Bristol IRWIN Tools Night Race Practice #1 Notes

Jeff Gordon – Gordon said his car was almost too good in practice for the Irwin Tools Night Race. It excelled at driving off the turns. Gordon was running one groove off the bottom.

Tony Stewart – Made spring changes to help his front end.

Ryan Newman – Newman was loose in and tight off the center. He didn’t like the handling of his car. At the end of practice he had light contact with Kurt Busch.

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Kevin Harvick – Harvick was experiencing a bump in the middle of the track. This is his first week with his new crew chief.

Martin Truex Jr. – Truex Jr. was fighting his race car. He was driving part throttle. He said he needed more speed and comfort. Later on in practice he made “big” gains. Truex Jr. was practicing in the top racing groove.

Carl Edwards – Edwards said his car wasn’t good. It was described as “squashy” and loose off the turns. In practice Edwards practiced his car both high and low on the track. The team was throwing adjustments at it but they still weren’t happy.

Brad Keselowski – Keselowski really liked his car, it was getting into the corners good. Keselowski said that his car “feels pretty dang good”.

Danica Patrick – Her car was really tight and pushing up the race track.

Kyle Busch – Kyle was really fast in race trim. His car was a little tight in the center.

Kurt Busch – Kurt Busch was running one and a half lanes off the bottom lane. This area because of the problems he’s had this year should be seen as a warning sign. At the end of practice Kurt Busch had minor contact with Ryan Newman.

Brian Vickers – Likes his car. Said it was numb in the center with no response. After changes though it was said that he was cutting good through the center.

Jimmie Johnson – Chad Knaus said the #48 needed to find a couple more tenths.

Joey Logano – Logano’s car was said to be tight in the center.

Clint Bowyer – Bowyer was practicing his car at the very top of the racing groove.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Junior didn’t like his first setup so they went back to what he ran in the spring.

Kasey Kahne – Kahne really liked his car. He said it felt like it did in the first race.

OTHER NOTES:

10 Lap Average Practice Speeds Through The First Half Of Practice: 17, 11, 15, 18, 83, 24, 31, 2, 39 and 14

Known Drivers With The Best 15 Lap Average: 11, 15