Hamlin leads Championship 4 drivers in Cup practice at Phoenix; Briscoe has tire issue

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was the best among the Championship 4 drivers in Friday’s NASCAR Cup Series practice session at Phoenix Raceway as teammate Chase Briscoe suffered an early tire issue.
Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Toyota, put down the fifth fastest time overall at 131.262 mph, besting fellow title competitors William Byron (131.099 mph), Kyle Larson (130.961 mph) and Briscoe (130.714 mph).
Overall, it was Hamlin’s JGR teammate, Ty Gibbs, who topped the leaderboard in the 50-minute session, as the No. 54 Toyota led the way with a speed of 131.868 mph. Team Penske drivers Ryan Blaney (131.406 mph) and Austin Cindric (131.377 mph) were second and third fastest, followed by RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece (131.353 mph) in fourth.
Chase Elliott (131.147 mph), Ross Chastain (131.137 mph) and Josh Berry (131.104 mph) were sixth through eighth fastest, with Byron ninth and Christopher Bell (130.971 mph) completing the top 10. Larson was 11th fastest overall with Briscoe in 16th. more