Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick top practices at Auto Club Speedway
Robert Laberge | Getty Images
It's been all Kevin Harvick in practice throughout the weekend at Auto Club Speedway, but it was Kyle Busch who spoiled the party in Saturday's final session for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Busch, who will flank pole-starter Martin Truex Jr. on the front row in Sunday's Auto Club 400 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM), topped the charts with a lap at 185.668 mph in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Truex came in just behind Busch with a lap at 185.319 mph in the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota.
El Cajon, California native Jimmie Johnson finished third in the session, flying around the 2-mile track in his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at 184.525 mph.
RELATED: Practice results | Best 10-lap averages
Harvick, who laid down fastest laps in first and second practice, ended with the fourth-best time at 184.308 mph in the No. 4 Busch Beer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. Brad Keselowski, driving the No. 2 Team Penske Ford, rounded out the top five with a lap at 184.280 mph.
With around 37 minutes remaining, Kyle Larson had a scare after a right-rear tire went down on his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. Larson was able to catch the problem quickly and slowly make his way back to the garage area without any damage.
Ten teams were required to serve practice holds during Saturday's final session. The No. 34 of Michael McDowell served a 15-minute hold for a qualifying inspection violation. The Nos. 9 (Chase Elliott), 10 (Aric Almirola), 11 (Denny Hamlin), 14 (Clint Bowyer), 24 (William Byron), 47 (AJ Allmendinger), 48 (Jimmie Johnson), 72 (Cole Whitt) and 88 (Alex Bowman) had 15-minute holds for failing pre-qualifying inspection twice.
PRACTICE 2 RECAP
After posting the fastest time in Friday's opening practice, Kevin Harvick led the charge once again in second practice for Sunday's Monster Energy Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway.
Harvick ticked off a lap around the 2-mile oval at 186.075 mph in the No. 4 Busch Beer-sponsored Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. Teammate Kurt Busch finished second in the session, laying down a lap at 184.431 mph in the No. 41 Ford.
RELATED: Practice results | Best 10-lap averages | See every car in the field
Chase Elliott had the third fastest time with a lap at 184.021 mph in the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, followed by Kyle Larson in the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet (183.908 mph) and Ryan Blaney in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford (183.861 mph).
Practice was delayed for roughly 10 minutes as crews worked to dry the track after early morning showers passed through the Fontana, California, area.
The No. 51 Rick Ware Racing team of Timmy Hill served a 15-minute practice hold in the second session after arriving late to Friday's qualifying inspection.