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In preparation for the Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Nationwide Series drivers got to hit the track twice on Friday to get their cars set-up. In both practices, Richard Childress Racing would top the charts in both sessions, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing and JR Motorsports cars.
2013 Camping World Truck Series Champion Matt Crafton topped the first practice with a lap of 30.399 in his No. 33 Menards/Tarkett Chevrolet for RCR. Like last year, Crafton will be running a part-time schedule with RCR in the Nationwide Series while competing for the truck series championship. The California native made three starts last year, with his best finish being a third – twice.
Last week’s race winner Kyle Busch was second quickest in his No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, followed by Crafton’s rookie teammate Ty Dillon. Dillon is looking for his second straight top 10 finish this weekend at Las Vegas after a solid day last week at Phoenix. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five.
Brian Scott was sixth, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski and Trevor Bayne. Daytona winner and current points leader Regan Smith was 11th.
A pair of rookies would run into trouble in the first session. Dylan Kwasniewski would get loose off of turn four and make heavy contact with the outside wall, resulting in having to go to a back-up car. He would get his car fixed and get some laps under his belt in the second session. Ryan Reed had to change motors after having a poor finish last week at Phoenix, though like Kwasniewski, he was able to get laps in the second session.
In the second session, it was a pair of rookies pacing the way as Ty Dillon topped the charts with a lap of 30.086 seconds behind the wheel of his No. 3 VF/Jiffy Lube Chevrolet. He was followed by fellow rookies Elliott and Chris Buescher. Earnhardt Jr. and Larson.
Scott was once again sixth, followed by Crafton, Busch, Brendan Gaughan and Matt Kenseth.
Busch ran into trouble during hte session as he had a tire go down, resulting in heavy contact with the wall. As a result, Busch had to go a back-up car. Busch’s team was able to get him back out so therefore he could get some laps before tomorrow’s qualifying session and race.
