Martin Truex Jr. popped up to the top of the leaderboard late to lead final practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Truex, who won last weekend at Kentucky Speedway, turned a lap of 131.624 mph in the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota.
Kevin Harvick, who drove 92 laps combined in Saturday’s two practice sessions, finished second at 131.556 mph in the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top five. Pole-sitter Kurt Busch was 12th in final practice in the No. 41 SHR Ford.
RELATED: Final practice results | Best 10-lap averages | Fantasy advice
Michael McDowell brought out a red flag midway through the session when he wrecked the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford. McDowell was treated and released from the infield care center, and he told NBCSN that the team would move to a backup car for Sunday.
Late in practice, Landon Cassill crashed the No. 00 StarCom Racing Chevrolet, and that team also rolled out its backup car. Cassill also was treated and released from the infield care center.
The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet both served 15-minute penalties for failing pre-qualifying inspection twice — the No. 11 at Kentucky and the No. 95 at New Hampshire.
The start time for Sunday’s race, the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301, was moved up to 1 p.m. ET because of rain in the forecast, with coverage on NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and the NBC Sports App.
Practice 2
Defending race winner Denny Hamlin put down the fastest lap in Saturday morning’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota circled the 1.058-mile track at a speed of 132.942 mph, edging Ryan Blaney in the Team Penske No. 12 Ford at 132.526 mph.
RELATED: Practice 2 results | 10-lap averages
Martin Truex Jr., in the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota, was third at 132.462 mph, Kyle Busch was fourth in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and Kevin Harvick was fifth in the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
Kasey Kahne, in the No. 95 for Leavine Family Racing, was the top Chevrolet driver in eighth place. Pole-sitter Kurt Busch was ninth in the No. 41 SHR Ford.