Practice report
NASCAR Cup
Happy Hour anything but for Biffle
Biffle shows speed before experiencing setback, Busch tops the speed chart in final practice.
Lee Spencer
Edited: Mar 28, 2015, 6:55 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
MARTINSVILLE, Va. - Greg Biffle backed into the Turn 4 wall 20 minutes into final practice.
Prior to the mishap, Biffle posted the eighth-best lap – 96.371 mph – after completing 18 laps.
“How hard did we hit the left rear Joel,” the team asked spotter Joel Edmonds.
“Just a little bit on the bottom,” he replied.
Following cosmetic repairs to the rear bumper cover, Biffle returned to the track and logged an additional 26 laps and ended up 10th on the speed chart.
Kurt Busch, the defending winner of the STP 500, led Happy Hour with a time of 19.502-seconds followed by Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman.
“Check the steering right now, it’s starting to stiffen up on me,” Busch told crew chief Tony Gibson as he exited the track. Busch's main concern entering tomorrow's race is keeping up with the track as it changes throughout the afternoon.
Carl Edwards posted the best 10 consecutive lap average of 95.941 mph. He credited his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin with helping him get up to speed.
"It's so much fun to be fast here," Edwards said. "The guys put a lot of work in. Denny Hamlin helped me a lot this week. Just having a good time at Martinsville."
Edwards, who has yet to score a top 10 finish in the first five races, is looking for a good result on Sunday.
Early in the session, Kevin Harvick became heated when Jamie McMurray obstructed his run.
“Mother(expletive) blocks every time we went out,” said Harvick, who ended up eighth quick after practice.
McMurray countered that his car was loose but became tighter as the session went on.
Harvick was the last non-Hendrick powered car to win this race in 2011 when he still raced for Richard Childress.
One curious incident was Austin Dillon pounding the rear end of Danica Patrick’s car in the closing minutes offinal practice. Patrick and Dillon were 13th and 24th in Happy Hour and roll off 16th and 22nd, respectively, on Sunday.
Polesitter Joey Logano finished the final practices 15th and seventh. After setting the fastest lap for the truck race, 97.088 mph, he spun in Turn 2 just the before the finish.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Mr. Gordon goes to Washington
Next article Chase Elliott to start first NASCAR Sprint Cup race on 'weird weekend'
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lee Spencer
Harvick reflects on career after Atlanta win, honors Dale Earnhardt
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Atlanta
Harvick reflects on career after Atlanta win, honors Dale Earnhardt
Chase Elliott: "We have a lot of work to do" after Atlanta showing
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Atlanta
Chase Elliott: "We have a lot of work to do" after Atlanta showing
Harvick leads veteran charge at Atlanta Motor Speedway
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Atlanta
Harvick leads veteran charge at Atlanta Motor Speedway
More from
Kevin Harvick
The most unexpected driver and team breakups in modern NASCAR Cup history
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
The most unexpected driver and team breakups in modern NASCAR Cup history
The wildest fights in modern NASCAR Cup history
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Bristol II
The wildest fights in modern NASCAR Cup history
Kevin Harvick’s message to Carson Hocevar: ‘Do not change’
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Pocono
Kevin Harvick’s message to Carson Hocevar: ‘Do not change’
More from
Stewart-Haas Racing
Sheldon Creed debuts a partnership on the cutting edge of brain optimization
NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
Pocono
Sheldon Creed debuts a partnership on the cutting edge of brain optimization
Sheldon Creed 'paid the tax' and breaks through in NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
Atlanta
Sheldon Creed 'paid the tax' and breaks through in NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR 'will not tolerate' Sam Mayer crashing Jeb Burton after Martinsville
NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
Martinsville II
NASCAR 'will not tolerate' Sam Mayer crashing Jeb Burton after Martinsville
Latest news
Mirko Bortolotti risked another disqualification: How Grasser saved second place
DTM
DTM DTM 55 min
Mirko Bortolotti risked another disqualification: How Grasser saved second place
FIA enforces new rule to close F1 cost cap loophole
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
2 h
FIA enforces new rule to close F1 cost cap loophole
Marc Marquez praises MotoGP title rival Jorge Martín: “He is an incredible talent”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP 2 h
Marc Marquez praises MotoGP title rival Jorge Martín: “He is an incredible talent”
McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
3 h
McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe