Two laps into final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch smacked the Turn 4 wall with his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota—after setting fastest lap in the session (188.640 mph).
The damage was severe enough that the No. 18 team rolled out the backup car. After a little more than 30 minutes, Busch was on the track turning laps in the backup.
The car change, however, means that Busch will have to give up the seventh-place starting position he earned during Thursday’s qualifying and drop to the rear for the start of the Coca-Cola 600. And before he takes the green flag, the backup car will need some work.
“Not even close,” Busch said after running two laps in the backup, noting the new car didn’t compare with the primary.
Danica Patrick, on the other hand, had no issues in practice and continued to show the speed that landed her in the fourth starting position for Sunday’s race.
Patrick was third fastest in Happy Hour at 187.846 mph.
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