(Photo: Kansas Speedway)





Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams completed a two-day organizational test on Tuesday at Kansas Speedway.

Chase Elliott, representing Hendrick Motorsports, posted the fastest lap (186.477 mph) of the test on the first day.

"We were already up high yesterday trying to make time," Elliott said today about the multiple grooves for racing at Kansas. "It’s very friendly to move around here. The track doesn’t get much sand or grit on it so you can move around and do it pretty easily. It’s fun and I’ve enjoyed coming here."

The test is in anticipation for the Hollywood Casino 400 playoff race on October 21. Kansas is one of three 1.5-mile tracks in the final eight races of the season.

Kyle Busch, who clinched a spot in the Round of 12, with his win this past weekend at Richmond Raceway was third and second fastest on the respective days in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

"I think it’s really important anytime you can get some extra track time," Busch said. "Anytime you have the opportunity to be at a place you are racing at in the playoffs for our series. Added lap time here will be good, especially in that round of the playoffs for us. It’s kind of a Wild Card with Talladega in there and you want to have your best foot forward when you come to Kansas being the cutoff race."

Along with Elliott and Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Kurt Busch and Austin Dillon were the playoff drivers testing.

"This gives us a time to really look into the data and really see what’s going on," said Logano, who saw his best lap come on the final day. "Also do some durability testing that we don’t really want to risk on a typical weekend. Probably the biggest thing when we come to a test is the different variables. You make a run and you go back out whether there was more rubber on the race track or the sun came out. You can make an excuse for about every change and say why it was better or why it wasn’t."

Playoffs Leaderboard

Chris Buescher, driving for JTG Daugherty Racing, was fastest on Tuesday with a lap of 185.989 mph.

Ty Dillon, who is 29th in the standings, hopes the test will help as he heads into his third season with Germain Racing.

"This is another opportunity that we can take another step to getting better as a race team," Dillon said. "For us, right now, it’s all about leading into next year. If we can come here later on this year and have a good run and be strong, improve on our approach, work as a team and learn about things going forward as a team, this is what is good about a test for us."

With an open seat currently at Richard Childress Racing with Ryan Newman’s departure at the end of the season, Dillon reiterated his commitment to Germain.

"I made them a commitment and I’m staying by my commitment," Dillon said. "I believe in my race team and that’s where I’m going to be."

Day 2 Testing Speeds

Pos No. Name Best Time Best Speed In Lap 1 37 Chris Buescher 29.034 185.989 7 2 18 Kyle Busch 29.339 184.055 2 3 22 Joey Logano 29.470 183.237 1 4 41 Kurt Busch 29.470 183.237 12 5 9 Chase Elliott 29.486 183.138 3 6 1 Jamie McMurray 29.519 182.933 2 7 51 Cole Custer 29.549 182.747 12 8 13 Ty Dillon 29.585 182.525 108 9 3 Austin Dillon 29.719 181.702 76 10 21 Paul Menard 29.720 181.696 21 11 17 Matt Kenseth 29.854 180.880 95 12 TWF Drew Herring 30.186 178.891 2 13 CWF Justin Allgaier 30.383 177.731 3 14 FWF David Ragan 30.672 176.056 1

Day 1 Testing Speeds