Matt Kenseth wasted little time in his bid to win Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at Dover International Speedway.
Kenseth was fastest (162.550 mph) in Friday’s sole practice session. He logged just seven laps, with a top elapsed time around the one-mile, high-banked concrete oval at 22.147 seconds.
Kenseth continues to search for his first win of the 2017 Cup season.
It’s not surprising that Kenseth did so well, as Dover is tied for second on his list of most successful tracks with three wins, 17 top-5 and 24 top-10 finishes and one pole in 34 starts there.
Kenseth was one of all four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers to record top 10 speeds.
Kyle Larson was second fastest (162.023 mph), followed by 11-time Dover winner Jimmie Johnson (162.023), Kyle Busch (161.980), Kevin Harvick (161.696), Kurt Busch (161.660), Chase Elliott (161.558), Martin Truex Jr. (161.464), Denny Hamlin (161.298) and the only non-playoff driver in the top 10, Daniel Suarez (161.240).
The slowest playoff drivers in the session were Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (25th, 158.737 mph) and Austin Dillon (27th, 158.702).
A total of 40 cars took to the track for the session.
There will be two additional practices Saturday, while qualifying takes place this afternoon at 3:40 p.m. ET.
Click here for the full practice speed grid.