LONG POND, Pa. – Part-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Matt Tifft led the two-hour practice session for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway Friday afternoon.
Tifft, driving the No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Toyota Camry circled the 2.5-mile triangle in 53.211 seconds transferring to a speed of 169.138 miles per hour. He was ahead of 10-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel in the No. 25 Toyota for Venturini Motorsports.
Defending series champion Mason Mitchell making an infrequent start was third, flanked by ARCA veteran Will Kimmel, nephew of Frank Kimmel was fourth, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Cody Coughlin fifth.
JR Motorsports’ Cole Custer was sixth in his penultimate ARCA Racing Series race of the season.
Grant Enfinger who opened the 2015 ARCA season with three consecutive victories was seventh.
In a back-up car after Roush Fenway Racing development driver Kyle Weatherman crashed his primary during testing Wednesday at Pocono Raceway, Trevor Bayne clocked in eighth fastest overall. Bayne is utilizing Saturday’s Pocono ARCA 200 to gain more experience for his first Cup race in Long Pond Sunday. Cunningham Motorsports who announced earlier this season that they would become the development team for RFR is supplying the No. 22 Advocare Ford Fusion.
Other notables: Kyle Benjamin (ninth), Tom Hessert III (10th), Josh Williams (12th), Austin Wayne Self (15th), Bobby Gerhart (16th), Bobby Hamilton Jr. (19th) and England’s Scott Edwards (30th).
Michael Lira who timed in 10th quickest lost his primary car after his car broke loose during his mock-qualifying run. Lira was fastest during testing Wednesday at the 2.5-mile triangle. The team is preparing a backup car for qualifying Saturday morning.
Bo LeMastus spun early in the session in the Tunnel Turn. He received cosmetic damage to his No. 42 Dodge Charger. The team repaired his car and will compete in Saturday’s race.
Female sensation Sarah Cornett-Ching spun in Turn 3, but kept her No. 2 RACE 101 Chevrolet off the wall. She placed 18th quickest overall.
The series will qualify Saturday morning at 10:05 a.m. The race consisting of 80 laps will air on FOX Sports 2 beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
