Cup drivers top Busch series test

Hamlin, the 2006 Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year, topped the afternoon session in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Chevrolet with a lap of 186.293 mph, lapping close to the best times set by the Cup cars in the draft earlier this week.

Paul Menard, who had been fastest in Nextel Cup testing at Daytona last Wednesday, was second in the No. 15 Chevrolet, ahead of Martin Truex and Shane Huffman, also driving Chevrolets.

Steve Wallace, son of former Cup champion Rusty Wallace, was fifth and fastest among the Dodges in his father's entry at 185.651 mph.

Juan Pablo Montoya continued gaining experience of the 31-degree banking at Daytona today, driving the No. 42 Ganassi Dodge to seventh fastest, ahead of Kyle Busch's Chevrolet.

Australian Marcos Ambrose, who will race the whole season of the Busch Series, had a good first day at Daytona finishing ninth fastest and quickest among the Ford drivers.

Toyota was also present at the first day of testing, as the Japanese manufacturer tackles its first season in the Busch series in parallel with its debut in NASCAR's top division.

David Reutimann and Jason Leffler finished the day eleventh and twelfth, driving their Camrys at 184.938 mph and 184.385 mph respectively. Dave Blaney drove the third Toyota to the nineteenth fastest speed of the day.

A total 24 teams tested today at Daytona. Testing for the Busch Series will run until Tuesday.

Friday Speeds from Busch Series testing at Daytona:

Pos  Driver               Make        Speed(mph)
 1.  Denny Hamlin         Chevrolet   186.293
 2.  Paul Menard          Chevrolet   186.066
 3.  Martin Truex Jr.     Chevrolet   185.973
 4.  Shane Huffman        Chevrolet   185.709
 5.  Steve Wallace        Dodge       185.651
 6.  Aric Almirola        Chevrolet   185.418
 7.  Juan Pablo Montoya   Dodge       185.361
 8.  Kyle Busch           Chevrolet   185.315
 9.  Marcos Ambrose       Ford        185.181
10.  Brandon Miller       Chevrolet   185.128
11.  David Reutimann      Toyota      184.938
12.  Jason Leffler        Toyota      185.385
13.  Joe Nemechek         Chevrolet   183.959
14.  Robert Richardson    Chevrolet   183.430
15.  David Ragan          Ford        182.905
16.  Todd Kluever         Ford        182.826
17.  Steven Leicht        Ford        182.604
18.  Jamie McMurray       Ford        182.567
19.  Dave Blaney          Toyota      182.419
20.  Timothy Peters       Chevrolet   182.179
21.  Clint Bowyer         Chevrolet   181.741
22.  Brent Sherman        Chevrolet   181.726
23.  Eric McClure         Chevrolet   180.433
24.  Kevin Hamlin         Dodge       180.263
25.  Randy MacDonald      Chevrolet   176.776