ELKHART LAKE, Wisc. – Ahead of his second NASCAR Xfinity Series start of the season road racing expert Justin Marks led the way in final practice at Road America (Wisc.) in preparation of Saturday afternoon’s Johnsonville 180 in the penultimate road course race of the season.
Marks has just three Xfinity Series races this season with Chip Ganassi Racing. He finished 22nd at Mid-Ohio after experiencing late-race setbacks, The Rocklin, Calif. native will make his fifth start at the 4-mile road course and look to better his fourth-place finish earned last year.
“The car is fine,” said Marks. “We really stuck with the same package we had here last year and just made some tweaks. I didn’t want to change much because we were really good here last year.
“Real happy with this Chip Ganassi Racing team and our No. 42 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet. Just doing what we came here to do.”
Marks believes he has a car capable of winning his second Xfinity race – but says he’ll need a drama-free to celebrate in Victory Lane.
“Absolutely we can win,” offered Marks. “Just have to do things right and not get dumped by anyone.”
Joe Gibbs Racing’s James Davison was second quickest in the No. 18 Tilson Forest Hearing Cruz Toyota Camry followed by Xfinity Series regular Austin Cindric in third.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course winner Justin Allgaier was fourth with Richard Childress Racing’s Matt Tifft completed the top-five.
Cole Custer was sixth followed by road course ringer Andy Lally in seventh for DGM Racing, Elliott Sadler in his final Road America start was eighth flanked by regulars Daniel Hemric and Christopher Bell to round out the top-10.
Hometown hero Ty Majeski was 12th in the No. 60 Drive Down A1C Lilly Diabetes Ford Fusion.
Brendan Gaughan, a former winner at Road America was 15th for Richard Childress Racing.
Conor Daly set to make his Xfinity Series debut in a third Roush Fenway Racing car was 17th quickest. Daly’s car showed up to Road America bare after sponsor Lilly Diabetes pulled their support after racially insensitive comments resurfaced this week from Daly’s father, Derek, over 35 years ago.
In a statement Lilly Diabetes said, “Our sponsorship in Saturday’s race is intended to raise awareness of treatment options and resources for people living with diabetes. Unfortunately, the comments that surfaced this week by Derek Daly distract from this focus, so we have made the decision that Lilly Diabetes will no longer run the No. 6 at Road America this weekend.
“We remain committed to our mission of supporting people with diabetes.”
Defending Johnsonville 180 champion Jeremy Clements had a brief off-track excursion but posted the 18th quickest lap overall.
IMSA veteran Katherine Legge in her second Xfinity Series attempt was 23rd quickest in her No. 15 Airtec Chevrolet.
Coming out of retirement, Bill Elliott struggled in his Xfinity Series return. The GMS Racing driver ran 12 laps but was 4.7-second behind Marks’ quickest time and placed 26th.
The series’ opening practice session was marred by rain and only saw Tyler Reddick and Daly make laps. Reddick went off course but sustained minimal damage in his sponsorless No. 9 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports.
• Johnsonville 180 Full Practice Results
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