By ,
Published April 23, 2016
With rain expected to wash out qualifying Friday afternoon at Richmond International Raceway, the day's lone round of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice took on additional importance.
That's because if qualifying (FS1, 4:15 p.m. ET) is rained out, the field for Sunday's Toyota Owners 400 will be set be speeds from the opening practice.
So once the 0.75-mile track opened for practice, virtually the entire field was in qualifying trim.
And right of the trailer, 2014 Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick was fast, as he so often is. Harvick turned a best lap of 129.069 miles per hour in his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet.
That stood up as the fastest speed of the session, which ultimately was cut short by 20 minutes when the rains arrived shortly after noon at RIR.
Second fast was Joey Logano's No. 22 Team Penske Ford, which ran 128.694 mph. Six-time series champion Jimmie Johnson was third, with the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas of Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin completing the top five.
In his first time on track this year, Tony Stewart was a respectable 18th, one position behind Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Just 11 minutes into the session, Michael Annett spun out coming out of the pits, forcing him to a back-up car.
"I just came off pit road trying to go out there in qualifying trim," said Annett. Not knowing what the weather is going to do later on, we wanted to lay down a lap and get us the best starting position we could if it does rain out qualifying.
"It's unfortunate," Annett said. "I just feel like a rookie, it's my third year in the Cup Series, and to do something like that you feel pretty stupid."
Check out the complete results for Friday's lone Sprint Cup practice at RIR here:
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/practice-1-results-for-toyota-owners-400-at-richmond-international-raceway