KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Rookie Daniel Hemric and veteran Brad Keselowski paced a pair of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice sessions Friday at Kansas Speedway.
Hemric, in Richard Childress Racing’s No. 8 Chevrolet, led the way during the second practice with a 30.366-second lap at 177.830 mph around the 1.5-mile speedway.
Championship contender Kevin Harvick was second fastest in the second practice, .126 seconds off the fastest lap turned by Hemric. Kurt Busch was third fastest, followed by Keselowski and Talladega race winner Ryan Blaney.
In the opening practice, Keselowski’s 30.595-second lap at 176.499 mph was enough to put him at the top of the charts in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford Mustang.
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola and Daniel Suarez were second and third fastest, with Denny Hamlin and Blaney completing the top-five in the opening practice session.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will be back on track Saturday for qualifying at 1:35 p.m. EST.