RELATED: Full practice results
Propelling his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet at 159.915 mph, Kyle Larson topped the leaderboard in Friday’s opening Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Dover International Speedway.
A pair of Joe Gibbs Racing teammates — Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch — were next on the leaderboard; Kenseth was second-fastest with a top speed of 159.603 mph in his No. 20 Toyota, while Busch’s 159.398 mph lap in his No. 18 Toyota was third-best in the field. Kenseth is the reigning race winner at Dover, having won the spring race at the Monster Mile in 2016.
A late run moved Dover’s most recent winner Martin Truex Jr. into the fourth spot on the leaderboard, his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota clocking a 159.208-mph lap.
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kurt Busch wheeled his No. 41 Ford at 159.039 mph around the short track to round out the top five.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was seventh-fastest in his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (158.688 mph).
Ten-time Dover winner Jimmie Johnson ranked 12th on the speed charts in his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Johnson last won at the Monster Mile in May 2015.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is back on track at Dover for Coors Light Pole Qualifying at 3:50 p.m. ET (FS1).