LaJoie paces Cup Series practice at Martinsville

Corey LaJoie was fastest overall in Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series practice at Martinsville Speedway with a lap of 94.585mph (20.020s). The Spire Motorsports driver laid down his best time on his third lap of practice and ran a total of 44 laps.

Bubba Wallace was second fastest at 94.383mph and Ryan Preece was third at 94.265mph. Alex Bowman was fourth at 94.195mph and Martin Truex Jr. was fifth at 94.181mph.

William Byron ran sixth fastest at 94.092mph, Todd Gilliland was seventh at 94.017mph, Austin Cindric, eighth at 94.008mph, Ryan Blaney, ninth at 93.994mph and Christopher Bell, 10th at 93.980mph.

Blaney is the most recent winner at Martinsville. A triumph in the fall race propelled him into the title race where he claimed his first championship.

Kyle Larson, the defending spring race winner, was 16th fastest. Larson’s lap was 93.738mph.