Rookie Alex Bowman puts up strong fight but can't take top spot

Practice results

RICHMOND, Va. -- Brad Keselowski posted the fastest lap in opening practice Thursday morning for the NASCAR Nationwide Series' ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond International Raceway.

Keselowksi, in the No. 22 Penske Racing Ford, turned a lap at 123.672 mph on the .75-mile oval ahead of Friday night's 250-lap race, the series' second event of the season on a short track.

Rookie Alex Bowman, who will make just his 11th series start on Friday, was second-fastest at 123.581 mph in a Toyota, followed by Sprint Cup regular Kyle Busch (123.276), a four-time winner in Nationwide competition at Richmond.

Regan Smith was fourth-fastest with series points leader Sam Hornish fifth on the practice chart. Kevin Harvick, the series' winningest driver at Richmond with six victories, was sixth-fastest in the two-hour, 50-minute session.

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