Keselowski paces first Saturday practice

Brad Keselowski was the top dog in Saturday’s first practice with a fast speed of 133.745 mph.  The 2012 Cup champ is still looking for his first Cup win at the Magic Mile, but has a Nationwide Series (NNS) win at the track in 2012.

Jamie McMurray and Jeff Gordon were second and third quickest and, along with Keselowski, were the only drivers to hit the 133 mph barrier in practice.  Out of all of the drivers who ran 10 consecutive laps, Gordon has the fastest average of 132.45 mph.  McMurray and Gordon start fifth and 11th Sunday respectively.

Two-time Loudon Cup winner Denny Hamlin and 2012 K&N East winner and Cup rookie Kyle Larson rounded out the top five in practice.

Martin Truex, Jr. has shown speed all weekend and it continued in the first practice by posting the sixth fastest time.  Truex doesn’t have a Cup win at New Hampshire, but has a NNS win in 2005.

Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard and Jimmie Johnson finished out the top ten.

July 2013 Cup Loudon winner Brian Vickers was 13th on the speed charts while September winner Matt Kenseth was 11th on the board.

Jeff Burton, who is making his return to the Cup circuit this weekend, was 15th in practice and will start 30th in Sunday’s race.

The only incident of the practice session was when Aric Almirola lost control of his No. 43 car and backed it into the turn three wall.  The left-rear tire appeared to be down before Almirola hit the wall.  The team will go to a back-up car.

The Sprint Cup Series will have one final practice session at 11:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

 

Kyle Magda