NASCAR slows down Busch cars

Mike Wallace topped the first practice session of the day with an average speed of 197.342 mph, which was massively quicker than the last time the Busch series ran at the 2.66-mile oval a year ago.

The track was repaved before the last race at the venue on October last year. The new surface has more grip and led to increasing speeds from the Nextel Cup cars, forcing NASCAR to change the restrictor plates for the race.

However, the Busch cars had not run at Talladega since the resurfacing took place and now NASCAR is faced with the same situation nine months later.

After the first practice session, officials instructed all Busch series teams to change the plates on their cars from the ones with 30/32nds of an inch holes, to new restrictors with 29/32nds of an inch holes.

The restrictor plates are placed between the carburetor and the intake manifold, featuring four circular holes that decrease the amount of air that goes into the engine, thus reducing horsepower.

Mike Bliss was fastest in the second and final practice session before qualifying takes place on Saturday. His speed with the new restrictor was 193.162 mph, more than 4 mph slower than the benchmark from the first session.

The rookie practice at Talladega was cancelled, as teams needed more time to complete the change from the old to the new restrictor.