Edwards tops rain-interrupted practice at Homestead – Nascar

RELATED: Full practice results

Rain interrupted Friday’s opening Sprint Cup Series practice at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Carl Edwards was awarded the top spot after his No. 19 Toyota topped the charts early in the session. The caution was waved twice for weather around 1 p.m. ET, and NASCAR ultimately called practice at 1:30 p.m. ET after an attempt to dry the track late in the session. The practice was originally scheduled to run from noon-1:25 p.m. ET.

Edwards — who was eliminated from the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup last week at Phoenix International Raceway after rain ended the race prematurely — wheeled his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota at 175.143 mph for the top position.

Team Penske‘s Brad Keselowski was next on the charts, posting a fast lap of 174.452 mph in his No. 2 Ford.

Martin Truex Jr. was the fastest of the four Chase contenders, his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet propelling around the 1.5-mile track at 174.374 mph to nab the third spot. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr. (173.689 mph) and Jimmie Johnson (173.678 mph) rounded out the top five, respectively.

Of the four Chase Contenders, Jeff Gordon came up slowest, his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet ranking 30th on the leaderboard with a top speed of 170.127 mph. Chase drivers Kevin Harvick (173.550 mph) and Kyle Busch (172.177 mph) posted the seventh and 16th-fastest speeds, respectively.

The Sprint Cup Series is back on track at 6:15 p.m. ET for Coors Light Pole qualifying (NBCSN/Live Extra).