Race Weekend Central

Team Penske Leads Final XFINITY Practice at Charlotte

It may just be XFINITY practice, but Sam Hornish Jr. is back on top for Team Penske.

Making his fifth start for the organization — and first in the No. 12 — in 2017, Hornish led the way in final practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, lapping the 1.5-mile track in 29.602 seconds (182.420 mph).

His Penske teammate Ryan Blaney followed in Hornish’s wake, finishing second in the session at 181.647 mph. The organization and its Nos. 12 and 22 Fords have won the last two Charlotte XFINITY races.

Matt Tifft, who announced he will join Richard Childress Racing for the 2018 season this week, stayed in the news with a third-place practice lap. The top five was completed by two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookies in Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones.

William Byron was the next fastest series regular in sixth while Alex Bowman, Daniel Hemric, Austin Dillon, and Corey Lajoie rounded out the top 10.

All 41 drivers practiced during the session. Mike Harmon, driving his No. 74 was slowest, almost three seconds off Hornish’s pace.

DRIVE FOR THE CURE 300 PRACTICE 2 RESULTS

About the author

Growing up in Easton, Pa., Zach Catanzareti has grown his auto racing interest from fandom to professional. Joining Frontstretch in 2015, Zach enjoys nothing more than being at the track, having covered his first half-season of 18 races in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017. With experience behind the wheel, behind the camera and in the media center, he thrives on being an all-around reporter.

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