SONOMA, Calif. – After securing the pole for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway in each of the last two years, Kyle Larson is hoping to break through for his first win at the California road course.
He got that mission off to a fast start on Friday afternoon, turning the fastest lap across a pair of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practices at the 2.52-mile, 12-turn track.
Larson posted a time of one minute, 35.026 seconds (95.469 mph) with his No. 42 Credit One Chevrolet during final practice, more than half a second clear of anyone else in that 80-minute session and nearly a tenth and a half better than the second-best lap of the day.
The Elk Grove, Calif., native is still seeking his first Cup Series win of the season and a guaranteed spot in the playoffs.
Behind Larson, the next four fastest laps overall were all turned during the opening practice round on Friday.
Martin Truex Jr., the 2017 Cup Series champion and defending Sonoma race winner, was second-quick overall and fastest in first practice with the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota at 1:35.168 (95.326 mph).
Truex is seeking his fourth win of the year and is tied with Kyle Busch among active drivers for the most Cup Series victories at Sonoma Raceway.
Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney ended the day third overall with a time of 1:35.299 (95.195 mph) in his No. 12 PPG Ford, followed by Chris Buescher’s No. 37 Hellmann’s Chevrolet at 1:35.454 (95.041 mph) in fourth.
Completing the top five was another past Sonoma winner in seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, whose No. 48 Ally Chevrolet turned a best lap of 1:35.460 (95.035 mph).
Johnson won at Sonoma in 2010.
Sixth through 10th on the overall speed charts were Kurt Busch, Michael McDowell, Alex Bowman, Clint Bowyer and Aric Almirola.
Friday marked the first time since 1997 that NASCAR has utilized the full-course layout at Sonoma, featuring an extra half-mile of distance between turns four and seven.
Kyle Busch was 11th-fastest on the day (1:36.170/94.333) after missing the carousel and spinning during final practice, while an impressive effort was turned in by Gaunt Brothers Racing’s Parker Kligerman, who posted the sixth-quickest lap of final practice and was 13th-best overall in the No. 96 TRD 40th Anniversary Toyota.
Qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is set for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday.