Jimmie Johnson may need to win Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday if he wants to earn his record-tying seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, and after the second round of practice on Saturday morning, it appears he has the car to do it.
Johnson paced the field, setting a fast lap of 174.345 mph to lead the session. Chase Elliott was second fastest, 1.013 mph off Johnson’s speed.
Fellow Chase contenders Carl Edwards and Joey Logano also posted competitive laps during their runs. Edwards was third fastest, while Logano’s lap left him sixth on the charts.
The same could not be said for the fourth Chase driver, Kyle Busch. The defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion was 28th overall after the round ended. While possibly a cause for concern, it should be noted that Busch was eighth quick in the first practice on Friday.
Other notable drivers were Martin Truex, Jr, who posted the quick time in the initial practice, in seventh, Kevin Harvick in 20th and Brad Keselowski in 22nd. Tony Stewart, who makes his final NASCAR Sprint Cup start this weekend, was 29th on the board.
Final practice for the Sprint Cup drivers will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Frank Velat has been an avid follower of NASCAR and other motorsports for over 20 years. He brings a blend of passionate fan and objective author to his work. Frank offers unique perspectives that everyone can relate to, remembering the sport's past all the while embracing its future. Follow along with @FrankVelat on Twitter.