Photo Credit: Getty Images
Justin Allgaier showed in practice that perhaps he could be the next driver to lock himself in the NASCAR XFINITY Chase on Saturday morning as he led fina practice ahead of the ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond International Speedway later on today.
Allgaier would top the charts with a lap of 22.282 seconds behind the wheel of his No. 7 Brandt Chevrolet. So far he’s having a good consistent year with JR Motorsports as he hasn’t finished outside of the top-12 all season, with a top-10 in each of the last six races. He is also coming off of a strong finish at Bristol Motor Speedway after finishing fifth, notably the second best series regular. Richmond hasn’t been the best track for him in the past, though, as he has only three top-10s in 10 starts, highlighted by a third place finish in 2011.
He’d be followed on the charts by three Sprint Cup Series regulars – Fontana winner Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski and teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones would complete the top-six. Daniel Suarez currently leads the points standings, six points ahead of Jones. He has been solid so far this season, posting six top-10s in the first seven races this season. Though like Allgaier, the Virginia based track hasn’t treated him well in the past with only one top-10 in three past starts. Meanwhile Jones is coming off of a win at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend and has a good chance of going back-to-back like his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Busch did earlier this year with three in a rows. The youngster has the best average finish of all drivers at Richmond International Speedway, with a 4.5, after finishes of fourth and fifth in his first two starts. He has also been strong each weekend this year, posting five top-fives in seven starts to currently sit second in points.
Darrell Wallace Jr. was seventh, followed by Blake Koch, Elliott Sadler and Justin Marks.
2016 NXS ToyotaCare 250 Final Practice Session Speeds
| Pos | Car | Driver | Team | Time | Speed | Lap # | # Laps | -Fastest | -Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | Brandt Chevrolet | 22.282 | 121.174 | 4 | 53 | —.— | —.— |
| 2 | 2 | Austin Dillon(i) | Ruud Chevrolet | 22.389 | 120.595 | 4 | 61 | -0.107 | -0.107 |
| 3 | 22 | Brad Keselowski(i) | Discount Tire Ford | 22.392 | 120.579 | 6 | 41 | -0.11 | -0.003 |
| 4 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr.(i) | Hellmann’s Chevrolet | 22.395 | 120.563 | 7 | 45 | -0.113 | -0.003 |
| 5 | 19 | Daniel Suarez | Juniper Networks Toyota | 22.45 | 120.267 | 6 | 48 | -0.168 | -0.055 |
| 6 | 20 | Erik Jones # | Hisense USA Toyota | 22.453 | 120.251 | 9 | 41 | -0.171 | -0.003 |
| 7 | 6 | Darrell Wallace Jr. | Ford EcoBoost Ford | 22.461 | 120.208 | 4 | 47 | -0.179 | -0.008 |
| 8 | 11 | Blake Koch | LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet | 22.493 | 120.037 | 6 | 41 | -0.211 | -0.032 |
| 9 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | OneMain Financial Chevrolet | 22.502 | 119.989 | 6 | 49 | -0.22 | -0.009 |
| 10 | 42 | Justin Marks | Katerra Chevrolet | 22.52 | 119.893 | 4 | 69 | -0.238 | -0.018 |
| 11 | 48 | Brennan Poole # | DC Solar Chevrolet | 22.523 | 119.877 | 6 | 58 | -0.241 | -0.003 |
| 12 | 3 | Ty Dillon | WESCO Chevrolet | 22.552 | 119.723 | 5 | 56 | -0.27 | -0.029 |
| 13 | 43 | Jeb Burton | J. Streicher Ford | 22.573 | 119.612 | 7 | 43 | -0.291 | -0.021 |
| 14 | 93 | Josh Wise(i) | RSS Racing Chevrolet | 22.614 | 119.395 | 4 | 4 | -0.332 | -0.041 |
| 15 | 28 | Dakoda Armstrong | WinField Toyota | 22.663 | 119.137 | 4 | 29 | -0.381 | -0.049 |
| 16 | 18 | Matt Tifft(i) | NOS Energy Drink Toyota | 22.688 | 119.006 | 12 | 47 | -0.406 | -0.025 |
| 17 | 33 | Brandon Jones # | Chevrolet Military Discount Chevrolet | 22.704 | 118.922 | 5 | 65 | -0.422 | -0.016 |
| 18 | 44 | JJ Yeley | Zachry Toyota | 22.731 | 118.781 | 6 | 39 | -0.449 | -0.027 |
| 19 | 5 | Cole Custer(i) | Haas Automation Chevrolet | 22.769 | 118.582 | 4 | 47 | -0.487 | -0.038 |
| 20 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Lilly Diabetes/AmrcnDbtsAssctn Ford | 22.773 | 118.561 | 3 | 52 | -0.491 | -0.004 |
| 21 | 4 | Ross Chastain | Florida Watermelon Association Chevrolet | 22.811 | 118.364 | 9 | 41 | -0.529 | -0.038 |
| 22 | 1 | Ryan Preece # | GK Services Chevrolet | 22.899 | 117.909 | 12 | 34 | -0.617 | -0.088 |
| 23 | 14 | Jeff Green | Tri-Star Motorsports Toyota | 22.921 | 117.796 | 3 | 9 | -0.639 | -0.022 |
| 24 | 62 | Brendan Gaughan | South Point Chevrolet | 22.923 | 117.786 | 7 | 40 | -0.641 | -0.002 |
| 25 | 21 | Spencer Gallagher(i) | Water Pulse Chevrolet | 23.086 | 116.954 | 31 | 43 | -0.804 | -0.163 |
| 26 | 0 | Garrett Smithley # | teamjdmotorsports.com Chevrolet | 23.143 | 116.666 | 4 | 14 | -0.861 | -0.057 |
| 27 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | RepairableVehicles.com Chevrolet | 23.151 | 116.626 | 9 | 22 | -0.869 | -0.008 |
| 28 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing Chevrolet | 23.224 | 116.259 | 2 | 3 | -0.942 | -0.073 |
| 29 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Chevrolet | 23.233 | 116.214 | 5 | 10 | -0.951 | -0.009 |
| 30 | 15 | Travis Kvapil(i) | Corvetteparts.net Ford | 23.3 | 115.88 | 14 | 21 | -1.018 | -0.067 |
| 31 | 40 | Carl Long | TLC Vacation Club Dodge | 23.309 | 115.835 | 4 | 15 | -1.027 | -0.009 |
| 32 | 25 | Harrison Rhodes | Lilly Trucking/CarportEmpire.com Chevrolet | 23.393 | 115.419 | 7 | 23 | -1.111 | -0.084 |
| 33 | 97 | Ryan Ellis | Vroom Brands Chevrolet | 23.466 | 115.06 | 5 | 19 | -1.184 | -0.073 |
| 34 | 90 | Todd Peck | BuckedUp Ford | 23.541 | 114.694 | 6 | 21 | -1.259 | -0.075 |
| 35 | 52 | Joey Gase | Donate Life Virginia Chevrolet | 23.549 | 114.655 | 28 | 30 | -1.267 | -0.008 |
| 36 | 78 | BJ McLeod # | Main Gate Ford | 23.549 | 114.655 | 10 | 11 | -1.267 | 0 |
| 37 | 7 | Ray Black Jr. # | Scuba Life Chevrolet | 23.598 | 114.416 | 39 | 39 | -1.316 | -0.049 |
| 38 | 70 | Derrike Cope | Acredale Vending Chevrolet | 23.887 | 113.032 | 7 | 16 | -1.605 | -0.289 |
| 39 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Dodge | 23.888 | 113.027 | 4 | 16 | -1.606 | -0.001 |
| 40 | 13 | Timmy Hill(i) | Braille Battery/Grafoid Dodge | 25.143 | 107.386 | 8 | 12 | -2.861 | -1.255 |
(i) Ineligible for Driver Points in this Series
# Denotes Rookie
