Photo Credit: Noel Lanier
At the end of the first practice for the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, it’d be Ricky Stenhouse Jr. topping the charts. The Roush Fenway Racing driver is looking for a good run this weekend following a 28th place finish at Richmond International Raceway.
Michael Waltrip was second quickest as he fills in for Brian Vickers behind the wheel of the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota this weekend. Chris Busecher was third quickest as he continues his role of interim driver with Front Row Motorsports in the No. 34 CSX/Play it Safe Ford. Denny Hamlin was fourth quickest, followed by David Ragan. Ragan has driven the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing since the second race of the season, filling in for Kyle Busch. This marks Ragan’s final weekend in the ride, though, as he will be shift over with Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 55 while Erik Jones steps behind the wheel of the No. 18.
Danica Patrick was sixth quickest after sponsor Go Daddy announced earlier this week they will not return for 2016, followed by Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer, Trevor Bayne and Michael McDowell.
2015 NSCS GEICO 500 First Practice Session Speeds
| Pos | Car | Driver | Team | Time | Speed | Lap # | # Laps | -Fastest | -Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Fifth Third Bank Ford | 47.694 | 200.78 | 23 | 32 | —.— | —.— |
| 2 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota | 47.703 | 200.742 | 13 | 13 | -0.009 | -0.009 |
| 3 | 34 | Chris Buescher(i) | CSX/Play It Safe Ford | 47.816 | 200.268 | 22 | 29 | -0.122 | -0.113 |
| 4 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | FedEx Express Toyota | 47.958 | 199.675 | 22 | 33 | -0.264 | -0.142 |
| 5 | 18 | David Ragan | Pedigree Toyota | 47.961 | 199.662 | 6 | 28 | -0.267 | -0.003 |
| 6 | 10 | Danica Patrick | GoDaddy Chevrolet | 47.966 | 199.641 | 6 | 21 | -0.272 | -0.005 |
| 7 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Farmers Insurance Chevrolet | 47.971 | 199.621 | 6 | 32 | -0.277 | -0.005 |
| 8 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | PEAK Commercial & Industrial Toyota | 47.99 | 199.542 | 8 | 17 | -0.296 | -0.019 |
| 9 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | AdvoCare Ford | 48.008 | 199.467 | 18 | 28 | -0.314 | -0.018 |
| 10 | 95 | Michael McDowell | Thrivent Financial Ford | 48.139 | 198.924 | 10 | 11 | -0.445 | -0.131 |
| 11 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger | Kroger/Hungry Jack Chevrolet | 48.155 | 198.858 | 13 | 13 | -0.461 | -0.016 |
| 12 | 27 | Paul Menard | Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet | 48.16 | 198.837 | 21 | 31 | -0.466 | -0.005 |
| 13 | 19 | Carl Edwards | ARRIS Toyota | 48.167 | 198.808 | 13 | 20 | -0.473 | -0.007 |
| 14 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Miller Lite Ford | 48.213 | 198.619 | 14 | 32 | -0.519 | -0.046 |
| 15 | 22 | Joey Logano | Shell Pennzoil Ford | 48.215 | 198.61 | 15 | 27 | -0.521 | -0.002 |
| 16 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Nationwide Chevrolet | 48.305 | 198.24 | 15 | 32 | -0.611 | -0.09 |
| 17 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Target Chevrolet | 48.331 | 198.134 | 14 | 28 | -0.637 | -0.026 |
| 18 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet | 48.339 | 198.101 | 3 | 26 | -0.645 | -0.008 |
| 19 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet | 48.395 | 197.872 | 15 | 22 | -0.701 | -0.056 |
| 20 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Dollar General Toyota | 48.463 | 197.594 | 9 | 22 | -0.769 | -0.068 |
| 21 | 46 | Michael Annett | Bene-fit Chevrolet | 48.498 | 197.451 | 12 | 23 | -0.804 | -0.035 |
| 22 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Haas Automation Chevrolet | 48.525 | 197.342 | 7 | 25 | -0.831 | -0.027 |
| 23 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ortho Ford | 48.554 | 197.224 | 18 | 23 | -0.86 | -0.029 |
| 24 | 38 | David Gilliland | Farm Rich Ford | 48.562 | 197.191 | 7 | 22 | -0.868 | -0.008 |
| 25 | 21 | Ryan Blaney(i) | Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford | 48.569 | 197.163 | 7 | 20 | -0.875 | -0.007 |
| 26 | 35 | Cole Whitt | Speed Stick Ford | 48.579 | 197.122 | 7 | 18 | -0.885 | -0.01 |
| 27 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Fresh from Florida Ford | 48.592 | 197.069 | 11 | 15 | -0.898 | -0.013 |
| 28 | 51 | Justin Allgaier | Brandt Chevrolet | 48.598 | 197.045 | 15 | 23 | -0.904 | -0.006 |
| 29 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | McDonald’s Chevrolet | 48.65 | 196.835 | 4 | 25 | -0.956 | -0.052 |
| 30 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row/Visser Protection Chevrolet | 48.659 | 196.798 | 9 | 14 | -0.965 | -0.009 |
| 31 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet | 48.669 | 196.758 | 18 | 24 | -0.975 | -0.01 |
| 32 | 40 | Landon Cassill(i) | Chevrolet | 48.695 | 196.653 | 11 | 17 | -1.001 | -0.026 |
| 33 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Caterpillar Chevrolet | 48.723 | 196.54 | 12 | 17 | -1.029 | -0.028 |
| 34 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet | 48.772 | 196.342 | 9 | 14 | -1.078 | -0.049 |
| 35 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Lowe’s Chevrolet | 49.869 | 192.023 | 9 | 20 | -2.175 | -1.097 |
| 36 | 9 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Medallion Bank Ford | 50.086 | 191.191 | 9 | 9 | -2.392 | -0.217 |
| 37 | 33 | Brian Scott(i) | Shore Lodge Chevrolet | 50.186 | 190.81 | 4 | 12 | -2.492 | -0.1 |
| 38 | 98 | Josh Wise | Phoenix Construction Ford | 50.342 | 190.219 | 8 | 8 | -2.648 | -0.156 |
| 39 | 32 | Bobby Labonte | C&J Energy Services Ford | 50.469 | 189.74 | 4 | 12 | -2.775 | -0.127 |
| 40 | 7 | Alex Bowman | Golden Corral Chevrolet | 50.494 | 189.646 | 6 | 6 | -2.8 | -0.025 |
| 41 | 13 | Casey Mears | GEICO Chevrolet | 50.497 | 189.635 | 9 | 14 | -2.803 | -0.003 |
| 42 | 23 | JJ Yeley(i) | Dr Pepper Toyota | 50.806 | 188.482 | 5 | 5 | -3.112 | -0.309 |
| 43 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan(i) | Dia Thrive Chevrolet | 50.847 | 188.33 | 2 | 4 | -3.153 | -0.041 |
| 44 | 83 | Matt DiBenedetto # | Dustless Blasting Toyota | 51.17 | 187.141 | 2 | 2 | -3.476 | -0.323 |
| 45 | 26 | Jeb Burton # | Maxim Fantasy Sports Toyota | 51.202 | 187.024 | 12 | 12 | -3.508 | -0.032 |
(i) Ineligible for Driver Points in this Series
# Denotes Rookie
Source: Timing and Scoring provided by NASCARMedia/NASCAR Statistics
