Truex tops final practice in Las Vegas
Martin Truex Jr. posted the fastest single-lap speed in Happy Hour.
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Early in the 50-minute session, Truex topped the chart with a speed of 188.613mph (28.630-sec).
The No. 78 Toyota held on to the spot as temperatures rose throughout the afternoon but the car became looser as final practice continued.
“We have to find that long-run speed to be better,” Truex said.
Chase Elliott, who was fastest in the morning session, was second quick with a lap of 188.574mph followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. (188.436mph), Matt Kenseth (188.258mph) and pole winner Brad Keselowski (188.140mph).
“Balance was good, just didn’t have grip,” Earnhardt said after completing 33 laps. "Took off tight and lost most of our time in (Turns) one and two trying to run the bottom. Track tightened up."
Kyle Larson (188.134mph), Kasey Kahne (187.702mph), Ryan Blaney (187.656), Daniel Suarez (187.487mph) and Austin Dillon (187.266mph) rounded on the top 10 single lap runs.
Jamie McMurray’s 51 laps were the most completed during the session.
With just over 15 minutes remaining in practice, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. damaged the right rear of his car after bouncing of the wall entering Turn 2. Stenhouse was 20th on the speed chart with a lap of 185. 548mph. Stenhouse, who had qualified 29th, will start at the rear on Sunday after the team elected to go to a backup car.
Blaney led the Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average with a speed of 185.347. Keselowski, Truex, Larson and Elliott rounded out the top-five in the category.
| la | # | Driver | Manufacturer | Laps | Time | Gap | Interval | Mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 78 |  Martin Truex Jr. |
Toyota | 28.630 | 188.613 | |||
| 2 | 24 | Chase Elliott |
Chevrolet | 28.636 | 0.006 | 0.006 | 188.574 | |
| 3 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
Chevrolet | 28.657 | 0.027 | 0.021 | 188.436 | |
| 4 | 20 | Matt Kenseth |
Toyota | 28.684 | 0.054 | 0.027 | 188.258 | |
| 5 | 2 | Brad Keselowski |
Ford | 28.702 | 0.072 | 0.018 | 188.140 | |
| 6 | 42 | Kyle Larson |
Chevrolet | 28.703 | 0.073 | 0.001 | 188.134 | |
| 7 | 5 | Kasey Kahne |
Chevrolet | 28.769 | 0.139 | 0.066 | 187.702 | |
| 8 | 21 | Ryan Blaney |
Ford | 28.776 | 0.146 | 0.007 | 187.656 | |
| 9 | 19 |  Daniel Suarez |
Toyota | 28.802 | 0.172 | 0.026 | 187.487 | |
| 10 | 3 | Austin Dillon |
Chevrolet | 28.836 | 0.206 | 0.034 | 187.266 |
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