NNS: Kyle Busch and Alex Bowman lead DAV 200 Honoring America’s Veterans Practice at Phoenix

The Nationwide Series would have a pair of practices on Friday at Phoenix International Speedway for the DAV 200 Honoring America’s Veterans, with both practices being led by Cup series regulars.

Kyle Busch would lead the opening practice with a lap of 27.096 seconds as he looks for his second straight victory in a row after winning last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Busch has won at Phoenix before in each of NASCAR’s top three divisions.

Ty Dillon was second quickest searching for his second career victory, followed by Erik Jones. Jones announced yesterday that he will run a partial NNS schedule next year for Joe Gibbs Racing. JR Motorsports teammates Regan Smith and Alex Bowman rounded out the top-five.

Brad Keselowski was sixth, followed by Elliott Sadler, Chase Elliott, Brian Scott and Chris Buescher. Elliott can lock up the championship this weekend if he holds a 48 point advantage over the field. Entering the weekend, he sits 48 points in front of Smith; so as long as he finishes in front of Smith, he wins the championship.

Bowman would lead the final practice with a lap of 26.944 seconds in his second Nationwide Series start with JR Motorsports. Bowman finished just outside of the top 10 in his first start with the team.

Busch was second quickest, followed by Jones, Brendan Gaughan and John Wes Townley. Brennan Newberry was sixth quickest, followed by Dillon, Larson Elliott and Smith.

The Nationwide Series will qualify on Saturday at 12:45 p.m. EST, with the race set to get the green flag at 4 p,m. EST