Daytona 500 NASCAR Practice #1 Notes

Fantasy Note – Don’t put too much stock in terms of practice at superspeedways.

25 Minutes Into Practice – 25 minutes into practice there was a JGR (Bell)+ Suarez+ Ty Dillon + Stenhouse Jr. contingent of cars drafting together. Denny Hamlin was leading the pack initially. These cars were all near the top of the speed chart because of the draft. As time went on with this pack, many of the JGR drivers spent time rotating to the front.

Christopher Bell – He was one of the first drivers out on the track. This was his first time making laps in a Cup car. He initially did a single car run, but later that run he sniffed the draft and it jumped him to the top of the speed chart (at the time).

Ty Dillon – After spending time in the draft he said his car is just a tab bit “Tight on exit.” His team ended the session 20 minutes early. He said he felt good about his car. Said it felt smooth.

Bubba Wallace – He practiced leading a draft of cars with Corey LaJoie, Poole and Houff early in practice. At the end of practice he said, “We’re a little free in the pack, just need to get things tightened up a bit.”

Ross Chastain – His car was smoking 25 minutes into practice. He had a leak near his oil pump.