Friday's practice recaps from Chicagoland

Sprint Cup Series Practice 1 | Results

Looking to improve on his runner-up finish in last year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup opener, Kyle Busch topped opening Sprint Cup Series practice at Chicagoland Speedway on Friday.

Busch’s speed of 191.442 — obtained on his 21st of 21 laps around the 1.5-mile track — was enough to pace the field in preparation for Sunday’s MyAFibStory.com 400 (2 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Ryan Newman (191.042) and Carl Edwards (191.022) joined Busch at the top, creating a top-three of Chase drivers, with representation from all three manufacurers. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was fourth at 191.002, while defending race-winner and Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Matt Kenseth rounded out the top-five with a speed of 190.900.

Along with Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson (190.813) and teammate Jeff Gordon (190.752) were the only two other Chase drivers to place in the top 10.

No. 1 seed Brad Keselowski (189.155) and Team Penske teammate Joey Logano (188.818) were the lowest-placing Chase drivers, pulling into the garage after placing 25th and 28th, respectively.

Nationwide Series Practice | Results

Looking to jumpstart his charge to the top of the Nationwide Series standings, Brendan Gaughan claimed the top showing in Friday’s practice for the Jimmy John’s Freaky Fast 300 powered by Coca-Cola (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2) at Chicagoland Speedway.

The Richard Childress Racing driver topped defending race-winner Kyle Busch in the closing minutes of the session, running his 22nd and final lap at a 178.601 mph clip.

Busch’s best speed of 177.854 mph, achieved on his seventh of 11 laps around the 1.5-mile facility, edged Gaughan’s fellow RCR teammate Brian Scott’s 177.206, before being eclipsed by the driver of the No. 62 Chevrolet. Dylan Kwasniewski snuck in late, as well, to grab the third overall spot at 177.515.

Currently fifth and in pursuit of making up ground in the standings, the driver of the No. 2 narrowly bested Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher (177.165) and JR Motorsports’ Kevin Harvick (177.142). Harvick’s JRM teammate and points leader Chase Elliott was seventh on the charts at 176.956.

Sprint Cup Series regular and Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie Aric Almirola, making his first Nationwide start of the season in an attempt for added track time at the Chase’s first venue, was eighth with a best speed if 176.869.

Final practice was schedule for 4:30 p.m. ET and was set to run for 90 minutes but rain washed out that session. Nationwide Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying will take place on Saturday at 12:15 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 2.

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