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Denny Hamlin posted the fastest time in final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Daytona International Speedway. Photo Credit: Noel Lanier

Hamlin Fastest in Final Practice

By Tucker White

February 17, 2017

Less than 1 Minute Read

Denny Hamlin topped the chart in final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Daytona International Speedway.

The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was the fastest with a time of 45.795 and a speed of 196.528 mph. Daniel Suarez was second in his No. 19 JGR Toyota with a time of 45.853 and a speed of 196.279 mph. Kyle Busch was third in his No. 18 JGR Toyota with a time of 45.860 and a speed of 196.249 mph. Matt Kenseth was fourth in his No. 20 JGR Toyota with a time of 45.866 and a speed of 196.224 mph. Joey Logano rounded out the top-five in his No. 22 Team Penske Ford with a time of 46.016 and a speed of 195.584 mph.

The four Gibbs Toyota’s all drafted together rather than work with a seven-car draft consisting of the Penske duo, two of the Stewart-Haas Ford’s (Kevin Harvick and Danica Patrick), Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson.

Kenseth posted the fastest 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 195.510 mph.

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Tucker White

I've followed NASCAR for well over 20 years of my life, both as a fan and now as a member of the media. As of 2024, I'm on my ninth season as a traveling NASCAR beat writer. For all its flaws and dumb moments, NASCAR at its best produces some of the best action you'll ever see in the sport of auto racing. Case in point: Kyle Larson's threading the needle pass at Darlington Raceway on May 9, 2021. On used-up tires, racing on a worn surface and an aero package that put his car on the razor's edge of control, Larson demonstrated why he's a generational talent. Those are the stories I want to capture and break down. In addition to NASCAR, I also follow IndyCar and Formula 1. As a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, I'm a diehard Tennessee Volunteers fan (especially in regards to Tennessee football). If covering NASCAR doesn't kill me, down the road, watching Tennessee football will. I'm also a diehard fan of the Atlanta Braves, and I lived long enough to see them win a World Series for the first time since 1995 (when I was just a year old). I've also sworn my fan allegiance to the Nashville Predators, though that's not paid out as much as the Braves. Furthermore, as a massive sports dork, I follow the NFL on a weekly basis. Though it's more out of an obligation than genuine passion (for sports dorks, following the NFL is basically an unwritten rule). Outside of sports, I'm a major cinema buff and a weeb. My favorite film is "Blazing Saddles" and my favorite anime is "Black Lagoon."

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