NASCAR Cup Series Practice Report: Kansas Speedway
Date: Saturday
Location: Kansas Speedway
Chris Buescher led Saturday’s practice session for the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway, recording a top speed of 176.056 mph (30.672 seconds). Zane Smith followed closely, clocking in at 175.695 mph.
Denny Hamlin was the fastest playoff driver, securing third overall with a speed of 175.684 mph. Fellow playoff contender Bubba Wallace finished fourth at 175.661 mph, while John Hunter Nemechek rounded out the top five at 175.535 mph.
Key practice results include:
- Chris Buescher: 176.056 mph
- Zane Smith: 175.695 mph
- Denny Hamlin (P): 175.684 mph
- Bubba Wallace (P): 175.661 mph
- John Hunter Nemechek: 175.535 mph
- Erik Jones: 175.461 mph
- Justin Haley: 175.461 mph
- Chase Briscoe (P): 175.318 mph
- Todd Gilliland: 175.290 mph
- Ty Dillon: 175.193 mph
Other notable performances include Kyle Larson (P, 12th), Chase Elliott (P, 13th), and Tyler Reddick (P, 15th). However, Christopher Bell (17th), Austin Cindric (20th), William Byron (23rd), and Ross Chastain (31st) struggled relative to their playoff standings.
Defending Kansas winner Ross Chastain faced challenges during practice, while Joey Logano (P) and Ryan Blaney (P) encountered significant tire issues. Logano finished 35th after narrowly avoiding a wall collision following a tire blowout, whereas Blaney hit the Turn 2 wall early in the session and recorded a 36th-place finish.
Zane Smith demonstrated superior consistency, topping the charts in both the five and ten-lap averages, while Kyle Larson led the 15-lap average.
As teams prepare for the upcoming race, tire management will be critical, especially given the issues faced by several key playoff contenders.
