Clint Bowyer turned in a fast lap of 186.896 in his No. 07 RCR Chevrolet. Credit: Autostock

Busch fastest, but RCR cars right behind

Bowyer and Harvick post second- and third-fastest speeds

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Richard Childress Racing made large gains in Day 5 of Daytona 500 testing, as Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick both cracked the top five in the afternoon session.

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Bowyer and Harvick each credited better engines for their improved speeds, which occurred on a day where high winds affected teams' test times.

Kyle Busch ran a lap of 188.119 mph to become the first driver to pace two different sessions. Bowyer was second at 186.896, followed by Harvick at 186.815 mph.

"We did a lot of things, swap the motors back and forth, and we came across a package that was really good," Bowyer said. "It was definitely a different motor and a different package. We swapped engines at lunch, and we have done a lot of motor switching."

Harvick elected to skip Daytona testing last year, and he says the team would have been under the gun had it done that again this winter.

"Last year, we didn't come at all and came back and were fast," Harvick said. "When we first came here, we were off more than we were last year. Just started plugging away, and it came together. It definitely paid off that we came down."

Around midday, strong winds inhibited teams in Turns 1 and 2.

"Its definitely had an effect today," said Greg Biffle, who was 17th in the final session. "I mean, we're making changes on the car, and we go back out and make another run, and it's slower. So it's like it should have been faster, but it's slower, so it's really hard right now. "

Wednesday marks the third and final day of Daytona 500 testing for the Nextel Cup cars. The preseason test at Daytona is the only time all season teams will get to test their restrictor-plate package.

The third day is also reserved for drafting practice.

"It's been two long days, and the guys have worked real hard, but I think we're gaining," Bowyer said. "Obviously we keep getting faster and faster."

Riggs has fastest Tuesday morning speed