Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Bank of America 500
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October 15, 2011 @ 12:21:06
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By Brian Polking
If there is a Cinderella story in this year’s Chase, it has to be Brad Keselowski. After struggling in the Cup Series for more than a year, he exploded in the second half of 2011, winning three races and making the playoffs for the first time in his career. His incredible run hasn’t stopped yet, and Keselowski finds himself in the thick of the title fight. Considering he topped the charts in the opening practice session at Charlotte Friday, he probably isn’t going away any time soon either.
Three-time Charlotte winner Kasey Kahne was second on the charts, followed by Ryan Newman. Kahne definitely has some sleeper value given his history of success, but Newman has really struggled at Charlotte in recent years. If owners are going to pick one of the two drivers this weekend, Kahne is the way to go given his upside.
Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart rounded out the top five. Busch can be boom or bust at Charlotte and at 1.5-mile tracks in general, but when he finds the setup, he can be dominant. Meanwhile, Stewart has to be considered one of the top fantasy options this weekend. He won the pole Friday, and since he maintained his speed in race trim, "Smoke" could be in for a big night.
Not to mention the fact that Stewart posted the best 10-lap average speed in the first practice. He was followed by sleeper candidate David Reutimann and six-time Charlotte winner Jimmie Johnson. Johnson is a no-brainer pick for fantasy owners, but with five straight top-15 finishes at Charlotte, including a win, Reutimann is an underrated option as well. Paul Menard and Keselowski rounded out the top five.
In Happy Hour, Kahne climbed to the top of the charts, posting the fastest lap. Menard ranked second, and Greg Biffle was third on the charts. Biffle had a strong car at Charlotte in May before running out of gas late, and he could be a sneaky source for a top-10 finish. Johnson and Burton rounded out the top five in the final session, but owners should be leery of Burton. He complained about the handling of his car during practice, even though he had a fast lap.
Kahne led the way in terms of 10-lap average speed in Happy Hour as well, cementing his status as a legitimate fantasy option. Biffle and Menard ranked second and third, while Regan Smith and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five. Smith has some sleeper value this weekend and has improved his result in his last three starts at Charlotte. Meanwhile, Harvick is gunning for a season sweep this weekend after winning the Coca-Cola 600 in May.
Owners wondering about Charlotte ace Kyle Busch don’t need to panic. He turned the sixth-fastest lap in Happy Hour, and he ranked eighth in terms of 10-lap average speed in both sessions Saturday. With seven top-10 finishes in his last eight starts at Charlotte, Busch is one of the top options this weekend.
Happy Hour Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)
Rk indicates Best Lap standing
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Team
|
Best Lap
|
Best Time
|
Avg. Speed
|
Laps
|
|
23
|
77
|
|
HOD Ford
|
186.374
|
28.974
|
185.403
|
5
|
|
3
|
16
|
|
3M Give Kids A Smile Ford
|
187.344
|
28.824
|
185.398
|
35
|
|
27
|
21
|
|
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
|
186.130
|
29.012
|
184.902
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37
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|
1
|
4
|
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Red Bull Toyota
|
188.153
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28.700
|
184.847
|
45
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2
|
27
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CertainTeed/Menards Chevrolet
|
187.905
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28.738
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184.823
|
31
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|
4
|
48
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|
Lowe's/Chevrolet 100th Anniversary Chevrolet
|
187.285
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28.833
|
184.670
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52
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|
21
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5
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GoDaddy.com/Chevrolet 100th Anniversary
|
186.483
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28.957
|
184.657
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39
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20
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88
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AMP Energy/National Guard/Chevrolet 100th
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186.516
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28.952
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184.637
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43
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25
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29
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Jimmy John's Chevrolet
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186.175
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29.005
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184.637
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40
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9
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43
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Best Buy Ford
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186.922
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28.889
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184.616
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40
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17
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6
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UPS Freight Ford
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186.593
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28.940
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184.564
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38
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16
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14
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Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
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186.606
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28.938
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184.540
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40
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7
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9
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Stanley Bostitch Ford
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186.974
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28.881
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184.535
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41
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|
14
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00
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Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
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186.696
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28.924
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184.476
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46
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24
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33
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Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
|
186.258
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28.992
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184.433
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22
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19
|
99
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Aflac Now Hiring Ford
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186.574
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28.943
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184.350
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31
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26
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17
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Fluidmaster Ford
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186.168
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29.006
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184.131
|
43
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22
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11
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FedEx Express Toyota
|
186.425
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28.966
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184.129
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46
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18
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2
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Miller Lite Dodge
|
186.587
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28.941
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184.116
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41
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11
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78
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186.812
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28.906
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184.108
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48
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36
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30
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184.780
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29.224
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184.087
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3
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10
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22
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Shell Pennzoil Ultra Dodge
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186.890
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28.894
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184.025
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29
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13
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18
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M&M's Toyota
|
186.748
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28.916
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184.003
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57
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29
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42
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Target Chevrolet
|
185.848
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29.056
|
183.940
|
29
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8
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24
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Drive To End Hunger/Chevrolet 100th Anniversary
|
186.935
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28.887
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183.803
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54
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12
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56
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NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
|
186.806
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28.907
|
183.789
|
48
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|
15
|
83
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Red Bull Toyota
|
186.612
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28.937
|
183.788
|
45
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6
|
39
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cookies for kid's cancer Chevrolet
|
186.994
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28.878
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183.669
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46
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30
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20
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The Home Depot Toyota
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185.688
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29.081
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183.556
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36
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35
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1
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Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevrolet
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185.027
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29.185
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183.445
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24
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28
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51
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Phoenix Construction/Thank A Teacher Today
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185.957
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29.039
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183.272
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44
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31
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13
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GEICO Toyota
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185.637
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29.089
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183.260
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30
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5
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31
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Caterpillar Chevrolet
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187.143
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28.855
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183.136
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59
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39
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55
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Ingersoll Rand Ford
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184.225
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29.312
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183.115
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19
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37
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66
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184.256
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29.307
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183.027
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23
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43
|
87
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AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves
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183.219
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29.473
|
182.753
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2
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34
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38
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Long John Silver's Ford
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185.192
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29.159
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182.474
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26
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32
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47
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Lance Snacks/Tom's Toyota
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185.382
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29.129
|
182.466
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37
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38
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7
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SPEED Energy/Harris Teeter Dodge
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184.231
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29.311
|
182.254
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7
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|
33
|
34
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Tasty Kake Ford
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185.236
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29.152
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182.129
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30
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|
42
|
32
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Street King Ford
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183.592
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29.413
|
181.548
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24
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|
41
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36
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Golden Corral Chevrolet
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183.617
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29.409
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181.532
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30
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|
40
|
71
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Susan G Komen for the Cure Ford
|
184.024
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29.344
|
180.476
|
26
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10-Lap Average Speeds (must run 10 consecutive laps)
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Rk
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Car
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Driver
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From Lap
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To Lap
|
Avg. Speed
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1
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4
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1
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10
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185.598
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2
|
16
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1
|
10
|
185.550
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|
3
|
27
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|
1
|
10
|
185.537
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|
4
|
78
|
|
30
|
39
|
185.522
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|
5
|
29
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1
|
10
|
185.407
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|
6
|
14
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1
|
10
|
185.397
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|
7
|
48
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|
1
|
10
|
185.397
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|
8
|
18
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|
37
|
46
|
185.282
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|
9
|
43
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|
26
|
35
|
185.150
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|
10
|
56
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|
1
|
10
|
184.995
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|
11
|
39
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|
1
|
10
|
184.907
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|
12
|
00
|
|
1
|
10
|
184.898
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|
13
|
11
|
|
33
|
42
|
184.807
|
|
14
|
6
|
|
28
|
37
|
184.746
|
|
15
|
5
|
|
23
|
32
|
184.696
|
|
16
|
9
|
|
26
|
35
|
184.492
|
|
17
|
24
|
|
40
|
49
|
184.331
|
|
18
|
99
|
|
22
|
31
|
184.128
|
|
19
|
17
|
|
26
|
35
|
184.099
|
|
20
|
42
|
|
17
|
26
|
183.951
|
|
21
|
20
|
|
24
|
33
|
183.786
|
|
22
|
13
|
|
1
|
10
|
183.579
|
|
23
|
66
|
|
9
|
18
|
183.354
|
|
24
|
38
|
|
1
|
10
|
182.978
|
|
25
|
31
|
|
9
|
18
|
182.871
|
|
26
|
34
|
|
1
|
10
|
182.148
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First Practice Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)
Rk indicates Best Lap standing
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Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
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Team
|
Best Lap
|
Best Time
|
Avg. Speed
|
Laps
|
|
15
|
6
|
|
UPS Freight Ford
|
186.410
|
28.970
|
185.069
|
27
|
|
12
|
5
|
|
GoDaddy.com/Chevrolet 100th Anniversary
|
186.450
|
28.960
|
184.748
|
23
|
|
28
|
78
|
|
|
185.450
|
29.120
|
184.737
|
29
|
|
17
|
16
|
|
3M Give Kids A Smile Ford
|
186.350
|
28.980
|
184.712
|
35
|
|
36
|
13
|
|
GEICO Toyota
|
184.120
|
29.330
|
184.557
|
23
|
|
20
|
11
|
|
FedEx Express Toyota
|
186.100
|
29.020
|
184.413
|
18
|
|
39
|
66
|
|
|
183.680
|
29.400
|
184.398
|
5
|
|
27
|
7
|
|
SPEED Energy/Harris Teeter Dodge
|
185.520
|
29.110
|
184.350
|
2
|
|
19
|
29
|
|
Jimmy John's Chevrolet
|
186.310
|
28.980
|
184.282
|
23
|
|
34
|
47
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|
Lance Snacks/Tom's Toyota
|
184.360
|
29.290
|
184.133
|
26
|
|
35
|
34
|
|
Tasty Kake Ford
|
184.270
|
29.310
|
184.076
|
11
|
|
8
|
00
|
|
Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
|
186.620
|
28.940
|
184.070
|
40
|
|
6
|
18
|
|
M&M's Toyota
|
186.750
|
28.920
|
184.010
|
45
|
|
38
|
30
|
|
|
183.710
|
29.400
|
183.969
|
4
|
|
24
|
17
|
|
Fluidmaster Ford
|
185.670
|
29.080
|
183.873
|
27
|
|
30
|
51
|
|
Phoenix Construction/Thank A Teacher Today
|
185.200
|
29.160
|
183.807
|
21
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|
4
|
22
|
|
Shell Pennzoil Ultra Dodge
|
187.250
|
28.840
|
183.757
|
37
|
|
18
|
99
|
|
Aflac Now Hiring Ford
|
186.310
|
28.980
|
183.644
|
25
|
|
21
|
1
|
|
Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevrolet
|
186.090
|
29.020
|
183.637
|
34
|
|
26
|
20
|
|
The Home Depot Toyota
|
185.610
|
29.090
|
183.635
|
25
|
|
32
|
24
|
|
Drive To End Hunger/Chevrolet 100th Anniversary
|
184.940
|
29.200
|
183.567
|
33
|
|
2
|
4
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
187.390
|
28.820
|
183.359
|
27
|
|
23
|
42
|
|
Target Chevrolet
|
185.860
|
29.050
|
183.319
|
22
|
|
37
|
55
|
|
Ingersoll Rand Ford
|
183.810
|
29.380
|
183.235
|
6
|
|
1
|
2
|
|
Miller Lite Dodge
|
187.440
|
28.810
|
183.223
|
32
|
|
13
|
83
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
186.430
|
28.970
|
183.155
|
38
|
|
40
|
32
|
|
Street King Ford
|
182.810
|
29.540
|
183.146
|
17
|
|
22
|
27
|
|
CertainTeed/Menards Chevrolet
|
186.070
|
29.020
|
183.080
|
24
|
|
41
|
71
|
|
Susan G Komen for the Cure Ford
|
181.120
|
29.820
|
183.020
|
16
|
|
14
|
43
|
|
Best Buy Ford
|
186.420
|
28.970
|
182.973
|
24
|
|
42
|
87
|
|
AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves
|
179.480
|
30.090
|
182.912
|
6
|
|
5
|
14
|
|
Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
|
186.810
|
28.910
|
182.758
|
26
|
|
11
|
9
|
|
Stanley Bostitch Ford
|
186.560
|
28.950
|
182.713
|
25
|
|
29
|
31
|
|
Caterpillar Chevrolet
|
185.240
|
29.150
|
182.678
|
36
|
|
25
|
21
|
|
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
|
185.640
|
29.090
|
182.609
|
35
|
|
9
|
56
|
|
NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
|
186.590
|
28.940
|
182.323
|
22
|
|
33
|
36
|
|
Golden Corral Chevrolet
|
184.610
|
29.250
|
182.062
|
20
|
|
10
|
48
|
|
Lowe's/Chevrolet 100th Anniversary Chevrolet
|
186.570
|
28.940
|
182.040
|
42
|
|
3
|
39
|
|
cookies for kid's cancer Chevrolet
|
187.270
|
28.840
|
181.503
|
34
|
|
16
|
33
|
|
Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
|
186.360
|
28.980
|
181.432
|
20
|
|
31
|
88
|
|
AMP Energy/National Guard/Chevrolet 100th
|
185.050
|
29.180
|
178.101
|
18
|
|
7
|
77
|
|
HOD Ford
|
186.740
|
28.920
|
175.557
|
5
|
10-Lap Average Speeds (must run 10 consecutive laps)
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
From Lap
|
To Lap
|
Avg. Speed
|
|
1
|
14
|
|
1
|
10
|
185.329
|
|
2
|
00
|
|
1
|
10
|
185.224
|
|
3
|
48
|
|
1
|
10
|
185.154
|
|
4
|
27
|
|
1
|
10
|
185.069
|
|
5
|
2
|
|
1
|
10
|
184.918
|
|
6
|
83
|
|
1
|
10
|
184.577
|
|
7
|
22
|
|
1
|
10
|
184.536
|
|
8
|
18
|
|
27
|
36
|
184.306
|
|
9
|
31
|
|
26
|
35
|
184.002
|
|
10
|
24
|
|
24
|
33
|
183.795
|
|
11
|
1
|
|
14
|
23
|
183.746
|
|
12
|
39
|
|
22
|
31
|
183.186
|
|
13
|
13
|
|
1
|
10
|
183.086
|
|
14
|
16
|
|
18
|
27
|
182.627
|
|
15
|
34
|
|
1
|
10
|
182.134
|
Combined Average Speeds (weighted by # of laps run in each session)
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Team
|
Average Speed
|
Total Laps
|
|
16
|
|
3M Give Kids A Smile Ford
|
185.055
|
70
|
|
6
|
|
UPS Freight Ford
|
184.774
|
65
|
|
5
|
|
GoDaddy.com/Chevrolet 100th Anniversary
|
184.691
|
62
|
|
29
|
|
Jimmy John's Chevrolet
|
184.507
|
63
|
|
78
|
|
|
184.345
|
77
|
|
4
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
184.289
|
72
|
|
00
|
|
Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
|
184.287
|
86
|
|
11
|
|
FedEx Express Toyota
|
184.209
|
64
|
|
27
|
|
CertainTeed/Menards Chevrolet
|
184.062
|
55
|
|
99
|
|
Aflac Now Hiring Ford
|
184.035
|
56
|
|
17
|
|
Fluidmaster Ford
|
184.031
|
70
|
|
30
|
|
|
184.020
|
7
|
|
18
|
|
M&M's Toyota
|
184.006
|
102
|
|
43
|
|
Best Buy Ford
|
184.000
|
64
|
|
22
|
|
Shell Pennzoil Ultra Dodge
|
183.875
|
66
|
|
9
|
|
Stanley Bostitch Ford
|
183.845
|
66
|
|
14
|
|
Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
|
183.838
|
66
|
|
13
|
|
GEICO Toyota
|
183.823
|
53
|
|
21
|
|
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
|
183.787
|
72
|
|
2
|
|
Miller Lite Dodge
|
183.725
|
73
|
|
24
|
|
Drive To End Hunger/Chevrolet 100th Anniversary
|
183.713
|
87
|
|
42
|
|
Target Chevrolet
|
183.672
|
51
|
|
20
|
|
The Home Depot Toyota
|
183.588
|
61
|
|
1
|
|
Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevrolet
|
183.558
|
58
|
|
83
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
183.498
|
83
|
|
48
|
|
Lowe's/Chevrolet 100th Anniversary Chevrolet
|
183.495
|
94
|
|
51
|
|
Phoenix Construction/Thank A Teacher Today
|
183.445
|
65
|
|
56
|
|
NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
|
183.328
|
70
|
|
66
|
|
|
183.272
|
28
|
|
47
|
|
Lance Snacks/Tom's Toyota
|
183.154
|
63
|
|
55
|
|
Ingersoll Rand Ford
|
183.144
|
25
|
|
33
|
|
Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
|
183.004
|
42
|
|
31
|
|
Caterpillar Chevrolet
|
182.962
|
95
|
|
87
|
|
AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves
|
182.872
|
8
|
|
39
|
|
cookies for kid's cancer Chevrolet
|
182.748
|
80
|
|
7
|
|
SPEED Energy/Harris Teeter Dodge
|
182.720
|
9
|
|
88
|
|
AMP Energy/National Guard/Chevrolet 100th
|
182.708
|
61
|
|
34
|
|
Tasty Kake Ford
|
182.651
|
41
|
|
38
|
|
Long John Silver's Ford
|
182.474
|
26
|
|
32
|
|
Street King Ford
|
182.211
|
41
|
|
36
|
|
Golden Corral Chevrolet
|
181.744
|
50
|
|
71
|
|
Susan G Komen for the Cure Ford
|
181.445
|
42
|
|
77
|
|
HOD Ford
|
180.480
|
10
|
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1
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, at 12:25 on 10/15/11, says:
Thank you! Your practice recap is awesome!!! I look for it every week!
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