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| Clint Bowyer was 6/1 to win at Sonoma prior to Friday's practice. |
Bowyer won at Sonoma in 2012 and is tied as the active leader with seven top-five finishes with Stewart Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch. Bowyer was runner-up to his other teammate Kevin Harvick last season and is likely on his way to his first Sonoma pole during Saturday's qualifying.
In the final few moments of the session Team Penske posted the second and third fastest laps. Ryan Blaney's fastest lap at 93.546 mph came on his 15th and final lap and Joey Logano's fastest lap at 93.172 mph came on his 18th and final lap. Blaney finished ninth at Sonoma last season while Logano has top-fives in two of his last three Sonoma starts.
Jamie McMurray had the fastest Camaro of the session with the fourth fastest lap at 93.049 mph and 2010 Sonoma winner Jimmie Johnson was sixth fastest (92.661) in what was one of his best practices of the season.
Fifth-fastest was 100-to-1 long shot Daniel Suarez who grew up go-kart racing in Mexico. He was the fastest Toyota (92.746) of the session. His Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin was 17th-fastest and Kyle Busch was 18th, both surprising low on the charts considering they are two of the best road course drivers in the series. 2013 Sonoma winner Martin Truex Jr was eighth-quickest.
SHR has won the past two Sonoma races and last years winner Harvick who had the 12th-fastest lap Friday. 2011 Sonoma winner Kurt Busch had the 14th fastest lap. Aric Almirola had the 19th fastest lap (92.101) and was the only driver to run 10-consecutive laps. Bowyer led the way with the fastest 5-consecutive lap average.
In the final few moments of the session Team Penske posted the second and third fastest laps. Ryan Blaney's fastest lap at 93.546 mph came on his 15th and final lap and Joey Logano's fastest lap at 93.172 mph came on his 18th and final lap. Blaney finished ninth at Sonoma last season while Logano has top-fives in two of his last three Sonoma starts.
Jamie McMurray had the fastest Camaro of the session with the fourth fastest lap at 93.049 mph and 2010 Sonoma winner Jimmie Johnson was sixth fastest (92.661) in what was one of his best practices of the season.
Fifth-fastest was 100-to-1 long shot Daniel Suarez who grew up go-kart racing in Mexico. He was the fastest Toyota (92.746) of the session. His Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin was 17th-fastest and Kyle Busch was 18th, both surprising low on the charts considering they are two of the best road course drivers in the series. 2013 Sonoma winner Martin Truex Jr was eighth-quickest.
SHR has won the past two Sonoma races and last years winner Harvick who had the 12th-fastest lap Friday. 2011 Sonoma winner Kurt Busch had the 14th fastest lap. Aric Almirola had the 19th fastest lap (92.101) and was the only driver to run 10-consecutive laps. Bowyer led the way with the fastest 5-consecutive lap average.
In the last race at Michigan, we saw Bowyer leading and hold off Harvick on a critical restart when Harvick had a four-tire edge to Bowyer's two. I remember thinking, "Hmm, that was interesting, I haven't seen anyone hang with Harvick like that on a downforce track." Rain came and Bowyer grabbed his second win of the season. After watching practice, it looks like Bowyer has officially joined the elite club status with members Harvick, Truex and Kyle Busch who all came in as the 4-to-1 co-favorites to win. So happy for him and also NASCAR. I hope to see a couple more members added to the club before the Playoffs start.
Sonoma Practice 1 Speeds
Sonoma Practice 1 Speeds
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