Hamlin recovers, paces final practice at Bristol – Nascar

RELATED: Practice 2 results | Final practice results

Denny Hamlin made a solid recovery from a collision in Saturday’s earlier practice session, setting the pace in final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Hamlin, sporting repairs on the nose of his Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota, logged a best lap of 126.129 mph on the .533-mile track. His car suffered slight right-front damage after making contact with Danica Patrick‘s No. 10 Chevrolet in Saturday’s earlier practice.

Sunoco Rookie of the Year points leader Chase Elliott snuck in the second-fastest lap in the closing minute of practice, turning a 125.823 mph speed in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet. Martin Truex Jr. landed the third-fastest lap (125.749 mph) in the Furniture Row Racing No. 78 Toyota.

Coors Light Pole winner Carl Edwards, Hamlin’s JGR teammate in the No. 19 Toyota, was fourth-fastest at 125.691 mph. Edwards, who topped Sprint Cup qualifying for the second straight week, will start first in Sunday’s Food City 500 (1 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Kyle Busch, winner of the last four NASCAR national series events, completed the top five in another Joe Gibbs-owned entry. His No. 18 Toyota was fifth-fastest at 125.395 mph in the 55-minute session.

Patrick, the other driver involved in the early-session altercation, also returned to the track after repairs, but brushed the outside wall in the early stages of final practice. She wound up 30th in the 40-car field on the final leaderboard.

RELATED: Patrick, Hamlin collide in opening practice

Kyle Busch fastest in early Saturday session

Kyle Busch kept up his show of speed in Saturday morning practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, topping the leaderboard at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Busch powered the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota to a best lap of 126.370 mph in the 55-minute session. The reigning Sprint Cup champ will start fifth in Sunday’s Food City 500 (1 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM), the eighth of 36 points-paying races for the series this year.

Sunoco Rookie of the Year points leader Chase Elliott was second-fastest at 126.253 mph in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet. Kurt Busch wound up third-best (126.137 mph) in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Chevy.

Aric Almirola (125.988 mph) turned the fourth-fastest lap around the .533-mile track in the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford. Coors Light Pole Award winner Carl Edwards and Joey Logano, a two-time Bristol winner, tied for the fifth-fastest lap at 125.972 mph.

Denny Hamlin and Danica Patrick made slight contact with approximately 12 minutes remaining in the 55-minute practice. Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota closed rapidly on Patrick’s No. 10 Chevrolet entering Turn 1, with the right-front corner of Hamlin’s car crunching into the left-rear fender of Patrick’s.

Defending race winner Matt Kenseth landed the eighth-fastest lap.