Denny Hamlin Leads Final Sprint Unlimited Practice at Daytona
Story By:Seth Livingston/NASAR Media
Photos By:Getty Images/NASCAR
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin paced the second and final NASCAR practice for Saturday’s Sprint Unlimited at Daytona (8 p.m., FOX) on Friday night.
Hamlin toured the Daytona International Speedway with a lap of 45.242 seconds (198.930 mph) behind the wheel of his FedEx No. 11. He was in the back of a pack of about seven cars when he put the lap down.
Behind Hamlin was new H-Scott Motorsports driver Clint Bowyer, who drove his Five Hour Energy Toyota in that same pack as Hamlin. Bowyer posted a lap of 46.094 seconds (195.253 mph) in only his second practice behind the wheel for his new team.
Richard Petty Motorsports driver Aric Almirola was third in the session with his lap of 46.181 seconds (194.885 mph), while Brian Vickers, who is subbing for the injured Tony Stewart, finished fourth in the final practice (46.200 seconds/194.805 mph).
Vickers fellow Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick, the 2014 Sprint Cup champion, rounded out the top five running a lap of 46.210 seconds (194.763 mph) behind the wheel of his Busch Beer Chevrolet.
Harvick’s Stewart-Haas teammates Kurt Busch (46.246 seconds/194.611 mph) and Danica Patrick (46.266 seconds/194.527 mph) were sixth and seventh in the session.
2015 Sprint Unlimited pole sitter Paul Menard was eighth in the practice (46.310 seconds/194.342 mph), with Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon (46.325 seconds/194.280 mph) and Penske Racing driver Brad Keslowski (46.472 seconds/193.665 mph) rounded out the top ten.
For the full list of practice results from practice two of the day, fans can see below. Saturday, action kicks-off with practice for the 58th Daytona 500 at 10:30 a.m., live on Fox Sports 1.
The Sprint Unlimited will go green at 8:15 p.m. on FOX and is scheduled for 75 laps. Race Chaser Online will have live updates throughout the event on Twitter, @RaceChaserNews.
RESULTS: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series; Sprint Unlimited Second Practice; Daytona International Speedway; February 12, 2016:
1.Denny Hamlin
2.Clint Bowyer
3.Aric Almirola
4.Brian Vickers
5.Kevin Harvick
6.Kurt Busch
7.Danica Patrick
8.Paul Menard
9.Austin Dillon
10.Brad Keslowski
11.Joey Logano
12.Dale Earnhardt Jr.
13.Kasey Kahne
14.Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
15.Jimmie Johnson
16.Kyle Busch
17.Jamie McMurray
18.Ryan Newman
19.Kyle Larson
20.AJ Allmendinger
21.Carl Edwards
