Chastain leads eventful Cup Series practice in Las Vegas

Ross Chastain, a non-playoff driver, led the way in Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series practice at Las Vegas Motor Speedway while two others crashed due to tire issues.

Chastain recorded the fast time of 186.858mph (38.899s) on his third lap. The Trackhouse Racing driver ran a total of 16 laps in practice.

Chris Buescher was second fastest at 186.638mph, Tyler Reddick third at 185.957mph and Chase Elliott fourth at 185.459mph.

Elliott, however, then crashed in Turns 3 and 4 after his right rear tire went down. He hit the outside wall with the right rear and right front of his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, which will force him into a backup car for Sunday’s race.

William Byron was fifth fastest at 185.401mph, Carson Hocevar sixth at 185.274mph, Martin Truex Jr. seventh at 185.192mph and Kyle Larson eighth at 185.160mph. Ty Gibbs was ninth at 184.837mph and Bubba Wallace completed the top 10 at 184.799mph.

There were three playoff drivers outside the top 10. Ryan Blaney was 12th (185.514mph), Christopher Bell 17th (183.943mph) and Denny Hamlin 30th (181.990mph).

The defending race winner, Joey Logano, was 13th with a 184.376mph lap.

Daniel Suarez was 26th fastest in practice. He crashed in the final minutes of the session, spinning off Turn 2 and hitting the tire pack on the inside wall on the backstretch. Suarez will also be in a backup car for Sunday.

In the best 10 consecutive lap average it was Kyle Larson over Byron, Reddick, Buescher and Elliott.

There are 36 drivers entered in the South Point 400.