Kevin Harvick continues to show the way

The King of Beers Chevy has also been the king of practice so far at Michigan International Speedway as Kevin Harvick posted the fastest lap in the second session. 

Although practice was delayed due to wet conditions on the track, Harvick wheeled the No. 4 Budweiser Chevy to a lap of 201.084 mph on Saturday. Harvick, who led first practice and the first and second round of qualifying on Friday, laid down his quick lap of 35.806-seconds in the fourth of 12 circuits.  

Polesitter Kasey Kahne, Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch and Pocono winner Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top five. After Larson’s lap of 199,989 mph, he radioed to the crew, “A little bit tighter to start, but I feel like I freed up as I went.” 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was frustrated after missing the final round of qualifying on Friday, but made gains in the second practice. He was sixth on the speed chart with a lap of 199.424 mph in his 16th of 20 laps.

It’s probably the best we’ve been.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“It’s probably the best we’ve been,” said Earnhardt, who has two wins on the two-mile track. “Just getting real comfortable into the entry of Turn 3 right now, just chatter the fronts when I try to hustle the center.”

Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top 10. The top Ford was Joey Logano’s No. 22 Team Penske Fusion, which posted the 15th fastest time — 198.189 mph. Penske protege Ryan Blaney, who qualified fifth for the Quicken Loans 400, was 16th in second practice.