Kurt Busch, Suarez top practice sessions at Pocono Raceway

Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch set a course to the top of the speed chart in Friday’s final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Pocono Raceway.

Busch pushed the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 Chevrolet to a 172.712-mph lap, fastest in the 50-minute session on the 2.5-mile triangular circuit. Busch is a three-time Pocono winner, having tamed the triangle most recently in 2016.

Brad Keselowski turned in the second-fastest lap, 171.798 mph in the Team Penske No. 2 Ford. Busch’s teammate Kyle Larson was third, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. fourth, with series points leader Kyle Busch completing the fastest five in final practice for the Pocono 400 (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).

Defending race winner Martin Truex Jr., who prevailed in last weekend’s Coca-Cola 600, was 10th-fastest in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota. He was also 10th-fastest in first practice earlier in the afternoon.

Busch Pole Qualifying is scheduled Saturday at 11:35 p.m. ET

Suarez shows the way in first Pocono practice

Daniel Suarez landed atop the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series leaderboard in Friday’s first practice at Pocono Raceway.

Suarez guided the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Ford to clock a best lap of 171.217 mph on the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track.