{"id":747736,"date":"2026-06-20T00:08:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T00:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/747736\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T00:08:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T00:08:14","slug":"kyle-larson-fastest-in-nascar-cup-practice-at-naval-base-coronado-san-diego","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/747736\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyle Larson fastest in NASCAR Cup practice at Naval Base Coronado San Diego"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Kyle<\/p>\n

By Andrew Clarke<\/p>\n

Date posted: 20 June 2026<\/p>\n

Kyle Larson topped a chaotic NASCAR Cup Series practice session at the new Qualcomm Circuit on Naval Base Coronado near San Diego, California on Friday, setting the fastest time in 50 minutes of running on the freshly built 3.4-mile (5.47km) street course.<\/p>\n

The two-time defending Cup Series champion posted a best lap of 2m16.588s in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, a speed of 89.613 mph (144.2 km\/h), to lead Todd Gilliland, Ty Gibbs, Connor Zilisch and Carson Hocevar in the top five.<\/p>\n

Corey Heim, Michael McDowell, Shane van Gisbergen, Austin Hill and Alex Bowman completed the top 10.<\/p>\n

Spins, wall contact and a tyre mix-up<\/p>\n

The session produced plenty of incidents as drivers got their first taste of the new circuit. Austin Cindric spun, Brad Keselowski nosed into the tyre barrier, and Jimmie Johnson executed a 360-degree spin while somehow keeping his car out of the wall.<\/p>\n

Former Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen, making his NASCAR Cup debut with Trackhouse\u2019s Project 91 entry, made wall contact twice: on the right side of the car exiting the final corner, then on the left side at the exit of Turn 1. He finished 29th.<\/p>\n

Christopher Bell is racing with a fractured left wrist and handed the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to relief driver Brent Crews partway through the session. Bell ended up 36th.<\/p>\n

Van Gisbergen was the fastest driver before teams fitted their third set of tyres but never ran that set due to a radio miscommunication with his crew. The New Zealander still posted the fastest five-lap average at 2m18.19s, ahead of Hill and McDowell. Van Gisbergen, Hill, McDowell, Ty Gibbs and Gilliland were the five quickest on consecutive averages.<\/p>\n

No driver completed more than 15 laps, and there were no red flags despite the incidents.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next<\/p>\n

Qualifying for the Anduril 250 is at 4.30am AEST Sunday, with the 75-lap race at 6am AEST Monday.<\/p>\n

Practice results \u2014 NASCAR Cup Series, Qualcomm Circuit, Naval Base Coronado<\/p>\n

Pos
\nNo.
\nDriver
\nTeam
\nCar
\nTime
\nSpeed (mph)<\/p>\n

1
\n5
\nKyle Larson
\nHendrick Motorsports
\nChevrolet
\n2m16.588s
\n89.613<\/p>\n

2
\n34
\nTodd Gilliland
\nFront Row Motorsports
\nFord
\n2m16.881s
\n89.421<\/p>\n

3
\n54
\nTy Gibbs
\nJoe Gibbs Racing
\nToyota
\n2m16.924s
\n89.393<\/p>\n

4
\n88
\nConnor Zilisch
\nTrackhouse Racing
\nChevrolet
\n2m16.960s
\n89.369<\/p>\n

5
\n77
\nCarson Hocevar
\nSpire Motorsports
\nChevrolet
\n2m17.001s
\n89.342<\/p>\n

6
\n67
\nCorey Heim
\n23XI Racing
\nToyota
\n2m17.039s
\n89.318<\/p>\n

7
\n71
\nMichael McDowell
\nSpire Motorsports
\nChevrolet
\n2m17.284s
\n89.158<\/p>\n

8
\n97
\nShane van Gisbergen
\nTrackhouse Racing
\nChevrolet
\n2m17.320s
\n89.135<\/p>\n

9
\n33
\nAustin Hill
\nRichard Childress Racing
\nChevrolet
\n2m17.609s
\n88.948<\/p>\n

10
\n48
\nAlex Bowman
\nHendrick Motorsports
\nChevrolet
\n2m17.681s
\n88.901<\/p>\n

11
\n45
\nTyler Reddick
\n23XI Racing
\nToyota
\n2m17.878s
\n88.774<\/p>\n

12
\n22
\nJoey Logano
\nTeam Penske
\nFord
\n2m17.882s
\n88.772<\/p>\n

13
\n35
\nRiley Herbst
\n23XI Racing
\nToyota
\n2m17.962s
\n88.720<\/p>\n

14
\n11
\nDenny Hamlin
\nJoe Gibbs Racing
\nToyota
\n2m18.055s
\n88.660<\/p>\n

15
\n24
\nWilliam Byron
\nHendrick Motorsports
\nChevrolet
\n2m18.213s
\n88.559<\/p>\n

16
\n10
\nTy Dillon
\nKaulig Racing
\nChevrolet
\n2m18.342s
\n88.476<\/p>\n

17
\n60
\nRyan Preece
\nRFK Racing
\nFord
\n2m18.391s
\n88.445<\/p>\n

18
\n12
\nRyan Blaney
\nTeam Penske
\nFord
\n2m18.476s
\n88.391<\/p>\n

19
\n16
\nAJ Allmendinger
\nKaulig Racing
\nChevrolet
\n2m18.629s
\n88.293<\/p>\n

20
\n23
\nBubba Wallace
\n23XI Racing
\nToyota
\n2m18.633s
\n88.291<\/p>\n

21
\n9
\nChase Elliott
\nHendrick Motorsports
\nChevrolet
\n2m18.713s
\n88.240<\/p>\n

22
\n38
\nZane Smith
\nFront Row Motorsports
\nFord
\n2m18.819s
\n88.172<\/p>\n

23
\n19
\nChase Briscoe
\nJoe Gibbs Racing
\nToyota
\n2m18.918s
\n88.110<\/p>\n

24
\n51
\nCody Ware
\nRick Ware Racing
\nChevrolet
\n2m19.082s
\n88.006<\/p>\n

25
\n41
\nCole Custer
\nHaas Factory Team
\nChevrolet
\n2m19.117s
\n87.984<\/p>\n

26
\n17
\nChris Buescher
\nRFK Racing
\nFord
\n2m19.167s
\n87.952<\/p>\n

27
\n3
\nAustin Dillon
\nRichard Childress Racing
\nChevrolet
\n2m19.182s
\n87.942<\/p>\n

28
\n47
\nRicky Stenhouse Jr
\nHyak Motorsports
\nChevrolet
\n2m19.312s
\n87.860<\/p>\n

29
\n91
\nKevin Magnussen
\nTrackhouse Racing
\nChevrolet
\n2m19.375s
\n87.821<\/p>\n

30
\n42
\nJohn Hunter Nemechek
\nLegacy Motor Club
\nToyota
\n2m19.423s
\n87.790<\/p>\n

31
\n4
\nNoah Gragson
\nFront Row Motorsports
\nFord
\n2m19.470s
\n87.761<\/p>\n

32
\n1
\nRoss Chastain
\nTrackhouse Racing
\nChevrolet
\n2m19.516s
\n87.732<\/p>\n

33
\n7
\nDaniel Suarez
\nSpire Motorsports
\nChevrolet
\n2m19.693s
\n87.621<\/p>\n

34
\n21
\nJosh Berry
\nWood Brothers Racing
\nFord
\n2m20.115s
\n87.357<\/p>\n

35
\n6
\nBrad Keselowski
\nRFK Racing
\nFord
\n2m20.346s
\n87.213<\/p>\n

36
\n20
\nChristopher Bell
\nJoe Gibbs Racing
\nToyota
\n2m20.509s
\n87.112<\/p>\n

37
\n2
\nAustin Cindric
\nTeam Penske
\nFord
\n2m21.132s
\n86.727<\/p>\n

38
\n84
\nJimmie Johnson
\nLegacy Motor Club
\nToyota
\n2m21.654s
\n86.408<\/p>\n

39
\n43
\nErik Jones
\nLegacy Motor Club
\nToyota
\n2m21.851s
\n86.288<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The full Kyle Larson story is in the current Auto Action Premium edition. Grab your copy at newsagents nationwide or head to autoaction.com.au<\/a> to buy online or subscribe<\/a>.
\n\"\"\/<\/a>\"\"\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Search Auto Action<\/p>\n

EMAIL NEWSLETTER<\/p>\n

Get the latest updates delivered directly to your inbox<\/p>\n

Thank you!<\/p>\n

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.<\/p>\n

\".\"<\/p>\n

Recent Storiesarray (
\n 0 =>
\n WP_Term::__set_state(array(
\n ‘term_id’ => 11,
\n ‘name’ => ‘Latest News’,
\n ‘slug’ => ‘latest-news’,
\n ‘term_group’ => 0,
\n ‘term_taxonomy_id’ => 11,
\n ‘taxonomy’ => ‘category’,
\n ‘description’ => ”,
\n ‘parent’ => 0,
\n ‘count’ => 18361,
\n ‘filter’ => ‘raw’,
\n ‘cat_ID’ => 11,
\n ‘category_count’ => 18361,
\n ‘category_description’ => ”,
\n ‘cat_name’ => ‘Latest News’,
\n ‘category_nicename’ => ‘latest-news’,
\n ‘category_parent’ => 0,
\n )),
\n 1 =>
\n WP_Term::__set_state(array(
\n ‘term_id’ => 4811,
\n ‘name’ => ‘NASCAR’,
\n ‘slug’ => ‘nascar’,
\n ‘term_group’ => 0,
\n ‘term_taxonomy_id’ => 4811,
\n ‘taxonomy’ => ‘category’,
\n ‘description’ => ”,
\n ‘parent’ => 660,
\n ‘count’ => 412,
\n ‘filter’ => ‘raw’,
\n ‘cat_ID’ => 4811,
\n ‘category_count’ => 412,
\n ‘category_description’ => ”,
\n ‘cat_name’ => ‘NASCAR’,
\n ‘category_nicename’ => ‘nascar’,
\n ‘category_parent’ => 660,
\n )),
\n 2 =>
\n WP_Term::__set_state(array(
\n ‘term_id’ => 2029,
\n ‘name’ => ‘ZZZ-Email’,
\n ‘slug’ => ’email’,
\n ‘term_group’ => 0,
\n ‘term_taxonomy_id’ => 2029,
\n ‘taxonomy’ => ‘category’,
\n ‘description’ => ”,
\n ‘parent’ => 2031,
\n ‘count’ => 8921,
\n ‘filter’ => ‘raw’,
\n ‘cat_ID’ => 2029,
\n ‘category_count’ => 8921,
\n ‘category_description’ => ”,
\n ‘cat_name’ => ‘ZZZ-Email’,
\n ‘category_nicename’ => ’email’,
\n ‘category_parent’ => 2031,
\n )),
\n 3 =>
\n WP_Term::__set_state(array(
\n ‘term_id’ => 2031,
\n ‘name’ => ‘ZZZ-RSSFeeds’,
\n ‘slug’ => ‘zzz-rssfeeds’,
\n ‘term_group’ => 0,
\n ‘term_taxonomy_id’ => 2031,
\n ‘taxonomy’ => ‘category’,
\n ‘description’ => ”,
\n ‘parent’ => 0,
\n ‘count’ => 8280,
\n ‘filter’ => ‘raw’,
\n ‘cat_ID’ => 2031,
\n ‘category_count’ => 8280,
\n ‘category_description’ => ”,
\n ‘cat_name’ => ‘ZZZ-RSSFeeds’,
\n ‘category_nicename’ => ‘zzz-rssfeeds’,
\n ‘category_parent’ => 0,
\n )),
\n)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Andrew Clarke Date posted: 20 June 2026 Kyle Larson topped a chaotic NASCAR Cup Series practice session…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":747737,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[572],"tags":[64,63,68175,806,805,803,804,1738,359318,359376,9909,85],"class_list":["post-747736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-motosport","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-kyle-larson","tag-motor","tag-motor-sports","tag-motosport","tag-motosports","tag-nascar-cup-series","tag-naval-base-coronado","tag-qualcomm-circuit","tag-shane-van-gisbergen","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=747736"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747736\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/747737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=747736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=747736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=747736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}