RELATED: Practice results
Using a top speed of 135.714 mph, Kyle Larson brought his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet to the top of the leaderboard in Friday’s opening Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch was second-fastest, his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota notching a fast lap of 135.342 mph. Hendrick Motorsports’ Kasey Kahne clocked the third-quickest speed in his No. 5 Chevrolet (135.198 mph), while last week’s Chicago winner Martin Truex Jr. nabbed the fourth spot in his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota (135.188 mph) during the waning minutes of the session. Ryan Blaney rounded out the top five, his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford coming up at 135.030 mph.
Denny Hamlin, the most recent winner at the Magic Mile, ranked sixth in the field, his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota notching a speed of 134.973 mph. Reigning race winner Kevin Harvick was 19th-fastest in his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
The top 10 drivers in opening practice are all playoff contenders with the exception of Erik Jones (eighth-fastest).
Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott both hit the outside wall early during opening practice. Both Johnson and Elliott will go to backup cars. Elliott did not make another lap in the backup car and was the slowest in opening practice among the 16 NASCAR Playoffs drivers (32nd).
RELATED: Johnson, Elliott smack the wall
Friday’s opening practice run was the only practice time for Monster Energy Series teams on the day. The NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series practices twice, with Monster Energy Series qualifying slated for 5:15 p.m. ET (NBCSN/NBC Sports App).