NASCAR Cup Nashville: Ty Gibbs leads the way in practice

Gibbs, who is still looking for his first Cup series victory of his career, led the way with an average lap speed of 159.286 mph in the first 20-minute session.

“It’s a fun track and I hoping to keep learning like I go at every place we go to this year,” Gibbs said. “You get a little bit more room at Nashville to move around and spread out and make passes, so you are able to move up through the field if you don’t get the qualifying spot you want.”

Reigning series champion Ryan Blaney was second fastest (158.427 mph) and Bubba Wallace was third (158.249 mph) – with both also coming from the first session.

Brad Keselowski was fastest in the second session (157.614 mph) and 12th overall.

Among those drivers who ran at least 10 consecutive laps, Blaney had the fastest average lap speed (157.732 mph). Ross Chastain and Wallace were second and third, respectively, in that category.

Group B

Keselowski topped the second 20-minute session with an average lap speed of 157.614 mph as temperatures continued to climb in the afternoon.

Denny Hamlin was second fastest (157.406 mph) and Corey Heim – driving a third entry for 23XI Racing this weekend – ended up third (157.329 mph).

Chris Buescher and William Byron rounded out the top five.

Group A

After winning the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity race, Gibbs ended up with the fastest average lap speed in the first 20-minute session at 159.286 mph.

Blaney was second quick (158.427 mph) and Wallace was third (158.249 mph).

Last year’s race winner, Chastain, and Todd Gilliland rounded out the top five.

Three of the four Stewart-Haas Racing drivers – Josh Berry, Noah Gragson and Ryan Preece – ended up 12th or worse in the 19-driver group.