Denny Hamlin Leads Title Contenders in Final NASCAR Practice

Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- After struggling in opening practice Friday and qualifying a disappointing 37th for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season finale, championship leader Denny Hamlin showed some signs of progress, posting a top-five speed in Saturday's final practice session -- best among the three drivers in contention for the title.

Hamlin's lap of 169.284 mph in the No. 11 FedEx Toyota was fourth best in Happy Hour -- as the final practice is called -- well off Kasey Kahne's pole-winning mark of nearly 177 mph, but ahead of his closest championship rivals. Four-time defending series champ Jimmie Johnson, who trails Hamlin by 15 points in the title hunt, was 22nd fastest in final practice, while Kevin Harvick, who is 46 points behind Hamlin, was 29th fastest.

"I feel pretty good about my car,'' said Hamlin, who made a beeline from the garage to his team transporter after practice. "I feel like we have a better car than the 48 (Johnson). I feel like the 29 (Harvick) is maybe a hair better than us, but we are always a little bit slower in practice than what we are in the race.

"I'm confident that we're going to have a good day tomorrow. We've just got to make sure we stay on the right strategy.''

Harvick, whose Richard Childress Racing teammate Jeff Burton was fastest on the day, was similarly satisfied with his team's preparation -- so much so that he parked his No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy before the session ended.

"I'm excited,'' said Harvick. "It should be a fun day tomorrow.''

 

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