Photo Credit: Mike Mercurio/OnPitRoad.com
In the final practice for the Drive to Stop Diabetes 300, it’d be Austin Dillon topping the charts with a lap of 15.423 seconds. The driver of the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet has been fast all this year in the XFINITY Series, highlighted by a win at Las Vegas early season.
Denny Hamlin, who led the first practice, was the second quickest, 0.019 seconds off of Dillon’s quick time. Rookie Daniel Saurez was third quickest as he continues to get used to the XFINITY cars. Chris Buescher and Brian Scott rounded out the top-five.
Texas winner Erik Jones was sixth quickest, followed by Ty Dillon, Brendan Gaughan and Chase Elliott. Both Dillon and Elliott ran into troubles during the session. Elliott tagged the wall early in the session, causing right rear damage to the NAPA Chevrolet. He was able to receive repairs and return to the track. Dillon, meanwhile, went for a spin during the second half of the session, tagging the wall slightly. He was able to make repairs as well without going to a back-up car. Joey Logano rounded out the top-10.
Kevin Harvick, was 13th quickest, and added his name to the drivers experiencing trouble in practice. A piece of the left front suspension broke, causing the car to drift up the track and causing him to slightly get into the wall. Brennan Poole also went for a spin, causing slight front splitter damage to his car.
2015 NXS Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 Final Practice Session Speeds
| Pos | Car | Driver | Team | Time | Speed | Lap # | # Laps | -Fastest | -Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | Austin Dillon(i) | Rheem Chevrolet | 15.423 | 124.412 | 55 | 98 | —.— | —.— |
| 2 | 54 | Denny Hamlin(i) | Monster Energy Toyota | 15.442 | 124.259 | 37 | 81 | -0.019 | -0.019 |
| 3 | 18 | Daniel Suarez # | ARRIS Toyota | 15.505 | 123.754 | 88 | 91 | -0.082 | -0.063 |
| 4 | 60 | Chris Buescher | Roush Performance Products Ford | 15.538 | 123.491 | 71 | 74 | -0.115 | -0.033 |
| 5 | 2 | Brian Scott | Shore Lodge Chevrolet | 15.606 | 122.953 | 70 | 78 | -0.183 | -0.068 |
| 6 | 20 | Erik Jones(i) | GameStop Toyota | 15.617 | 122.866 | 23 | 105 | -0.194 | -0.011 |
| 7 | 3 | Ty Dillon | Yuengling Light Chevrolet | 15.65 | 122.607 | 77 | 79 | -0.227 | -0.033 |
| 8 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | South Point Chevrolet | 15.66 | 122.529 | 11 | 39 | -0.237 | -0.01 |
| 9 | 9 | Chase Elliott | NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet | 15.665 | 122.49 | 74 | 75 | -0.242 | -0.005 |
| 10 | 22 | Joey Logano(i) | Discount Tire Ford | 15.692 | 122.279 | 42 | 103 | -0.269 | -0.027 |
| 11 | 6 | Darrell Wallace Jr. # | Ford EcoBoost Ford | 15.7 | 122.217 | 88 | 90 | -0.277 | -0.008 |
| 12 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | OneMain Financial Ford | 15.713 | 122.115 | 71 | 106 | -0.29 | -0.013 |
| 13 | 88 | Kevin Harvick(i) | Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet | 15.716 | 122.092 | 37 | 94 | -0.293 | -0.003 |
| 14 | 25 | John Wes Townley(i) | Zaxby’s Chevrolet | 15.716 | 122.092 | 70 | 72 | -0.293 | 0 |
| 15 | 7 | Regan Smith | TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet | 15.78 | 121.597 | 19 | 63 | -0.357 | -0.064 |
| 16 | 28 | JJ Yeley | Texas 28 Spirits Stage Toyota | 15.821 | 121.282 | 55 | 57 | -0.398 | -0.041 |
| 17 | 44 | David Starr | Zachry/BuildYourFuture.org Toyota | 15.823 | 121.267 | 48 | 51 | -0.4 | -0.002 |
| 18 | 1 | Landon Cassill | Flex Seal Chevrolet | 15.832 | 121.198 | 33 | 57 | -0.409 | -0.009 |
| 19 | 14 | Cale Conley # | IAVA Toyota | 15.853 | 121.037 | 46 | 47 | -0.43 | -0.021 |
| 20 | 55 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Viva Auto Group Chevrolet | 15.884 | 120.801 | 29 | 50 | -0.461 | -0.031 |
| 21 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Lilly/American Diabetes Association Ford | 15.902 | 120.664 | 60 | 62 | -0.479 | -0.018 |
| 22 | 90 | Todd Bodine | BigRig12.com Chevrolet | 15.912 | 120.588 | 31 | 36 | -0.489 | -0.01 |
| 23 | 4 | Ross Chastain # | teamjdmotorsports.com Chevrolet | 15.929 | 120.46 | 58 | 62 | -0.506 | -0.017 |
| 24 | 43 | Dakoda Armstrong | WinField Ford | 15.938 | 120.392 | 42 | 97 | -0.515 | -0.009 |
| 25 | 42 | Brennan Poole | DC Solar Chevrolet | 15.945 | 120.339 | 91 | 98 | -0.522 | -0.007 |
| 26 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | AllSouthElectric.com/RprbleVhcls.com Chev | 15.949 | 120.308 | 44 | 58 | -0.526 | -0.004 |
| 27 | 24 | Eric McClure | Hefty/Reynolds Wrap Toyota | 15.965 | 120.188 | 57 | 58 | -0.542 | -0.016 |
| 28 | 97 | Peyton Sellers # | Obaika Racing Chevrolet | 16.003 | 119.903 | 49 | 52 | -0.58 | -0.038 |
| 29 | 19 | Mike Bliss | TriStar Motorsports Toyota | 16.005 | 119.888 | 30 | 55 | -0.582 | -0.002 |
| 30 | 0 | Harrison Rhodes # | Flex Seal Chevrolet | 16.039 | 119.633 | 20 | 49 | -0.616 | -0.034 |
| 31 | 8 | Blake Koch | LeafFilter Gutter Protection Toyota | 16.113 | 119.084 | 34 | 48 | -0.69 | -0.074 |
| 32 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | Uncle Bob’s Self Storage Chevrolet | 16.131 | 118.951 | 59 | 60 | -0.708 | -0.018 |
| 33 | 10 | Jeff Green | TriStar Motorsports Toyota | 16.243 | 118.131 | 10 | 12 | -0.82 | -0.112 |
| 34 | 52 | Joey Gase | Donate Life/DB Sales Company Chevrolet | 16.271 | 117.928 | 10 | 19 | -0.848 | -0.028 |
| 35 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | King’s Tire Chevrolet | 16.431 | 116.779 | 22 | 28 | -1.008 | -0.16 |
| 36 | 40 | C. Long / D. White | Braille Battery Grafoid Dodge | 16.456 | 116.602 | 8 | 34 | -1.033 | -0.025 |
| 37 | 13 | Timmy Hill(i) | Braille Battery Grafoid Toyota | 16.738 | 114.637 | 6 | 9 | -1.315 | -0.282 |
| 38 | 15 | Carlos Contreras | Lilly Trucking/Dawg-Fight.com Chevrolet | 16.761 | 114.48 | 34 | 39 | -1.338 | -0.023 |
| 39 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Absolute Machines Dodge | 17.053 | 112.52 | 19 | 22 | -1.63 | -0.292 |
(i) Ineligible for Driver Points in this Series
# Denotes Rookie
Source: Timing and Scoring provided by NASCARMedia/NASCAR Statistics
– See more at: http://www.catchfence.com/2015/xfinity/04/17/2015-nxs-drive-to-stop-diabetes-300-final-practice-session-speeds/#sthash.irJ50ZrR.dpuf
RT @OnPitRoad_: NXS: Austin Dillon Leads Final Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 Final Practice by @ladybug388 http://t.co/gIy2HuFB5g