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Alex Bowman fastest in first Cup practice at Watkins Glen

AUTO: JUL 28 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Gander Outdoors 400

LONG POND, PA - JULY 28: Alex Bowman driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet during driver introductions prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Gander Outdoors 400 on July 28, 2019 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Alex Bowman topped the speed chart in the Cup Series’ first of two practice sessions for Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen International.

Bowman posted his top speed of 125.888 mph around the road course in the final minute of the session.

The top five was completed by Kyle Busch (125.786 mph), Denny Hamlin (125.643 mph), Chase Elliott (125.623) and Kyle Larson (125.786).

Hamlin and Austin Dillon recorded the most laps in the session with 23 each.

The practice was stopped once for a Matt Tifft spin with 42 minutes left in the session. Elliott narrowly avoided colliding with his No. 36 Ford.

“I got really lucky for sure,” Elliott said. “I was like ‘Here we go, we are going to crash another one in practice.’ I saw smoke and at first, I thought somebody blew up, so I was like I’m going to get over here out of the way and hope to stay out of the oil. Then I realized somebody was spinning out and I was going to go to the right of him because I thought he was going to stay closer to the left. Joey (Logano) was stopped on the bottom and I think myself and whoever was behind me knew there was no way we were getting stopped before we got there. I had to decide last second that the left side was the only option if I could get there. Luckily, I got over there, but I don’t really know how.”

Click here for the practice report.