Denny Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 champion, was fastest in NASCAR Cup Series practice Friday while in a draft with his Toyota teammates — his Camry clocking in at 197.477mph (45.575s). He was followed by eight other Toyota drivers.
Erik Jones was second-fastest at 197.468mph, Christopher Bell third at 197.429mph, Ty Gibbs fourth at 197.394mph and John Hunter Nemechek fifth at 193.377mph.
Tyler Reddick was sixth at 197.364mph, Jimmie Johnson seventh at 197.282mph, Bubba Wallace eighth at 197.126mph, Michael McDowell ninth at 194.569mph, and Austin Cindric completed the top 10 at 194.523mph.
Daytona 500 polesitter Joey Logano was 14th fastest at 194.07mph.
All three manufacturers had small groups of teammates drafting together, which was reflected on the speed charts.
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The fastest eight drivers in practice were Toyotas. The next six were Fords. Chevrolet had the following six.
There were no incidents in practice.
David Ragan pulled double duty. He got behind the wheel of the No. 60 Ford he qualified for the Daytona 500 with RFK Racing, but he also got on track in the No. 17 Ford for Chris Buescher, who returned to North Carolina early Friday to be with his wife Emma for the birth of their second child. Buescher will return to Daytona for the 500.
Ragan was 26th on the speed charter in the No. 60. He was 39th on the chart after shaking down the No. 17 Ford, which was just a three-lap run.
Track time during the 50-minute session was a high priority. The local forecast calls for rain to move into the area Saturday and potentially stay through early Monday. If so, it would mean Friday’s lone practice would be the only on-track time between Thursday’s Duels and the start of the Daytona 500.
Thirty-nine of the 40 teams participated in practice. The one driver who did not get on track was the No. 62 of Anthony Alfredo for Beard Motorsports.