Bowman leads first Cup practice at Fontana as Chevys dominate

Bowman quickly posted the fastest average lap speed when the 50-minute session began and continued to improve throughout, leading the way at 179.439 mph.

In all, Chevrolet drivers claimed the top four positions and six of the top-10 speeds.

Kyle Larson ended up second (177.703 mph) and Tyler Reddick was third (177.607 mph). Kurt Busch was fourth and Matt DiBenedetto completed the top-five.

Rounding out the top-10 speeds were Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr., Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski.

“I’m so thankful and appreciative to Auto Club Speedway and all the fans,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a special weekend with of course my family being here and waving the green flag.

“That practice was great. We stayed on one set of tires and we’re happy with our car and the comfort that it has. The second practice will tell us a lot more.”

Cla	#	Driver	Manufacturer	Laps	Time	Gap	Interval	Mph
1	88	Alex Bowman	Chevrolet	23	40.125			179.439
2	42	Kyle Larson	Chevrolet	17	40.517	0.392	0.392	177.703
3	8	Tyler Reddick	Chevrolet	21	40.539	0.414	0.022	177.607
4	1	Kurt Busch	Chevrolet	23	40.592	0.467	0.053	177.375
5	21	Matt DiBenedetto	Ford	24	40.768	0.643	0.176	176.609
6	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	20	40.791	0.666	0.023	176.510
7	19	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	20	40.791	0.666	0.000	176.510
8	47	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Chevrolet	22	40.805	0.680	0.014	176.449
9	12	Ryan Blaney	Ford	28	40.882	0.757	0.077	176.117
10	2	Brad Keselowski	Ford	21	40.901	0.776	0.019	176.035
11	3	Austin Dillon	Chevrolet	23	40.944	0.819	0.043	175.850
12	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	27	40.955	0.830	0.011	175.803
13	22	Joey Logano	Ford	23	40.999	0.874	0.044	175.614
14	6	Ross Chastain	Ford	19	41.028	0.903	0.029	175.490
15	13	Ty Dillon	Chevrolet	14	41.074	0.949	0.046	175.293
16	43	Darrell Wallace Jr.	Chevrolet	19	41.114	0.989	0.040	175.123
17	37	Ryan Preece	Chevrolet	18	41.125	1.000	0.011	175.076
18	24	William Byron	Chevrolet	27	41.145	1.020	0.020	174.991
19	4	Kevin Harvick	Ford	21	41.146	1.021	0.001	174.987
20	14	Clint Bowyer	Ford	19	41.182	1.057	0.036	174.834
21	10	Aric Almirola	Ford	16	41.225	1.100	0.043	174.651
22	41	Cole Custer	Ford	24	41.236	1.111	0.011	174.605
23	20	Erik Jones	Toyota	22	41.247	1.122	0.011	174.558
24	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	27	41.295	1.170	0.048	174.355
25	34	Michael McDowell	Ford	23	41.311	1.186	0.016	174.288
26	9	Chase Elliott	Chevrolet	33	41.326	1.201	0.015	174.224
27	38	John Hunter Nemechek	Ford	21	41.487	1.362	0.161	173.548
28	17	Chris Buescher	Ford	19	41.616	1.491	0.129	173.010
29	95	Christopher Bell	Toyota	22	41.715	1.590	0.099	172.600
30	32	Corey Lajoie	Ford	18	41.719	1.594	0.004	172.583
31	15	Brennan Poole	Chevrolet	24	42.359	2.234	0.640	169.976
32	52	J.J. Yeley	Ford	3	42.365	2.240	0.006	169.952
33	96	Daniel Suarez	Toyota	15	42.690	2.565	0.325	168.658
34	77	Reed Sorenson	Chevrolet	2	42.855	2.730	0.165	168.008
35	53	Joey Gase	Ford	14	43.205	3.080	0.350	166.647
36	51	Garrett Smithley	Chevrolet	8	43.319	3.194	0.114	166.209
37	00	Quin Houff	Chevrolet	19	43.510	3.385	0.191	165.479
38	66	Timmy Hill	Toyota	5	45.222	5.097	1.712	159.215