RELATED: See at-track photos from Saturday’s practice
Practice 2 recap | Full results
Team Penske showed its strength in Saturday’s final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice in preparation for next Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway as both Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski jumped to the top of the leaderboard in the closing seconds of the two-hour session.
Claiming the fastest speed of 195.933 mph, Logano led a draft involving Keselowski and Ryan Blaney on his last run of 29 laps. Logano is the reigning Daytona 500 winner and was second-fastest in opening practice.
Keselowski was packed in the middle of the draft and came out second-fastest at 195.848 mph.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Blaney tagged along in the Ford-only draft and was third-fastest with a speed of 195.797 mph. The trio got together to ensure Blaney put down a fast practice time in case rain threatens Daytona 500 qualifying and the Can-Am Duels — Blaney drives for Wood Brothers Racing, which does not have a Charter and must qualify into the race.
Kurt Busch sat atop the leaderboard for a majority of practice, but was knocked off late and was fourth-fastest at 194.877 mph.
Reigning Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch was fifth-fastest in the closing session at 194.696 mph.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. led Saturday’s opening session, but came up 11th-fastest in the final practice round with a speed of 193.823 mph.
Follow Daytona 500 qualifying Sunday, Feb. 14 at 1:15 p.m. ET (FOX). The Daytona 500 will run Sunday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. ET (FOX).
Practice 1 recap | Full results
Dale Earnhardt Jr. led Saturday’s opening Sprint Cup Series practice session in preparation for next Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver laid down his fastest speed of 194.116 mph on Lap 11, the No. 88 driver’s final run of the practice round. Earnhardt has won the Daytona 500 twice in his 16 attempts.
Second-fastest to Junior was last year’s Daytona 500 winner, Joey Logano, at 193.853 mph.
Matt Kenseth (193.782 mph), Chase Elliott (193.586 mph) and Kasey Kahne (193.582 mph) completed the top-five fastest on the leaderboard.
This is rookie Elliott’s first Daytona 500 showing and his first practice behind the wheel of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
Reigning Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch was 11th-fastest in the opening session at 193.087 mph.
Tune-in at 1:30 p.m. ET for the final Daytona 500 practice of Saturday. The Daytona 500 will run Sunday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. ET (FOX).