.
CLICK HERE for complete session results
Stewart P23 in first weekend back
Tony Stewart, competing for the first time this season, ended up with the 23rd-fastest speed (118.614 mph).
Stewart was asked during a break in the session how he felt the track was rubbering in after overnight rain.
“I don’t really have much to gauge off the tire. It seems solid,” Stewart said. “It’s doing what we all asked Goodyear for it to do, which was for it to fall off. I think they’re doing a good job.”
Bowyer's tirade
As the session wound to an end, smoke began pouring out of the No. 15 Chevrolet of Clint Bowyer. At the time, he had posted just the 37th-fastest speed (116.324 mph).
Bowyer was incensed over his radio as be brought his car in off the track.
“I’ve never been with such a (expletive) unprepared (expletive) team in my life,” Bowyer said over his team radio. “It’s a (expletive) joke. "
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