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Practice report

Kyle Busch tops Saturday morning practice, Hamlin and Patrick collide

After winning from the pole last week at Texas, Kyle Busch continued his dominance atop the speed chart at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Action Sports Photography

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Busch led second practice on Saturday morning with a single lap speed of 126.253 mph. The No. 18 Toyota sprinted around the track in 15.184 seconds. Busch was also posted the Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average of 125.569 from Lap 3 to 12. 

Chase Elliott was second quick (126.253 mph), followed by Kurt Busch (126.137 mph), Aric Almirola (125.988 mph) and polesitter Carl Edwards (125.972 mph). 

Joey Logano, Casey Mears, Matt Kenseth — the defending winner of the Food City 500 — Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman rounded out the top 10 in single lap runs. 

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SESSION RESULTS

The only incident in the 55-minute session came with just over 10 minutes remaining when Danica Patrick slowed on the track and Denny Hamlin, who was fastest in first practice and qualified fourth for Sunday’s race, ran into the left rear of the No. 10 Chevy attempting to pass her. 

“I had just come out on tires,” said Patrick, who was 27th in practice. “They were cold and I wasn’t very good anyway, I was pretty loose.  I came down the front straightaway and I put my finger out the window to point him by, but he hit my on entry.  I don’t know if he… it looked like he came pretty close when he went to go to the inside too.  

“Man, I love Denny, but he makes a lot of mistakes behind me.  I don’t know if he misjudged it or I was going slower than he thought, but I put my finger out the window and pointed him by.  I had no intention to race him.  I was not fast enough.  I don’t know, but the guys are going to try and fix it.”

Chris Lambert, Hamlin’s spotter complimented his driver for making “a nice save” however, he observed "the wheels cut all the way to me which is not good.” Hamlin, who posted the 18th fastest lap, sustained damage on the right front of the No. 11 Toyota.

“I was on the outside of her on the straightaway so I couldn’t see the left side of her car,” Hamlin said. “I went to go low, but I don’t know if she had stuff on her tires. It looked like she was struggling and had stuff on her tires for a few laps there. I tried to go low and obviously we hung bumpers.”

Edwards was second fast (124.762 mph) in the Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average followed by Casey Mears (124.440 mph), Trevor Bayne (124.398 mph), Kurt Busch (124.382 Mph) and the Richard Childress Racing Chevrolets of Ryan Newman (124.294mph) and Paul Menard (124.278 mph).

 

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