PERRIS, Calif. – Two-time and defending Budweiser Oval Nationals presented by All Coast Construction winner Kevin Thomas Jr. picked up right where he left off last year by recording the fastest overall lap during Wednesday’s practice session at Perris Auto Speedway.

Thomas circled the half-mile southern California clay with a lap of 16.214 seconds in his Hayward-Thomas Motorsports/McDonald’s – Dr. Pepper/DRC/Speedway Chevy.  Second quickest was 2010 Oval Nationals winner Chris Windom at 16.330 seconds, followed by Brady Bacon at 16.373 seconds, USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car point leader C.J. Leary at 16.384 seconds, with Tyler Courtney rounding out the top-five at 16.417 seconds.

Austin Williams led the CRA contingent in sixth with a lap of 16.467 seconds. Justin Grant was eighth while three-time Oval Nationals winners Damion Gardner and Bud Kaeding were 10th and 15th, respectively, out of the 31 cars that were in attendance Wednesday night.

More than 40 cars are entered for this year’s Oval Nationals with three complete nights of racing action over the next three nights, Nov. 7-9 at Perris.  Cars hit the track at 5:30 p.m. Pacific.