CONCORD, N.C. — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Jonathan Ferrey/NASCAR via Getty Images photo — Joey Logano has taken his momentum from a win last weekend in Kansas and used it to propel himself into the list of challengers for Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 victory.
Logano, driver of the No. 22 Pennzoil Platinum Ford for Team Penske, rocketed to the top of the practice sheets during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Happy Hour Friday evening on his opening lap and was never challenged throughout the remainder of the session. Logano’s quick lap of 28.332 seconds (190.597 mph) held up despite a mid-session challenge from Stewart Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick.
Kurt Busch, who paced the earlier Friday Cup practice session, was second on the pylon at a top speed of 190.463 seconds, while Harvick slotted in third at 190.087 mph after posting his top speed on the 34th of his 54 laps.
Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon was fourth overall and the only other driver to top the 190 mark at a 190.007 mph clip. Defending event champion Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five.
Six-time series champion and defending track winner Jimmie Johnson clocked in eighth overall, but scrubbed the wall late in the practice session. According to Johnson afterwards, the damage is all cosmetic and he doesn’t believe the team will have any issues come tomorrow night.
Every one of the 12 remaining Chase drivers placed in the top 20 on the final speed charts, with Kasey Kahne (188.449) and Ryan Newman (188.350) clocking in at 19th and 20th, respectively.
Follow the Chase action Saturday night when the Bank of America 500 takes the green flag at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
