NASCAR Cup Series Practice Report: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
New Hampshire – William Byron showcased dominant speed during Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, clocking in the fastest lap at 127.834 mph (29.795 seconds). His strong performance saw him complete a total of 43 laps, positioning him favorably ahead of the field.
Results Overview:
- 1st: William Byron (P) – 127.834 mph
- 2nd: AJ Allmendinger – 127.645 mph
- 3rd: Ryan Preece – 127.483 mph
- 4th: Riley Herbst – 127.402 mph
- 5th: Cole Custer – 127.380 mph
- 6th: Ryan Blaney (P) – 127.274 mph (best long-run averages across multiple lap counts)
- 7th: Bubba Wallace (P) – 127.210 mph
- 8th: Ty Gibbs – 127.206 mph
- 9th: Michael McDowell – 127.159 mph
- 10th: Daniel Suarez – 127.138 mph
Notably, only three playoff drivers, including Byron and Blaney, finished in the top ten. The remaining playoff competitors struggled, with Kyle Larson in 16th, Tyler Reddick 18th, Chase Elliott 20th, Christopher Bell 21st, and Joey Logano 25th. Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric, and Ross Chastain were positioned similarly further back in the standings.
Technical Insights:
Byron demonstrated impressive consistency, finishing second to Blaney in the average time over ten consecutive laps. This performance marks a notable moment for Hendrick Motorsports, who last celebrated a victory at this venue in 2012.
Context:
Christopher Bell, the defending race winner, will not compete in the playoffs during the 2024 season, adding a layer of intrigue to the upcoming race.
All practice sessions concluded incident-free; the Mobil 1 301 will see 36 teams compete on Sunday, setting the stage for a crucial race in the series.
