Harvick the happiest in Happy Hour
Kevin Harvick has broken Carl Edwards' stranglehold at the top of the time sheets, posting the quickest time in final practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Photo by: Action Sports Photography
Harvick ran a 28.302 early in Happy Hour, the fastest lap set in any practice session this weekend. Unlike Saturday's earlier practice where Harvick was the best on longer runs, he could not match Edwards, who led the way in both ten and 15-lap consecutive averages.
Kyle Busch finds speed
Kyle Busch and company continued their battle to make the No 18 handle the first corner better and it appeared that they may have finally settled his Camry down when Busch jumped up to second on the speed charts.
"You can keep running if you like it. If you want a quick change, you'll have to bring it in now," the team told Busch with less than five minutes left on the clock.
"It feels way better," the driver replied.
Edwards was down in fifth, but happy with where the No. 19 was at when the red flag was displayed.
"Good job guys, good job. I haven't hit anything yet and I still have to get back to the garage."
"I had a harder time in and off with it," said Jimmie Johnson, fourth in final practice and the top Hendrick car. "I don't know if it was the tires or that adjustment. I got loose into three and jumped the cushion, so I just thought I'd come into you."
More work to do on Earnhardt's No. 88
His teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr, P15, was the slowest of the Hendrick quartet. "I'm getting tighter sooner than I was earlier in the day. Tight when I get to the throttle - that last set of tires I was tight the first half of the corner too as well as the last half. Feels like the left front is skipping, sliding."
"Good job today guys, we have a pretty good car for tomorrow," commented No. 88 crew chief Greg Ives. "We have to work on it a little bit, but thanks for the effort."
Kasey Kahne was sixth, but complained that he had no brakes.
Kurt Busch was ninth and had this to say about his No. 41 Chevrolet: "That whole run, we were tight in loose of. Tight at the third mark, not tight off the wall."
Clint Bowyer is struggling the most of all Chase contenders and Happy Hour wasn't any better - P28. "That's about as good as you're going to get it there. It doesn't matter. Ended up with the track bar at 215"
Jeffrey Earnhardt, who crashed in the earlier practice, was the only driver who did not set a time in final practice.
CLICK HERE for complete practice results
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