Kurt Busch leads opening practice; Logano paces final session
Sprint Cup Series practice 2 | Get results
Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kurt Busch set the pace early in Friday’s first — and the weekend’s second — NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
In the No. 41 Chevrolet, the “Outlaw” posted a fast lap of 191.157 mph in the opening minutes, and the speed held up throughout the 50-minute session. He was one of just three drivers to clip the 190-mph barrier and the only one to reach 191 mph. Busch finished fifth in Thursday’s opening practice and qualified 11th.
Three drivers currently in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field followed Busch.
RELATED: Sprint Cup Series standings
Joey Logano, last week’s winner, topped out at 190.476 mph in his No. 22 Ford for Team Penske. Behind him was 2013 adversary Denny Hamlin, who navigated the 1.5-mile oval at 190.295 mph. Busch’s SHR teammate Kevin Harvick, currently sixth in the standings, was fourth at 189.967 mph.
Paul Menard (189.727 mph) rounded out the top five and was the highest Richard Childress Racing driver.
Carl Edwards (189.507 mph, sixth) and Brad Keselowski (189.401 mph, seventh) were the only other Chase drivers to finish the session in the top 10.
Birthday boy Dale Earnhardt Jr. (188.633 mph) and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne (188.547 mph) were just outside the top 10 in 11th and 12th place, respectively.
Other Chase drivers were scattered across the board: Matt Kenseth was 13th, Jimmie Johnson was 17th, Ryan Newman was 23rd, Jeff Gordon was 27th and Kyle Busch was 29th.
Kyle Busch, who won the Coors Light Pole Award on Thursday, stayed off the track until the final five minutes of practice.
Final practice at Charlotte is slated for later tonight, from 5:30-6:50 p.m. ET. It will be televised on ESPN2.
The Bank of America 500 is scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET with TV coverage on ABC.
Sprint Cup Series practice 3 | Results
Less than a week after winning the Contender Round Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup opener at Kansas, Joey Logano is again primed for a solid performance after turning in the fastest lap in final practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday evening.
The Team Penske driver, who has already advanced to the Eliminator Round via his second win of the Chase, turned a quick lap of 190.597 mph to top the board.
Kurt Busch continued to be fast, pulling into the garage with a best speed of 190.463 mph, good for second on the board. Busch led the first practice of the day and ran the fastest lap (198.771 mph) during the second round of qualifying on Thursday to set the record for fastest qualifying lap ever at a 1.5-mile track.
Chase drivers Kevin Harvick (190.087 mph), Jeff Gordon (190.007 mph) and Brad Keselowski (189.893 mph) rounded out the top five, with Denny Hamlin (189.687 mph) right behind.
Jimmie Johnson, in need of a good finish this weekend after wrecking at Kansas last week, brushed the wall in the closing minutes of practice. He took his No. 48 back to the garage in eighth place on the board and fortunately will not have to go to his backup car. Johnson ultimately qualified 21st.
All Chase drivers placed in the top 20, with Kasey Kahne (188.449) and Ryan Newman (188.350) bringing up the rear in 19th and 20th, respectively.
Follow the Chase action Saturday night in the Bank of America 500 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
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