Photo Credit: Mike Mercurio
In anticipation for the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Friday night, NASCAR hosted an all-day test session for Nationwide Series teams to get a feel for the track.
Michigan race winner Paul Menard was quickest in the first session with a lap of 31.040 seconds behind the wheel of his No. 33 Menards Chevrolet. Menard has been fast in each Nationwide Series start that he has made so far this year and will probably be a contender on Friday night.
Brian Scott was second quickest as he continues to search for his first win of the year, followed by Ryan Blaney. Notably, Blaney is in the No. 12 Snap-On Ford in a second car for Team Penske, rather than the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford that he normally runs in Nationwide Series starts. Blaney has had previous NNS success, picking up a win last year. Rookie Chase Elliott was fourth with Brad Keselowski in fifth.
Points leader Regan Smith was sixth, followed by Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Ty Dillon and Trevor Bayne. Kyle Busch was 11th.
Bayne would top the chart in the second session with a lap of 31.010 seconds behind the wheel of his No. 6 AdvoCare Ford. Bayne is hoping to win the championship this season before moving up to the Sprint Cup Series full-time in 2015. However, the past Daytona 500 champion has yet to win a race this year. Scott was second quickest once again, followed by Menard, Road America winner Brendan Gaughan and Keselowski.
Blaney was sixth, followed by Harvick, Elliott, Dillon, Smith and Busch.
RT @OnPitRoad_: Paul Menard and Trevor Bayne top speed chart in Wednesday Kentucky NNS Test by @ladybug388 http://t.co/kEibU7rqBB