Kurt Busch leads final practice at Martinsville

Just behind Hamlin was Jimmie Johnson, who wheeled his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at 96.988 mph around the short track after overcoming an electrical issue midway through practice.

Rounding out the top five were Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Carl Edwards.

Coors Light Pole Award winner Joey Logano didn’t show quite as much speed in today’s practice session, ranking 15th on the leaderboard.

Since qualifying 17th yesterday, reigning Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick seemed to have found his groove around the short track today, posting the 10th-fastest speed in the field.

A little further back was Chase Elliott, who is making his Sprint Cup debut with Hendrick Motorsports in Sunday’s STP 500. The 19-year-old posted the 20th-fastest speed.

Final Practice | Results

Defending STP 500 winner Kurt Busch finally showed his speed during the final practice at Martinsville Speedway, powering his No. 41 Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet at 97.098 mph around the 0.526-mile track.

Jimmie Johnson‘s momentum from the earlier practice continued, as the No. 48 driver once again posted the runner-up speed on the leaderboard of 96.810 mph.

Following Johnson was Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, along with Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Denny Hamlin, who topped the leaderboard in practice earlier in the day. Richard Childress Racing‘s Ryan Newman, who posted the fastest speed during Friday’s Sprint Cup practice session, rounded out the top five.

Coors Light Pole Award winner Joey Logano seemed to find his power again in this practice, putting up the seventh-fastest speed on the leaderboard. Right behind Logano was 2014 Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick, who posted the eighth-fastest speed in his No. 4 Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., the last driver to celebrate a Sprint Cup win at Martinsville, continued to run in the middle of the pack, putting up the 18th-fastest speed.

Chase Elliott, who will be making his first start in a Sprint Cup car with Hendrick Motorsports, slowed a bit in the final practice, ranking 27th on the leaderboard. The 19-year-old will make his Sprint Cup debut from the 27th position in Sunday’s STP 500.

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