Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: AdvoCare 500
A good weekend keeps getting better for Kyle Busch. After winning the pole for Sunday's Cup race at Phoenix in record-setting fashion Friday, he topped the charts in the first of two Saturday practice sessions. The former Phoenix winner has been the best non-Chaser during the playoffs, scoring the fifth-most points of any driver and recording the second-most top-five finishes. Busch looks poised to stay hot this weekend in the desert, and he should definitely be considered among the favorites to win.
 |
Of course, Busch wasn't the only heavy hitter to post a fast lap in Saturday's opening practice. His Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin ranked second on the charts, and championship contender Brad Keselowski ranked fourth. Hamlin is going for the season sweep at Phoenix after winning at the track in March, and in 14 starts at the track, he has finished sixth or better seven times. Keselowski, on the other hand, finished a career-best fifth at Phoenix earlier this year and hasn't finished worse than 11th since the Chase began. The numbers are on Hamlin's side and the momentum is on Keselowski's. Fantasy owners can't really go wrong with either option.
Martin Truex Jr. and Joey Logano were the other two drivers to crack the top five, and both could make solid additions to fantasy rosters, as well. Truex has always been decent at Phoenix, and he finished seventh at the track earlier this year. Meanwhile, Logano has finished 11th or better in four of his last five starts at PIR, including a 10th-place run earlier this year. Both drivers have managed four top-10s in the first eight races of the Chase, and both are capable of sneaking into the top 15 and maybe even the top 10 again Sunday.
In terms of 10-lap average speeds, Busch again led the way. He was followed by Keselowski and Hamlin, and all three drivers separated themselves from the other 14 drivers that ran at least 10 consecutive laps in the practice. The performance only cemented each driver's place among the favorites for Sunday's race.
Busch finished off a clean sweep of the practice sessions in Happy Hour, topping the charts yet again. However, Kasey Kahne climbed to second on the charts, and he could be a factor Sunday. After all, he has finished sixth or better in two of his last three starts at Phoenix, and he is the defending winner of this weekend's race. Kahne was able to best Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards for the win amid their championship duel last fall, and he could do the same in 2012.
The other two newcomers to the top five in the final practice were Aric Almirola and Jeff Gordon. Gordon won at Phoenix just last season and has the third-best average finish at the track in the last 20 races. He should be in the mix for at least a top-10 this weekend. Meanwhile, Almirola could make a solid sleeper pick. He finished 12th at Phoenix in March, and he qualified in the top five for Sunday's race. Not to mention the fact that he has finished in the top 20 in five of the six races leading up to Phoenix, including three top-15 finishes in his last four starts.
In terms of 10-lap average speeds, the JGR duo of Busch and Hamlin were the class of the field. The teammates were the only drivers to crack 134 mph over their 10-lap span. There were a few other familiar faces near the top of the charts as Kahne, Truex and Keselowski also cracked the top five.
The obvious name missing from the top of the charts was Jimmie Johnson. The four-time Phoenix winner struggled in qualifying and was also unimpressive in Saturday's first session. However, he began to right the ship in Happy Hour, posting the 11th-fastest lap and the seventh-best 10-lap average speed. Despite the slow start, owners need to keep in mind that Johnson has never finished outside the top 15 in 18 career starts at Phoenix, and he has finished in the top five in 11 of his last 12 starts at the track. He was heading in the right direction in Happy Hour, and with a championship hanging in the balance, don't be surprised if Johnson marches into the top five before the checkered flag waves.
Happy Hour Speeds (sorted by Best Lap)
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Make
|
Sponosr
|
Best Lap
|
Best Time
|
Laps
|
|
1
|
18
|
Toyota
|
M&M's
|
135.252
|
26.617
|
51
|
|
|
2
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
Farmers Insurance
|
135.166
|
26.634
|
54
|
|
|
3
|
20
|
Toyota
|
Dollar General
|
135.003
|
26.666
|
44
|
|
|
4
|
43
|
Ford
|
Farmland
|
134.958
|
26.675
|
46
|
|
|
5
|
24
|
Chevrolet
|
DuPont
|
134.912
|
26.684
|
43
|
|
|
6
|
56
|
Toyota
|
NAPA Auto Parts
|
134.796
|
26.707
|
40
|
|
|
7
|
15
|
Toyota
|
5-hour Energy
|
134.791
|
26.708
|
41
|
|
|
8
|
11
|
Toyota
|
FedEx Ground
|
134.766
|
26.713
|
49
|
|
|
9
|
2
|
Dodge
|
Miller Lite
|
134.549
|
26.756
|
50
|
|
|
10
|
78
|
Chevrolet
|
Furniture Row
|
134.519
|
26.762
|
38
|
|
|
11
|
48
|
Chevrolet
|
Lowe's/Kobalt Tools
|
134.459
|
26.774
|
43
|
|
|
12
|
88
|
Chevrolet
|
Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard
|
134.404
|
26.785
|
38
|
|
|
13
|
39
|
Chevrolet
|
Quicken Loans
|
134.404
|
26.785
|
45
|
|
|
14
|
83
|
Toyota
|
Burger King
|
134.374
|
26.791
|
43
|
|
|
15
|
14
|
Chevrolet
|
Mobil 1/Office Depot
|
134.328
|
26.800
|
43
|
|
|
16
|
16
|
Ford
|
Filtrete
|
134.228
|
26.820
|
46
|
|
|
17
|
55
|
Toyota
|
Aaron's Dream Machine
|
134.198
|
26.826
|
29
|
|
|
18
|
93
|
Toyota
|
Burger King
|
134.133
|
26.839
|
41
|
|
|
19
|
27
|
Chevrolet
|
Menards/Rheem
|
134.123
|
26.841
|
50
|
|
|
20
|
99
|
Ford
|
Fastenal
|
134.123
|
26.841
|
37
|
|
|
21
|
42
|
Chevrolet
|
Target
|
134.023
|
26.861
|
29
|
|
|
22
|
31
|
Chevrolet
|
Caterpillar
|
133.993
|
26.867
|
28
|
|
|
23
|
29
|
Chevrolet
|
Budweiser
|
133.964
|
26.873
|
21
|
|
|
24
|
22
|
Dodge
|
Shell/Pennzoil
|
133.943
|
26.877
|
32
|
|
|
25
|
51
|
Chevrolet
|
Phoenix Construction
|
133.784
|
26.909
|
38
|
|
|
26
|
9
|
Ford
|
Black & Decker
|
133.615
|
26.943
|
38
|
|
|
27
|
17
|
Ford
|
Ford EcoBoost
|
133.591
|
26.948
|
36
|
|
|
28
|
13
|
Ford
|
GEICO
|
133.531
|
26.960
|
35
|
|
|
29
|
10
|
Chevrolet
|
GoDaddy.com
|
133.230
|
27.021
|
39
|
|
|
30
|
38
|
Ford
|
Loan Mart
|
133.220
|
27.023
|
25
|
|
|
31
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
Bass Pro Shops/Allstate
|
133.210
|
27.025
|
32
|
|
|
32
|
47
|
Toyota
|
Vektor Vodka
|
133.121
|
27.043
|
34
|
|
|
33
|
30
|
Toyota
|
132.988
|
27.070
|
21
|
||
|
34
|
34
|
Ford
|
CertainTeed/31-W Insulation
|
132.939
|
27.080
|
27
|
|
|
35
|
91
|
Toyota
|
Plinker Tactical/Value Place
|
132.582
|
27.153
|
11
|
|
|
36
|
98
|
Ford
|
132.504
|
27.169
|
20
|
||
|
37
|
19
|
Toyota
|
Plinker Tactical/Value Place
|
132.265
|
27.218
|
13
|
|
|
38
|
26
|
Ford
|
MDS Transport
|
132.149
|
27.242
|
11
|
|
|
39
|
36
|
Chevrolet
|
Accell Construction
|
132.096
|
27.253
|
29
|
|
|
40
|
87
|
Toyota
|
AM-FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves/aloft hotel tempe
|
132.008
|
27.271
|
9
|
|
|
41
|
33
|
Chevrolet
|
Little Joes Autos.com
|
131.608
|
27.354
|
19
|
|
|
42
|
144
|
Ford
|
No Label Watcher
|
131.569
|
27.362
|
11
|
|
|
43
|
32
|
Ford
|
U.S. Chrome/TMone
|
130.757
|
27.532
|
35
|
10-Lap Average Speeds (must run 10 consecutive laps)
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
From Lap
|
To Lap
|
Avg. Speed
|
|
1
|
18
|
32
|
41
|
134.230
|
|
|
2
|
11
|
32
|
41
|
134.149
|
|
|
3
|
5
|
41
|
50
|
133.862
|
|
|
4
|
56
|
1
|
10
|
133.843
|
|
|
5
|
2
|
37
|
46
|
133.828
|
|
|
6
|
20
|
27
|
36
|
133.767
|
|
|
7
|
48
|
27
|
36
|
133.680
|
|
|
8
|
24
|
31
|
40
|
133.508
|
|
|
9
|
27
|
35
|
44
|
133.491
|
|
|
10
|
78
|
23
|
32
|
133.441
|
|
|
11
|
55
|
20
|
29
|
133.429
|
|
|
12
|
43
|
28
|
37
|
133.428
|
|
|
13
|
14
|
26
|
35
|
133.404
|
|
|
14
|
83
|
1
|
10
|
132.967
|
|
|
15
|
15
|
3
|
12
|
132.936
|
|
|
16
|
39
|
29
|
38
|
132.832
|
|
|
17
|
99
|
27
|
36
|
132.697
|
|
|
18
|
16
|
1
|
10
|
132.476
|
|
|
19
|
22
|
22
|
31
|
132.445
|
|
|
20
|
93
|
1
|
10
|
132.397
|
|
|
21
|
13
|
1
|
10
|
132.368
|
|
|
22
|
51
|
1
|
10
|
132.281
|
|
|
23
|
88
|
2
|
11
|
132.201
|
|
|
24
|
17
|
6
|
15
|
132.181
|
|
|
25
|
1
|
23
|
32
|
132.082
|
|
|
26
|
47
|
22
|
31
|
131.810
|
Second Practice Speeds (sorted by Best Lap)
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Make
|
Sponsor
|
Best Lap
|
Best Time
|
Laps
|
|
1
|
18
|
Toyota
|
M&M's
|
135.552
|
26.558
|
50
|
|
|
2
|
11
|
Toyota
|
FedEx Ground
|
134.983
|
26.670
|
37
|
|
|
3
|
56
|
Toyota
|
NAPA Auto Parts
|
134.907
|
26.685
|
34
|
|
|
4
|
2
|
Dodge
|
Miller Lite
|
134.892
|
26.688
|
37
|
|
|
5
|
20
|
Toyota
|
Dollar General
|
134.887
|
26.689
|
35
|
|
|
6
|
27
|
Chevrolet
|
Menards/Rheem
|
134.741
|
26.718
|
35
|
|
|
7
|
43
|
Ford
|
Farmland
|
134.715
|
26.723
|
35
|
|
|
8
|
15
|
Toyota
|
5-hour Energy
|
134.710
|
26.724
|
41
|
|
|
9
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
Farmers Insurance
|
134.705
|
26.725
|
22
|
|
|
10
|
24
|
Chevrolet
|
DuPont
|
134.353
|
26.795
|
26
|
|
|
11
|
16
|
Ford
|
Filtrete
|
134.288
|
26.808
|
29
|
|
|
12
|
78
|
Chevrolet
|
Furniture Row
|
134.278
|
26.810
|
36
|
|
|
13
|
83
|
Toyota
|
Burger King
|
134.238
|
26.818
|
42
|
|
|
14
|
29
|
Chevrolet
|
Budweiser
|
134.198
|
26.826
|
26
|
|
|
15
|
51
|
Chevrolet
|
Phoenix Construction
|
134.153
|
26.835
|
37
|
|
|
16
|
14
|
Chevrolet
|
Mobil 1/Office Depot
|
134.093
|
26.847
|
39
|
|
|
17
|
39
|
Chevrolet
|
Quicken Loans
|
134.068
|
26.852
|
46
|
|
|
18
|
9
|
Ford
|
Black & Decker
|
133.988
|
26.868
|
35
|
|
|
19
|
88
|
Chevrolet
|
Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard
|
133.968
|
26.872
|
39
|
|
|
20
|
31
|
Chevrolet
|
Caterpillar
|
133.909
|
26.884
|
15
|
|
|
21
|
55
|
Toyota
|
Aaron's Dream Machine
|
133.894
|
26.887
|
38
|
|
|
22
|
17
|
Ford
|
Ford EcoBoost
|
133.889
|
26.888
|
29
|
|
|
23
|
93
|
Toyota
|
Burger King
|
133.774
|
26.911
|
33
|
|
|
24
|
48
|
Chevrolet
|
Lowe's/Kobalt Tools
|
133.745
|
26.917
|
32
|
|
|
25
|
99
|
Ford
|
Fastenal
|
133.734
|
26.919
|
40
|
|
|
26
|
47
|
Toyota
|
Vektor Vodka
|
133.730
|
26.920
|
39
|
|
|
27
|
42
|
Chevrolet
|
Target
|
133.596
|
26.947
|
29
|
|
|
28
|
13
|
Ford
|
GEICO
|
133.516
|
26.963
|
30
|
|
|
29
|
34
|
Ford
|
CertainTeed/31-W Insulation
|
133.487
|
26.969
|
22
|
|
|
30
|
22
|
Dodge
|
Shell/Pennzoil
|
133.477
|
26.971
|
33
|
|
|
31
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
Bass Pro Shops/Allstate
|
133.190
|
27.029
|
26
|
|
|
32
|
38
|
Ford
|
Loan Mart
|
132.949
|
27.078
|
29
|
|
|
33
|
26
|
Ford
|
MDS Transport
|
132.881
|
27.092
|
17
|
|
|
34
|
98
|
Ford
|
132.645
|
27.140
|
26
|
||
|
35
|
10
|
Chevrolet
|
GoDaddy.com
|
132.402
|
27.190
|
29
|
|
|
36
|
30
|
Toyota
|
132.338
|
27.203
|
12
|
||
|
37
|
19
|
Toyota
|
Plinker Tactical/Value Place
|
132.299
|
27.211
|
10
|
|
|
38
|
44
|
Ford
|
No Label Watcher
|
131.776
|
27.319
|
5
|
|
|
39
|
91
|
Toyota
|
Plinker Tactical/Value Place
|
131.776
|
27.319
|
5
|
|
|
40
|
33
|
Chevrolet
|
Little Joes Autos.com
|
131.695
|
27.336
|
16
|
|
|
41
|
36
|
Chevrolet
|
Accell Construction
|
131.675
|
27.340
|
26
|
|
|
42
|
32
|
Ford
|
U.S. Chrome/TMone
|
131.627
|
27.350
|
25
|
|
|
43
|
87
|
Toyota
|
AM-FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves/aloft hotel tempe
|
130.156
|
27.659
|
3
|
10-Lap Average Speeds (must run 10 consecutive laps)
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
From Lap
|
To Lap
|
Avg. Speed
|
|
1
|
18
|
35
|
44
|
134.184
|
|
|
2
|
2
|
23
|
32
|
134.033
|
|
|
3
|
11
|
23
|
32
|
133.872
|
|
|
4
|
15
|
28
|
37
|
133.541
|
|
|
5
|
27
|
15
|
24
|
133.494
|
|
|
6
|
20
|
22
|
31
|
133.367
|
|
|
7
|
83
|
33
|
42
|
133.092
|
|
|
8
|
13
|
19
|
28
|
132.795
|
|
|
9
|
9
|
26
|
35
|
132.597
|
|
|
10
|
39
|
34
|
43
|
132.567
|
|
|
11
|
99
|
24
|
33
|
132.565
|
|
|
12
|
17
|
3
|
12
|
132.474
|
|
|
13
|
48
|
2
|
11
|
132.101
|
|
|
14
|
93
|
1
|
10
|
131.898
|
|
|
15
|
14
|
1
|
10
|
131.451
|
|
|
16
|
38
|
3
|
12
|
130.919
|
|
|
17
|
98
|
3
|
12
|
129.959
|
|
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