Ty Gibbs was fastest in the combined NASCAR All-Star Open and All-Star Race practice Friday at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
With Goodyear’s two tire options at play, agendas and objectives varied amongst the teams. The 50-minute session, on a newly repaved surface, allowed teams to run both the primary slick tire and the softer option tire whenever they chose throughout.
Gibbs (Open) was fastest at 124.001mph (18.145s). The time was set on his 49th lap. He ran a total of 91 laps in practice.
Ryan Blaney (All-Star) was second fastest at 123.790mph. He ran 94 laps.
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Christopher Bell (All-Star) was third fastest at 123.558mph, Chase Elliott (All-Star) was fourth at 123.301mph and Bubba Wallace (Open) was fifth at 123.261mph. Denny Hamlin (All-Star) was sixth at 123.146mph and Kyle Busch (All-Star) was seventh at 123.119mph.
Josh Berry (Open) ran eighth fastest at 123.065mph, Corey LaJoie (Open), ninth at 123.045mph and Daniel Suarez (All-Star), 10th at 123.038mph.
Elliott and Suarez ran over 100 laps.
Kevin Harvick was 25th fastest in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5. Harvick is practicing and qualifying the car for Kyle Larson, who is in Indianapolis for practice and qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.
Michael McDowell (31st fastest) ran the most laps — 118.