Bubba Wallace was the fastest overall in NASCAR Cup Series practice on Saturday morning at Homestead-Miami Speedway in his purple Grimace machine.
Wallace’s fastest lap was 169.088 mph (31.936 seconds) and came on his first lap on the track. He was among the first group of drivers to participate in practice. The 23XI Racing driver was also fastest in the best 10 consecutive lap average.
“It’s good,” Wallace said. “I think the race is like 300 laps or something, so we’ve got to be fast for all of them. But the Grimace Toyota Camry TRD looks really good. Runs really good. I think the driver just has to show up and play really good tomorrow. So, it feels good to be back in Miami. I forgot how fun this place was.”
Wallace did not compete in the event at Homestead-Miami Speedway last season. After hooking Kyle Larson in the right rear the week before at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Wallace was suspended for one race.
Austin Cindric was second fastest at 167.999 mph and Ryan Blaney was third fastest at 167.764 mph. Christopher Bell was fourth fastest at 167.650 mph with Michael McDowell was fifth fastest at 167.468 mph.
Martin Truex Jr. was sixth fastest at 167.364 mph, ahead of Denny Hamlin in seventh at 167.152 mph. Tyler Reddick was eighth fastest at 166.935 mph, with Brad Keselowski at 166.770 mph and Chase Briscoe at 166.744 mph completing the top 10.