DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Former ARCA Menards Series winner Austin Green (No. 82 PRG Chevrolet) led the way on the second and final day of the ARCA Menards Series annual pre-race practice at Daytona International Speedway.
Green timed in at 49.202 seconds/182.919 mph.
Green’s lap was just 0.002 seconds quicker than reigning ASA STARS National Tour super late model champion Cole Butcher (No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford). Butcher’s lap of 49.204 seconds/182.912 miles per hour was just in front of the Kitzmiller duo, reigning ARCA Menards Series East champion Isaac (No. 79 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet), and his father Jason (No. 97 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet).
Isaac timed in at 49.217 seconds/182.864 miles per hour in his first-ever laps in the draft, while Jason was just behind at 49.230 seconds/182.815 miles per hour.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Gio Ruggiero (No. 18 JBL Toyota) was fifth quickest on Saturday at 49.261 seconds/182.700 miles per hour.
Mini Tyrell (No. 17 Cook Racing Technologies Chevrolet), Taylor Reimer (No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet), Carson Brown (No. 82B PRG Chevrolet), Nolan Wilson (No. 69 Kimmel Racing Ford) and his teammate Alli Owens (No. 69 Kimmel Racing Ford) rounded out Saturday’s top ten.
Gus Dean (No. 25 Nitro Motorsports Toyota) set the fastest lap of the weekend on Friday, running in a tight six-car draft with his teammates at the end of the day. Dean’s lap at 48.744 seconds/184.638 miles per hour was nearly a half-second quicker than the lap Green turned on Saturday. The top seven speeds of the weekend were set on Friday, with the remainder of the weekend’s top ten speeds turned on Saturday.
Saturday’s activities were only slowed for track inspections and debris, but Friday’s action was stopped twice for accidents on the race track.
The first was for Amber Balcaen (No. 24 Sigma Performance Services Ford), who spun exiting the tri-oval after debris punctured her left rear tire. Balcaen’s car had heavy nose damage and was done for the weekend, although she did return to the track in the backup car.
The second incident on Friday happened exiting turn two when Bob Martin (No. 52 Martin Racing Toyota) lost control and made slight contact with the outside wall, damaging the left rear of the car. Martin was also uninjured in the crash.
