Final Practice Speeds | Second Practice Speeds
Joey Logano swept both practice sessions on Saturday for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season finale Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The Championship 4 driver led the final practice with a lap of 171.701 mph on his first of 60 laps in the session. Logano also showed the way in best 10 consecutive lap average in both practices. He topped the day’s first session with a lap of 169.609 mph.
“I think we were pretty good,” said Logano. “I am not sure our last run was as good as I wanted it to be but I don’t think it was that bad. We will have to look at some more data to understand it better. The car has speed on the short run and hangs decent on the long run. We just made a couple of 30-lappers or so. We will just be doing some fine tuning from here. No wholesale changes which is good.”
Championship 4 driver Martin Truex Jr. was the second fastest in the final practice (170.584 mph) and second in best 10 consecutive lap average in that session. He was ninth fastest in the earlier practice.
“We made some really good gains on that short-run speed with our No. 78 Camry on that last run of practice,” Truex Jr. said. “It seemed to maintain throughout the run. We’re pretty happy with the speed, we just have to get it driving better.”
Championship contender Kyle Busch was third-best in the best 10 consecutive lap average in the final session.
“All of my guys are working hard to make this M&M’s Camry as strong as possible for tomorrow’s race,” said Busch, who was 12th fastest in the final practice. “We’ve made some small adjustments to get better for the race and we’re still chasing some speed, but I know they’ll make some good adjustments and be ready for tomorrow.”
Busch made contact with the wall late in final practice and sustained a little right-rear damage.
“They all look like that at some point during the weekend,” said Busch’s crew chief Adam Stevens. “Better in practice than in the race, but it’s just minor, minor damage. It’s nothing we can’t fix in short order.”
The No. 18 team will also have the first pit stall for the race after the No. 11 pole-winning Joe Gibbs Racing team selected the fourth stall.
“Obviously it’s great to have the number one pit stall for the race and I appreciate the teamwork by the guys on the 11,” Busch said. “Coach and everyone at JGR are focused on doing what they can to bring a championship for the company.”
The final Championship 4 driver Kevin Harvick was 28th and 24th, respectively, in the two practices. He was 10th in best 10 consecutive lap average in the final session.
“Honestly, it’s hasn’t really been that good, so you just have to keep working on it and see if we can make it better for tomorrow,” Harvick said.
Non-playoff drivers Brad Keselowski, Erik Jones and Aric Almirola rounded out the top five in final practice.
