Update: Second Practice Session Canceled – Las Vegas Schedule
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers now turn their attention to getting ready for Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 after a “stressful” qualifying session on Friday.
The three-round qualifying session was held with the full new rules package and many used the draft to advance up the starting grid.
“It is stressful,” Jimmie Johnson said after Friday’s chaotic qualifying. “We had qualifying like this I think on a restrictor-plate track years ago. And I think it was great entertainment, but we were all afraid of how many cars we were going to tear up.
“So far, no cars are torn up, but I think that opportunity really exists. It is entertaining. There is much more going on for the driver than a single car qualifying lap especially with this rules package, but the draft is everything. Being the first car is such a disadvantage and you try to figure out what games you can play to leave a nice game and be fifth on back.”
See Also: Harvick Wins Vegas Pole
Austin Dillon had one of the fastest cars in practice and in qualifying trim, but that was mostly in single car runs.
“I hate that, but we will hopefully learn from it because I’m really proud of these guys,” said Dillon, who wound up qualifying fourth, one spot ahead of his RCR teammate Daniel Hemric. “It sucks when you have the two fastest cars and you qualifying fourth and fifth with them.
“We had the pole we thought that whoever was the fastest in the second round was going to run second and we were just going to go. I didn’t think anybody had anything for us, but plans changed right before the end.”
Starting Lineup | Paint Schemes
Kyle Busch gave his thoughts on the qualifying session prior to going out and winning Friday night’s Gander Outdoors Truck Series race.
“Whatever the fans like,” said Busch, who qualified third. “That’s what it’s all about, I guess. It’s interesting. It’s not about the fastest car, it’s about putting yourself in the right position and you have to have some luck on your side to get to the start-finish before time runs out.
“It’s stressful and not as easy as it would be I guess if we were all by ourselves. But that’s what we’re doing.”
Two practice sessions will be held on Saturday, but rain is in the forecast.
