NSCS: Kyle Larson Leads Final STP 500 Practice at Martinsvile Speedway

Perhaps making the decision to run both races this weekend is a benefit for Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch as they would top the final practice charts at Martinsville Speedway.

Larson would post the quickest time of the session with a lap of 19.835 seconds. The paperclip hasn’t treated Larson well in the past, with his best finish being a 19th last year. Meanwhile, Busch was second quickest, 0.027 seconds off of Larson. Busch has nine top-fives and 10 top-10s in 21 previous starts on the paperclip, but has yet to reach victory lane.

Brian Vickers was third as he subs for Tony Stewart once again this week. Vickers said earlier this week that Martinsville is one of his favorite tracks. Vickers grew up in Thomasville, North Carolina, just over an hour away from Martinsville. He would endure some contact in the final practice, as Paul Menard would give him a couple of small bumps to get him to move up the track a little. It only resulted in minor damage, though.

Ryan Newman backed up his top-five qualifying effort, posting the fourth quickest time in practice. Newman has won at Martinsville previously, and has posted eight top-fives and and 13 top-10s in 28 starts.

Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top-five as he looks to bounce back after finishing outside of the top-20 last week due to contact with Joey Logano.

Jimmie Johnson was sixth quickest, showing the most speed that he has shown all weekend, followed by Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne and Ryan Blaney.