Larson leads opening Cup practice at NHMS, Hamlin crashes

The absence of crew chief Chad Johnston, who was suspended for three races after failing post-race suspension following Kentucky Speedway, had no effect on the No. 42 car’s speed.

Martin Truex Jr. (133.217mph) was second followed by Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Jamie McMurray, Kasey Kahne, Chase Elliott, Matt Kenseth, rookie Erik Jones and Kurt Busch.

Aric Almirola was the first car on the track. He returned to competition at New Hampshire following an eight-race recovery period after fracturing his T5 vertebra following a multi-car wreck at Kansas Speedway on May 13.

After 10 minutes, 13 cars completed initial runs with Erik Jones posting the fastest lap followed by AJ Allmendinger, Almirola, Logano, Harvick, Paul Menard, Austin Dillon, Corey LaJoie, David Ragan, Chris Buescher, Ryan Newman, Daniel Suarez and Ty Dillon.

Before the 15 minute mark, called a caution for fluid on the Magic Mile.

When the track returned to competition, Kevin Harvick (129.652mph) shot to the top of the speed chart — but it was short-lived. Ryan Blaney (130.220mph) passed him followed by Logano (130.470mph).

“The exit is a little bit free but I’m having a hard time committing,” said McMurray, who was eighth after five laps. “Definitely free exit.”

NASCAR released drivers serving 15-minute practice for being late to pre-race inspection at Kentucky Speedway. Landon Cassill, Gray Gaulding, Cole Whitt and Michael McDowell joined the session.

Twenty-five minutes into the session, Logano remained on top followed by Blaney, Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Harvick, Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger and Kurt Busch.

Reports of sprinkles on the drivers’ windshields started just before the 30-minute mark

After Almirola completed his second run and 17 laps, he lined up 24th.

“Not any better than the first run, “I’m loose into (Turn) 3 and I need more turn.”

Larson (131.067mph), Hamlin, McMurray, Logano, Blaney, Bowyer, Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, and Erik Jones rounded out the top 10 after the first 30 minutes.

Forty-five minutes into the 85-minute session, Kyle Busch capture the top spot with a lap of 132.665mph. Martin Truex Jr., Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth and Brad Keselowski.

After the first hour, Larson returned to the top with a qualifying run of 133.712mph. Kyle Busch, McMurray, Kahne, Truex, Kenseth, Allmendinger, Newman, Keselowski and Kurt Busch completed the top 10.

Hamlin wrecked on a mock qualifying coming out of Turn 4 after one hour and eight minutes into first practice to ignite the second caution. Hamlin destroyed the front end of the car after his nose hit the wall.

With 15 minutes remaining, Larson remained the fastest car followed by Truex, Busch, McMurray, Kahne, Kenseth, Allmendinger, Newman, Keselowski and Kurt Busch.

Cla	#	Driver	Manufacturer	Laps	Time	Gap	Interval	Mph
1	42	Kyle Larson	Chevrolet	26	28.430			133.971
2	78	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	14	28.591	0.161	0.161	133.217
3	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	12	28.607	0.177	0.016	133.142
4	21	Ryan Blaney	Ford	21	28.672	0.242	0.065	132.840
5	1	Jamie McMurray	Chevrolet	17	28.703	0.273	0.031	132.697
6	5	Kasey Kahne	Chevrolet	13	28.801	0.371	0.098	132.245
7	24	Chase Elliott	Chevrolet	31	28.808	0.378	0.007	132.213
8	20	Matt Kenseth	Toyota	13	28.816	0.386	0.008	132.177
9	77	Erik Jones	Toyota	29	28.828	0.398	0.012	132.122
10	41	Kurt Busch	Ford	19	28.844	0.414	0.016	132.048
11	19	Daniel Suarez	Toyota	27	28.848	0.418	0.004	132.030
12	14	Clint Bowyer	Ford	33	28.853	0.423	0.005	132.007
13	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	30	28.895	0.465	0.042	131.815
14	4	Kevin Harvick	Ford	32	28.926	0.496	0.031	131.674
15	47	A.J. Allmendinger	Chevrolet	24	28.930	0.500	0.004	131.656
16	17	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Ford	23	28.930	0.500	0.000	131.656
17	22	Joey Logano	Ford	31	28.934	0.504	0.004	131.638
18	31	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	21	28.937	0.507	0.003	131.624
19	2	Brad Keselowski	Ford	12	28.977	0.547	0.040	131.442
20	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	30	28.999	0.569	0.022	131.342
21	37	Chris Buescher	Chevrolet	33	29.051	0.621	0.052	131.107
22	43	Aric Almirola	Ford	26	29.088	0.658	0.037	130.941
23	32	Matt DiBenedetto	Ford	25	29.091	0.661	0.003	130.927
24	6	Trevor Bayne	Ford	29	29.092	0.662	0.001	130.923
25	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	22	29.119	0.689	0.027	130.801
26	27	Paul Menard	Chevrolet	25	29.140	0.710	0.021	130.707
27	34	Landon Cassill	Ford	20	29.145	0.715	0.005	130.685
28	95	Michael McDowell	Chevrolet	24	29.155	0.725	0.010	130.640
29	3	Austin Dillon	Chevrolet	22	29.223	0.793	0.068	130.336
30	38	David Ragan	Ford	24	29.328	0.898	0.105	129.869
31	72	Cole Whitt	Chevrolet	13	29.330	0.900	0.002	129.860
32	10	Danica Patrick	Ford	22	29.344	0.914	0.014	129.798
33	13	Ty Dillon	Chevrolet	38	29.446	1.016	0.102	129.349
34	23	Corey Lajoie	Toyota	31	29.725	1.295	0.279	128.135
35	55	Gray Gaulding	Toyota	18	29.833	1.403	0.108	127.671
36	33	Jeffrey Earnhardt	Chevrolet	18	29.927	1.497	0.094	127.270
37	15	Reed Sorenson	Chevrolet	13	29.931	1.501	0.004	127.253
38	83	Ryan Sieg	Toyota	22	29.958	1.528	0.027	127.138
39	51	Josh Bilicki	Chevrolet	17	30.643	2.213	0.685	124.296