Jones tops Iowa Cup Series practice

Erik Jones was fastest in NASCAR Cup Series practice Saturday afternoon at Iowa Speedway.

Jones and his Legacy Motor Club team went to the top of the board late in the session, on their final lap, courtesy of clocking in at 132.855 mph (23.710 mph). Jones bumped Ty Gibbs from the top spot. Gibbs has been fastest for much of the session. Gibbs ran a lap of 132.542 mph.

Austin Cindric was third fastest (132.475 mph), Todd Gilliland was fourth fastest (132.286 mph), and Ryan Blaney was fifth fastest (132.281 mph). Blaney was also the quickest in the best 10 consecutive lap average.

Cup Series championship point leader Denny Hamlin was sixth fastest (132.026 mph), Joey Logano was seventh fastest (131.926 mph), and Ross Chastain was eighth (131.667 mph). Christopher Bell was ninth (131.601 mph), and William Byron completed the top 10 (131.524 mph). Byron is the defending race winner at Iowa Speedway.

Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Hamlin and Chase Briscoe both fought brake issues during the session. Hamlin only ran 24 laps and Briscoe, who was 20th fastest, ran 18.

Chase Elliott brought out the caution about halfway through the session. Elliott got sideways in Turn 1 and could not save his Chevrolet, and he bounced off the outside wall. It resulted in damage to the left rear that his team should be able to repair and should not hinder him from making a qualifying attempt. Elliott did return to the track later in the practice session.

RFK Racing failed inspection twice with the No. 60 car of Ryan Preece. As a result, the team has lost pit stall selection for Sunday’s race, and car chief Jerry Cook has been ejected.

There are 36 teams entered at Iowa Speedway – all the chartered organizations.