Gibbs, who is still looking for his first Cup series victory of his career, led the way with an average lap speed of 159.286 mph in the first 20-minute session.
“It’s a fun track and I hoping to keep learning like I go at every place we go to this year,” Gibbs said. “You get a little bit more room at Nashville to move around and spread out and make passes, so you are able to move up through the field if you don’t get the qualifying spot you want.”
Reigning series champion Ryan Blaney was second fastest (158.427 mph) and Bubba Wallace was third (158.249 mph) – with both also coming from the first session.
Brad Keselowski was fastest in the second session (157.614 mph) and 12th overall.
Among those drivers who ran at least 10 consecutive laps, Blaney had the fastest average lap speed (157.732 mph). Ross Chastain and Wallace were second and third, respectively, in that category.
Group B
Keselowski topped the second 20-minute session with an average lap speed of 157.614 mph as temperatures continued to climb in the afternoon.
Denny Hamlin was second fastest (157.406 mph) and Corey Heim – driving a third entry for 23XI Racing this weekend – ended up third (157.329 mph).
Chris Buescher and William Byron rounded out the top five.
Group A
After winning the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity race, Gibbs ended up with the fastest average lap speed in the first 20-minute session at 159.286 mph.
Blaney was second quick (158.427 mph) and Wallace was third (158.249 mph).
Last year’s race winner, Chastain, and Todd Gilliland rounded out the top five.
Three of the four Stewart-Haas Racing drivers – Josh Berry, Noah Gragson and Ryan Preece – ended up 12th or worse in the 19-driver group.
| CLA | DRIVER | # | MANUFACTURER | LAPS | TIME | INTERVAL | MPH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
T. GibbsJOE GIBBS RACING
|
54 | Toyota | 31 |
30.059 |
159.287 | ||
| 2 | R. BlaneyTEAM PENSKE | 12 | Ford | 28 |
+0.163 30.222 |
0.163 | 158.428 | |
| 3 | B. Wallace23XI RACING | 23 | Toyota | 28 |
+0.197 30.256 |
0.034 | 158.250 | |
| 4 | R. ChastainTRACKHOUSE RACING | 1 | Chevrolet | 28 |
+0.209 30.268 |
0.012 | 158.187 | |
| 5 | T. GillilandFRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS | 38 | Ford | 23 |
+0.260 30.319 |
0.051 | 157.921 | |
| 6 | K. LarsonHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 5 | Chevrolet | 28 |
+0.264 30.323 |
0.004 | 157.900 | |
| 7 | J. LoganoTEAM PENSKE | 22 | Ford | 26 |
+0.272 30.331 |
0.008 | 157.858 | |
| 8 | A. CindricTEAM PENSKE | 2 | Ford | 21 |
+0.289 30.348 |
0.017 | 157.770 | |
| 9 | M. McDowellFRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS | 34 | Ford | 26 |
+0.294 30.353 |
0.005 | 157.744 | |
| 10 | T. Reddick23XI RACING | 45 | Toyota | 19 |
+0.309 30.368 |
0.015 | 157.666 | |
| 11 | A. AllmendingerKAULIG RACING | 16 | Chevrolet | 22 |
+0.310 30.369 |
0.001 | 157.661 | |
| 12 | B. KeselowskiRFK RACING | 6 | Ford | 21 |
+0.311 30.370 |
0.001 | 157.656 | |
| 13 | J. BerrySTEWART-HAAS RACING | 4 | Ford | 31 |
+0.331 30.390 |
0.020 | 157.552 | |
| 14 | A. BowmanHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 48 | Chevrolet | 20 |
+0.347 30.406 |
0.016 | 157.469 | |
| 15 | D. HamlinJOE GIBBS RACING | 11 | Toyota | 28 |
+0.359 30.418 |
0.012 | 157.407 | |
| 16 | N. GragsonSTEWART-HAAS RACING | 10 | Ford | 35 |
+0.367 30.426 |
0.008 | 157.365 | |
| 17 |
C. Heim23XI RACING
|
50 | Toyota | 24 |
+0.374 30.433 |
0.007 | 157.329 | |
| 18 | C. BuescherRFK RACING | 17 | Ford | 21 |
+0.415 30.474 |
0.041 | 157.118 | |
| 19 | W. ByronHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 24 | Chevrolet | 22 |
+0.430 30.489 |
0.015 | 157.040 | |
| 20 | M. Truex JrJOE GIBBS RACING | 19 | Toyota | 25 |
+0.437 30.496 |
0.007 | 157.004 | |
| 21 | C. BellJOE GIBBS RACING | 20 | Toyota | 28 |
+0.460 30.519 |
0.023 | 156.886 | |
| 22 | C. ElliottHENDRICK MOTORSPORTS | 9 | Chevrolet | 28 |
+0.481 30.540 |
0.021 | 156.778 | |
| 23 | C. LajoieSPIRE MOTORSPORTS | 7 | Chevrolet | 23 |
+0.491 30.550 |
0.010 | 156.727 | |
| 24 | R. Stenhouse JrJTG DAUGHERTY RACING | 47 | Chevrolet | 29 |
+0.505 30.564 |
0.014 | 156.655 | |
| 25 | E. JonesLEGACY MOTOR CLUB | 43 | Toyota | 23 |
+0.515 30.574 |
0.010 | 156.604 | |
| 26 | J. NemechekLEGACY MOTOR CLUB | 42 | Toyota | 29 |
+0.516 30.575 |
0.001 | 156.599 | |
| 27 |
C. HocevarSPIRE MOTORSPORTS
|
77 | Chevrolet | 25 |
+0.518 30.577 |
0.002 | 156.588 | |
| 28 |
Z. SmithSPIRE MOTORSPORTS
|
71 | Chevrolet | 25 |
+0.542 30.601 |
0.024 | 156.465 | |
| 29 | K. BuschRICHARD CHILDRESS RACING | 8 | Chevrolet | 27 |
+0.564 30.623 |
0.022 | 156.353 | |
| 30 | R. PreeceSTEWART-HAAS RACING | 41 | Ford | 17 |
+0.571 30.630 |
0.007 | 156.317 | |
| 31 | H. BurtonWOOD BROTHERS RACING | 21 | Ford | 22 |
+0.579 30.638 |
0.008 | 156.277 | |
| 32 | J. HaleyRICK WARE RACING | 51 | Ford | 18 |
+0.624 30.683 |
0.045 | 156.047 | |
| 33 | D. SuarezTRACKHOUSE RACING | 99 | Chevrolet | 23 |
+0.629 30.688 |
0.005 | 156.022 | |
| 34 | D. HemricKAULIG RACING | 31 | Chevrolet | 27 |
+0.666 30.725 |
0.037 | 155.834 | |
| 35 | R. HerbstRICK WARE RACING | 15 | Ford | 20 |
+0.709 30.768 |
0.043 | 155.616 | |
| 36 | A. DillonRICHARD CHILDRESS RACING | 3 | Chevrolet | 18 |
+0.712 30.771 |
0.003 | 155.601 | |
| 37 | C. BriscoeSTEWART-HAAS RACING | 14 | Ford | 11 |
+0.737 30.796 |
0.025 | 155.475 | |
| 38 | C. FinchumMBM | 66 | Ford | 15 |
+2.036 32.095 |
1.299 | 149.182 |
