The first day of the final weekend of racing in 2011 at The Kentucky Speedway began late in the afternoon when the NASCAR Camping World Series drivers took to the track at 4:00 p.m. for a 90-minute practice session. It was the first time that the series drivers were on the track since 18 KYLE BUSCH rebounded from having to start at the back of the pack after missing the driver’s pre-race meet to lead a race-best 61 laps, including the final 17, to claim the checkered flag at the UNOH 225 on July 7, 2011.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The practice session was the first of three opportunities for the NCWTS series drivers to turn laps on The Kentucky Speedway in preparation for Saturday night’s NCWTS The Kentucky 225. After the 4:00 p.m. practice, the drivers will have a final practice session at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and then return to the track at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday to take part in a two-lap qualifying session to determine the starting grid.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The practice session began on schedule at 4:00 p.m. with 37 trucks expected to take part in the session.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The drivers found The Kentucky Speedway a little different than they experienced it in July as the hot and humid conditions that the drivers battled earlier this summer was replaced by cool and cloudy conditions this afternoon. The practice began under totally cloudy skies with an air temperature of 59 degrees, a relative humidity of 64 percent and winds from the northwest at 15-20 mph.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The practice session was free on incident, ending on schedule at 5:30 p.m.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
A total of 36 trucks took part in the session with 3 AUSTIN DILLON (Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet) owning the fastest lap, a 176.563 mph effort. By comparison, the effort was two mph faster than JOHNNY SAUTER’s winning qualifying lap of 174.109 mph earlier this year. It would have been the third fastest winning qualifying effort, trailing only BILL LESTER (178.141 mph in 2005) and MARCOS AMBROSE (176.922 mph in 12006).
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Five trucks had laps of 175 mph in the session. 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. (Autotrac/Qualcomm Chevrolet) was second in 175.467 mph, 4 RICKY CARMICHAEL (Monster Energy Chevrolet) was third in 175.313 mph, 13 JOHNNY SAUTER (SafeAuto/Curb Records Chevrolet) in fourth in 175.285 mph and 22 JOEY COULTER (RCR Graphics Center Chevrolet) in fifth at 175.200 mph.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
23 JASON WHITE (Gunbroker.com Chevrolet) was on the track the most during the session, turning 54 laps around The Kentucky Speedway mile-and-a-half tri-oval while 21 TY DILLON (Bad Boy Buggies/Realtree Chevrolet) (45 laps), 22 JOEY COULTER (RCR Graphics Center Chevrolet) (44 laps) and 31 JAMES BUESCHER (Exide Chevrolet) (40 laps) each turned 40 laps or more. At the other end of the spectrum, 87 CHRIS JONES (Copy Wizard Chevrolet), 38 MIKE GARVEY (S&W Services Chevrolet) and 73 AJ RUSSELL (Sacred Power Ford) were on the track the least with just two completed laps.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
After a 30-minute break, the trucks were back on the track at 6:00 p.m. for the Final Practice session.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The first five minutes of the session were eventful as 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. (Autotrac/Qualcomm Chevrolet) posted the fastest lap of the day, a 177.136 mph effort that would have been the second-fastest winning qualifying effort in series history at The Kentucky Speedway.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
After a 30-minute break, the trucks were back on the track at 6:00 p.m. for the Final Practice session.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The first five minutes of the session were eventful as 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. (Autotrac/Qualcomm Chevrolet) posted the fastest lap of the day, a 177.136 mph effort that would have been the second-fastest winning qualifying effort in series history at The Kentucky Speedway.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
At the 52-minute mark of the session, 32 BLAKE FEESE (AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet) spun and made contact with the wall in Turn 2, suffering severe damage to the back end of the truck. The session was delayed for 12 minutes while track safety maintenance vehicles made repairs to the wall.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The practice resumed at 7:04 p.m.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Shortly after the restart, 3 AUSTIN DILLON (Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet) posted the fastest lap of the day, a 178.400 mph effort. The speed would have set a track record for highest qualifying speed, surpassing the 178.141 mph posted by BILL LESTER in 2005.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The practice came to an end at 7:15 p.m. with 33 trucks participating. 3 AUSTIN DILLON was one of six drivers to surpass the 176 mph mark, posting a 178.400 mph effort. 8 NELSON PIQUET, Jr. was the only other driver to topple the 177 mph plateau, posting a 177.136 mph lap early in the session.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
39 RYAN SIEG (S&W Services Chevrolet) was on the track the longest during the session, turning 36 laps, while 74 MIKE HARMON (Global Pigeon Supply Ford) was on the shortest, completing just two laps.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
3 AUSTIN DILLON (Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet), who had the fastest lap of the day:
"We're running really fast speeds right now, track record speeds. It's just because of how cool it is, the tires are just gripped up and it's just fast, which is really fun. We're really close to wide open and having a good time out there. It's just different from that perspective because we had the heat back in July and we were really sliding around and now we are stuck to the track."
2011 Kentucky Speedway
8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. (Autotrac/Qualcomm Chevrolet), who had the second fastest lap of the day:
"The truck handled good. Always with the cold weather, everything is better. The whole summer, we have been running at 100 degrees and tires melting and getting no more than five laps with consistent lap times. This weather makes it easier for everybody, but still there's going to be somebody quicker than you. We have a very good truck over here (pointing to the No. 3 garage). Austin (Dillon) is just a bit quicker and I think he has found closer to the ideal set up to run. We're good, but I'm just saying compared to the other weekends, everyone’s averages are slower than what they should be. I don't think we have found the perfect set up yet."
2011 Kentucky Speedway