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Jamie McMurray Sets the Pace in First MENCS Practice at Kentucky

Jamie McMurray is taking a loving to the ever-changing Kentucky Speedway. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver took the top spot on the scoring pylon Friday morning, clocking in a time of 28.911 at 186.780 mph.

McMurray enters Kentucky eighth in the series standings, earning a pair of top fives and 10 top 10s through the first 17 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series contests in 2017. In six previous starts at Kentucky, he has a best finish of second, coming in 2013 version of the Quaker State 400, when he was about seven-tenths of a second away from beating Matt Kenseth.

Martin Truex Jr., who has two wins this year, ended the session just behind McMurray at 28.963 seconds. Behind him were Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch. Busch held the fastest 10-lap average, running 10 straight circuits at an average of 183.148 mph ahead of Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin.

Reigning Kentucky winner Brad Keselowski ended practice 15th on the scoreboard.

The Stewart-Haas Racing duo of Danica Patrick and Clint Bowyer ended practice seventh and eighth, respectively. Bowyer is coming off back-to-back runner-up finishes, while Patrick is looking to best her top finish of 17th in four starts at Kentucky.

Click here for the results from the first practice session of the weekend.

 

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