Kenseth, Menard pace Sprint Cup practices – Nascar

FINAL PRACTICE | Full results | Best 10-lap averages

Polesitter Matt Kenseth showcased the speed of his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota once again, as he topped the leaderboard at 186.361 mph during the final Sprint Cup Series practice Saturday at Kansas Speedway.

A pair of Stewart-Haas Racing drivers had some misfortune in final practice. While Kurt Busch‘s No. 41 Chevrolet showed speed early and he finished the session third (185.797 mph), he found trouble at the end of the session, as a right-front flat tire caused him to drive through the grass out of Turn 4 with just seconds left in practice.

Kevin Harvick, who was second-fastest in practice earlier this morning, briefly brought out the caution late in the 50-minute session, as his No. 4 SHR Chevrolet grazed the wall. After tending to the damage, Harvick made another run and ended the session 13th-fastest (184.780 mph).

Kyle Larson was second-quickest, his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Chevrolet the fastest among non-Chase drivers with a top speed of 185.842 mph.

Rounding out the top five were two Chase drivers: Hendrick Motorsports‘ Chase Elliott (185.752 mph) and Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Kyle Busch (185.535 mph), respectively.

Charlotte winner Jimmie Johnson (23rd-fastest) was the slowest driver among the 12 Chase competitors, clocking in a best lap of 183.880 mph. Johnson was also the slowest Chaser during morning practice and Friday’s Coors Light Pole qualifying session.

The Sprint Cup Series is back on track Sunday for the Hollywood Casino 400 (2:15 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

PRACTICE 2 | Practice 2 results | 10-lap averages

Paul Menard topped the speed charts in Saturday’s opening Sprint Cup practice at Kansas Speedway with a speed of 184.672 mph in his No. 27 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.

Right behind him was Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet at 184.376 mph.

Rounding out the top five were Kyle Larson in the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Chevrolet, Chase Elliott in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and Matt Kenseth in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Sprint Cup Series points leader Jimmie Johnson was 25th-fastest with a speed of 181.714 mph in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Johnson was the slowest Chase driver in this session.