With forecasts predicting rain throughout the entirety of Saturday, Friday’s 50-minute session emerged as the prime window for teams to hit the track ahead of Sunday’s 500-mile race. The looming possibility of weather extending into Monday further underscored the importance of making the most out of Friday’s practice.
The dominance of Toyota was palpable, building on their success from Thursday night’s 150-mile qualifying races. Denny Hamlin led the charge during Friday’s practice, setting the pace with a blistering speed of 197.476 mph.
Erik Jones closely trailed Hamlin with 197.468 mph, followed by Christopher Bell at 197.429 mph, solidifying Toyota’s stronghold as they secured the top eight fastest speeds.
Ty Gibbs showcased a strong performance, securing the fourth spot, with John Hunter Nemechek rounding out the top five. Notable mentions in the top 10 included Tyler Reddick, Jimmie Johnson, Bubba Wallace, Michael McDowell, and Austin Cindric.
Michael McDowell emerged as the top-performing Ford driver, while Austin Dillon represented Chevrolet, clinching the 15th position.
RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher opted out of Friday’s practice to be with his wife, Emma, who was expecting their second child. David Ragan stepped in, taking laps in Buescher’s No. 17 Ford alongside his own No. 60 Ford. Buescher is anticipated to return to the track on Sunday morning.
Anthony Alfredo of Beard Motorsports remained sidelined during practice, being the sole car not to take a lap.
Analyzing drivers who completed at least 10 consecutive laps, Ryan Blaney emerged with the fastest average lap speed at 192.030 mph, closely followed by Austin Cindric and Harrison Burton, underscoring their consistency and potential heading into the main event.
