Hamlin leads in the practice of Daytona 500 | News, sports, jobs

Jimmie Johnson finishes putting the helmet before a practice for the Nascar Daytona 500 car race on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida (Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Daytona Beach, Florida (AP) – Denny Hamlin directed a trio of Toyota drivers, the manufacturer claimed five of the six best places, in Wednesday’s opening practice for Daytona 500.

The 50 -minute morning session was the only time scheduled on the track before qualifying Wednesday night, when the first row will be established for “The great American race.”

Hamlin, three times Daytona 500 winner driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, walked through Bubba Wallace, who conducts a 23xi co -owner entry through Hamlin and the NBA Hall of Fame of the NBA Michael Jordan. Hamlin’s teammate in JGR, Ty Gibbs, was the third.

Chandler Smith, in a long -owned Ford by Carl for Garage 66, was fourth. Smith drives for Frond Row Motorsports in the truck series. 23xi and First row have joined in a federal antitrust case against Nascar, accusing the sanctioning body of being a monopoly.

John Hunter Nemechek, in a Toyota for the Legacy Motor Club, owned by Jimmie Johnson, was fifth. Riley Herbst, the new 23XI driver, was sixth in the practice of Toyota Romp.

Daniel Suárez de Trackhouse Racing was the fastest chevrolet in seventh. Helio Castroneves, who at 49 will make his debut in Nascar on Sunday, was 12th since the four -time Indianapolis 500 winner is running for the song track.

The former champions of the Martin Truex Jr. and Johnson Cup were 31 and 32, respectively. Both pilots need to qualify their way in the race. Nine drivers compete for the last four points in the field.

Johnson is seven times Nascar champion and twice Daytona 500 winner. Truex has never won 500 in 20 openings, but he is the 2017 Cup champion. Both are in Toyotas.