Kahne leads Atlanta Cup practice session
HAMPTON, Ga. - Kasey Kahne's last lap was his best lap. And it topped the first Nextel Cup practice at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday in preparation for the Pep Boys Auto 500.
Kasey Kahne, driving Gillett Evernham Motorsports' No. 9 Dodge, turned a lap of 191.199 mph on his 20th and final lap of the practice. He edged Roush Fenway Racing's Greg Biffle, whose lap of 190.561 mph was 0.097 seconds slower than Kasey Kahne.
Chase For The Nextel Cup leader Jeff Gordon was third for Hendrick Motorsports, running a fast lap of 190.084 mph. Jeff Gordon's closest pursuers in the Chase were behind him in the practice: Clint Bowyer (Richard Childress Racing) was fourth and Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick) fifth. Johnson trails Jeff Gordon by 53 points in the Nextel Cup standings, with Bowyer 115 out of the lead.
Kurt Busch (Penske Racing) was sixth in the practice, followed by brother Kyle Busch (Hendrick), Reed Sorenson (Chip Ganassi Racing), Martin Truex Jr. (Dale Earnhardt Inc.) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (DEI). Kurt and Kyle Busch and Truex are also Chase drivers.
Other competitors in the 10-race, title-determining Chase are Tony Stewart (Joe Gibbs Racing) 19th, Carl Edwards (Roush Fenway) 24th, Kevin Harvick (RCR) 27th, Jeff Burton (RCR) 35th, Denny Hamlin (JGR) 37th, and Matt Kenseth (Roush Fenway) 48th, slowest of the cars that practiced. Matt Kenseth blew an engine in the session.
Nextel Cup qualifying is scheduled for tonight at 7:10 p.m.
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