Kyle Busch Heads Final 2023 Cup Series Practice

Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford, speaks to the media during the NASCAR Championship Media Day at Phoenix Raceway on November 02, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

(PHOENIX, AZ – NOV 3. 2023 – RIS) Kyle Busch topped the charts in practice for the season-ending and championship-deciding NASCAR Cup Series race, setting a fastest lap time of 27.520 seconds and 130.814 mph. Bubba Wallace was second, 0.029 second back, followed by Ryan Blaney.

AJ Allmendinger touched Kyle Busch when Busch appeared to push high and lift off the throttle in the fourth turn, sending ‘Dinger into a spin on the front straight and briefly halting the final Cup Series practice session of the 2023 season. Before the contact, Busch had set the top speed on the track with a lap of 27.520 seconds at a lap speed of 130.814 mph. In spite of the incident, Busch maintained his position at the top of the time chart, followed by Bubba Wallace, at 27.549 seconds and 130.676 mph. Ryan Blaney, the fastest championship four driver in practice, was third with a lap of 27.602 seconds, followed by Christopher Bell. Bell’s fastest lap was identical to Blaney’s but Blaney set his time earlier in the session. William Byron ran seventh and Kyle Larson, who toucbed the wall gently, ran eleventh.

Practice: NASCAR Cup Series Championship - Phoenix Raceway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Kyle Busch, No. 8 3CHI Chevrolet, 27.520 sec, 130.814 mph, 3, 61, ---.---, ---.---
2) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota, 27.549, 130.676, 3, 69, -0.029, -0.029
3) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford, 27.602, 130.425, 4, 63, -0.082, -0.053
4) Christopher Bell (P), No. 20 Rheem/DEWALT Toyota, 27.612, 130.378, 4, 50, -0.092, -0.010
5) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 27.612, 130.378, 3, 67, -0.092, -0.000
6) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 27.677, 130.072, 5, 61, -0.157, -0.065
7) William Byron (P), No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet, 27.690, 130.011, 3, 59, -0.170, -0.013
8) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota Toyota, 27.690, 130.011, 26, 50, -0.170, -0.000
9) Ty Gibbs #, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 27.701, 129.959, 22, 39, -0.181, -0.011
10) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Castrol Edge Ford, 27.725, 129.847, 3, 62, -0.205, -0.024
11) Kyle Larson (P), No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 27.725, 129.847, 4, 50, -0.205, -0.000
12) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light Harvick Ford, 27.728, 129.833, 3, 60, -0.208, -0.003
13) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 27.745, 129.753, 4, 51, -0.225, -0.017
14) Harrison Burton, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 27.747, 129.744, 3, 55, -0.227, -0.002
15) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet, 27.750, 129.730, 2, 35, -0.230, -0.003
16) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's/Delo Ford, 27.757, 129.697, 33, 51, -0.237, -0.007
17) Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Allways Rewards Chevrolet, 27.761, 129.678, 3, 37, -0.241, -0.004
18) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Toyota, 27.761, 129.678, 3, 35, -0.241, -0.000
19) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 27.785, 129.566, 3, 58, -0.265, -0.024
20) Justin Haley, No. 31 Campers Inn RV Chevrolet, 27.790, 129.543, 6, 28, -0.270, -0.005
21) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 27.791, 129.538, 7, 49, -0.271, -0.001
22) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 27.798, 129.506, 2, 62, -0.278, -0.007
23) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Fry's/Cheez-It Chevrolet, 27.823, 129.389, 5, 38, -0.303, -0.025
24) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 27.824, 129.385, 1, 35, -0.304, -0.001
25) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 27.845, 129.287, 2, 68, -0.325, -0.021
26) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 27.861, 129.213, 2, 46, -0.341, -0.016
27) Carson Hocevar(i), No. 42 Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet, 27.863, 129.204, 37, 60, -0.343, -0.002
28) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 27.864, 129.199, 4, 59, -0.344, -0.001
29) Ryan Preece, No. 41 United Rentals Ford, 27.868, 129.180, 31, 46, -0.348, -0.004
30) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 NEGU Chevrolet, 27.869, 129.176, 2, 43, -0.349, -0.001
31) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 27.946, 128.820, 18, 43, -0.426, -0.077
32) Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Boot Barn Ford, 27.995, 128.594, 19, 35, -0.475, -0.049
33) Ty Dillon, No. 77 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 28.098, 128.123, 28, 44, -0.578, -0.103
34) JJ Yeley(i), No. 15 Total Point/Patriot Mobile Ford, 28.114, 128.050, 2, 40, -0.594, -0.016
35) BJ McLeod(i), No. 78 Pala Casino Chevrolet, 28.223, 127.556, 4, 21, -0.703, -0.109
36) Ryan Newman(i), No. 51 Serial 1 E-Bikes Ford, 28.324, 127.101, 4, 31, -0.804, -0.101No. 

Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average
Pos, Driver, Car, From Lap, To Lap, Avg Speed
1) Christopher Bell (P), No. 20 Rheem/DEWALT Toyota, 2, 11, 129.600 mph
2) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford, 1, 10, 129.514
3) William Byron (P), No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet, 1, 10, 129.178
4) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light Harvick Ford, 2, 11, 129.135
5) Kyle Busch, No. 8 3CHI Chevrolet, 1, 10, 129.134
6) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 1, 10, 129.031
7) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Castrol Edge Ford, 2, 11, 128.869
8) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 2, 11, 128.801
9) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 3, 12, 128.798
10) Kyle Larson (P), No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 1, 10, 128.767
11) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota Toyota, 2, 11, 128.739
12) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota, 27, 36, 128.602
13) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's/Delo Ford, 1, 10, 128.592
14) Ty Gibbs #, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 21, 30, 128.592
15) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 1, 10, 128.490
16) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 2, 11, 128.487
17) Ryan Preece, No. 41 United Rentals Ford, 1, 10, 128.441
18) Carson Hocevar(i), No. 42 Sunseeker Resorts Chevrolet, 24, 33, 128.431
19) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 22, 31, 128.431
20) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Toyota, 1, 10, 128.390
21) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 21, 30, 128.380
22) Harrison Burton, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 15, 24, 128.371
23) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Fry's/Cheez-It Chevrolet, 1, 10, 128.199
24) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 1, 10, 128.069
25) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 3, 12, 128.020
26) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet, 1, 10, 128.001
27) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 11, 20, 127.941
28) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 1, 10, 127.891
29) Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Boot Barn Ford, 17, 26, 127.598
30) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 NEGU Chevrolet, 21, 30, 127.577
31) Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Allways Rewards Chevrolet, 23, 32, 127.563
32) JJ Yeley(i), No. 15 Total Point/Patriot Mobile Ford, 2, 11, 126.811
33) Ty Dillon, No. 77 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 1, 10, 126.362
Must run 10 consecutive laps to be included