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Christopher Bell says NASCAR practice at Daytona 500 'just didn't feel necessary'

FaceProfileby: Thomas Goldkamp02/12/25
Christopher Bell (4)
Nov 2, 2024; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell (20) readies for his run during cup qualifying at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

NASCAR made changes to its practice and qualifying formats for the 2025 season, changes that impacted the action at the Daytona 500 this week.

Drivers were given a 50-minute window to practice on Wednesday morning ahead of the Great American Race. Not all of them felt that was a needed change.

“It just didn’t feel necessary,” said driver Christopher Bell, according to Chris Knight, a NASCAR beat reporter.

As for the practice itself, Denny Hamlin paced the field during Wednesday’s session.

The driver of the No. 11 put down a 187.480 mile per hour top speed, the best in the field. Bubba Wallace (186.915), Ty Gibbs (186.370), Chandler Smith (186.177) and John Hunter Nemechek (186.100) completed the top five.

During the Daytona 500 practice session, a few drivers ran into issues.

Brad Keselowski’s car put up smoke from the right front during his warmup session. Ryan Preece also had smoke coming from his car, while Erik Jones had a transmission issue trying to leave the garage for a run.

Drivers will take part in qualifying Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.

Kevin Harvick picks Daytona 500 winner

Analyst Kevin Harvick made a preseason pick for Ryan Blaney to be the breakout driver on the NASCAR circuit in 2025. In doing so, he picked Blaney to win the Daytona 500.

“I would say my best bet would probably be Ryan Blaney,” the former NASCAR driver said. “I just, I love the speed, I love the enthusiasm. I think he’s a good superspeedway racer. He’s proven that through the years.

“I think it’s like we talked earlier, it’s time those marquee races, those marquee moments, he’s going to capitalize some of those as we go through. May not be this year. Might be this year. But I think he has enough experience now. And I know he’s won a championship, but winning those marquee races in those big moments and taking him to that next level of superstar, I just think that time is coming.”

The Daytona 500 will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX.