Bell tops first practice, aims for long-run speed
Christopher Bell ran the fastest lap in the opening session of Xfinity Series practice. He was the only Toyota in the top five.
February 23, 2018
Christopher Bell, driver in the No. 20 Ruud Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, ended the first practice session of the day for the NASCAR Xfinity Series with the best speed of 178.447 mph and a lap time of 31.068 seconds. Bell ran the most laps of the session with 37.
“It was really beneficial for us to come over here to test at the end of January,” Bell said. “I had confidence in the car. I was able to attack really early.”
The surface is really old and worn out, so the tires wear out really fast over the course of the run.
— Christopher Bell
Bell led the practice session as the only Toyota in the top five, followed by four Fords. Joey Logano, in the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford for Team Penske, ran second the whole first practice session with a speed of 177.323 mph, 31.365 seconds. Logano ran a total of 15 laps. Cole Custer had the third fastest speed of 175.933, 31.512 seconds, in the No.00 Haas Automation Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing. Ryan Reed, driver of the No. 16 Drive Down A1C Lilly Diabetes Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, ran third with a speed of 175.688 mph, 31.556 seconds. Kevin Harvick finished out the top five with a speed 175.487 mph, 31.592 seconds in the No. 98 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford for Biagi-DenBeste Racing.
“I am looking for long-run speed at Atlanta and the race track is really old,” Bell said. “The surface is really old and worn out, so the tires wear out really fast over the course of the run. Top speed does not really mean anything…Long-runs is all what I will do during the second practice.”
Last week’s winner, Tyler Reddick, ran the second most laps (31) with a top speed of 175.388 mph, 31.610 seconds, finishing 6th in the session. Elliott Sadler, runner-up from a week ago, ran a speed of 174.219 mph, 31.822 seconds. His time was fast enough for 13th in the opening Xfinity Series practice. Atlanta’s Brandon Jones, ran a speed of 174.126 mph, 31.838 seconds, landing him 15th for this session.
From Tucker, Ga., Ryan Sieg ended the first practice session in 23rd with a speed of 169.195 mph, 32.767 seconds.
Peachtree City driver Garrett Smithley did not turn any laps in the first practice session.
The final Xfinity Series practice starts at 3:05 p.m. later today.
