Austin Cindric set the fastest lap during Wednesday’s opening NASCAR Cup Series practice at Daytona International Speedway, driving his No. 2 Team Penske Ford. The 2022 Great American Race winner recorded a top speed of 187.402 mph, leading the field as drivers prepare for the 68th Daytona 500 scheduled for Sunday.
Top Performers in the Initial Practice Round
Following Cindric, Ross Chastain posted the second-fastest lap at 186.931 mph, with Corey LaJoie closely behind at 186.517 mph. Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suárez completed the top five, registering speeds of 186.482 mph and 185.590 mph, respectively. The remaining top ten included Alex Bowman, Erik Jones, Corey Heim, reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson, all clocks surpassing 184 mph.
William Byron’s Quest for a Historic Third Consecutive Daytona 500 Title
Two-time defending winner William Byron ranked 34th in practice with a speed of 182.968 mph, as he aims to become the first driver ever to claim three consecutive Daytona 500 victories. Most drivers focused on single-car runs during the session to check for mechanical issues before Wednesday night’s qualifying.
Upcoming Events Ahead of the Daytona 500
Qualifying is set for Wednesday evening at 8:15 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Prior to that, drivers will take part in Daytona 500 Media Day starting at 11 a.m. ET, covered by The NASCAR Channel. Sunday’s race will be broadcast live on FOX and HBO Max, with additional coverage via MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
