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Larson leaps to fastest lap in first New Hampshire practice

Staff Report

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RELATED: Practice 1 results | Weekend schedule Kyle Larson launched to the top of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series leaderboard Friday in opening practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Larson powered the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet to a best lap of 133.971 mph on the 1.058-mile track. Series points leader Martin Truex Jr. landed the second-fastest lap in preparation for Sunday's Overton's 301 (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM). He drove the Furniture Row Racing No. 78 Toyota to a speed of 133.217 mph. Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney and Jamie McMurray rounded out the top five in the 85-minute session. Denny Hamlin, a two-time New Hampshire winner, crashed with just less than 20 minutes to go in the opening session, forcing his Joe Gibbs Racing team to unload a reserve No. 11 Toyota. Hamlin lost control off Turn 4, his car lightly brushing the outside wall before veering nose-first into the pit-road retaining wall. Aric Almirola, making his return to the series after missing seven races with a broken back, was 22nd-fastest in the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford. The 33-year-old driver has been sidelined since a severe crash May 13 at Kansas Speedway. Four teams were held out of practice for 15 minutes as penalties for arriving late to pre-race inspection last week at Kentucky Speedway: Seven teams will have time deducted from Saturday's final practice for failing pre-race inspection at Kentucky. The following teams will be held for 15 minutes: The following teams will be docked 30 minutes of time in final practice for failed inspections at Kentucky: Coors Light Pole Qualifying is scheduled later Friday at 4:45 p.m. ET (NBCSN).