Nine-time Monster Mile winner edges Hamlin in early session
RELATED: Practice 1 results
Jimmie Johnson zoomed to the top of the heap Friday in opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice at Dover International Speedway.
Johnson, aiming for his 10th Dover victory this weekend, piloted the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet to a best lap of 163.867 mph on the Monster Mile in preparation for Sunday's FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks (1 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1). His lap was just shy of the track qualifying record of 164.444 mph set by Brad Keselowski in May.
Denny Hamlin was second-fastest at 163.532 mph in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota. Dale Earnhardt Jr., a teammate to Johnson in the Hendrick No. 88 Chevrolet, was third-best at 163.473 mph.
David Ragan, making his third start in the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 Toyota, was fourth-fastest at 163.339 mph. Kyle Busch, ready for his third race in his return from severe leg injuries in a February crash at Daytona, was fifth-fastest at 162.808 mph in the Gibbs No. 18 Toyota.
Series leader and defending champion Kevin Harvick posted the eighth-fastest lap in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet. Harvick will carry a 41-point lead over Martin Truex Jr., 10th-fastest in first practice, into Sunday's 400-miler.
Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the 13th race of the season is scheduled Friday at 3:45 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1). Two practice sessions Saturday (10-10:55 a.m. ET and 1-1:55 p.m. ET, FS1) will mark the final on-track activity for Sprint Cup drivers before Sunday's main event.