Briscoe leads final Cup Series practice at Homestead

Chase Briscoe was fastest in the final NASCAR Cup Series practice of the season Friday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Briscoe topped the board in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with a lap of 165.239 mph (32.680s).

Austin Cindric was second fastest at 164.870 mph. Title contender Denny Hamlin was third fastest at 164.684 mph, title contender Christopher Bell was fourth fastest at 164.649 mph, and Ryan Blaney completed the top five at 164.544 mph.

Daniel Suarez was sixth-fastest at 164.499 mph, Ty Gibbs was seventh-fastest at 164.334 mph, and Joey Logano was eighth-fastest at 164.079 mph. Michael McDowell was ninth fastest at 164.024 mph.

Kyle Larson, the championship leader, was 10th fastest. Larson’s best lap was 163.895 mph.

The 50-minute session proceeded without incident until the final moments, when Tyler Reddick was coming to pit road. Reddick came in hot behind Zane Smith, who braked hard at the entrance to pit road. Reddick reacted quickly, which led to him sliding and running into the back of Smith before spinning.

"It sums up our year,” Reddick said. “When we have something that is really solid, we find a way to screw it up.”

A full field of 40 will run in Sunday’s race.

The Open entries are Chad Finchum for Garage 66, JJ Yeley for NY Racing Team, Corey Heim for 23XI Racing, and Casey Mears for Beard Motorsports. It is a milestone for Mears, who will make his 500th career start Sunday afternoon.

Ryan Blaney posted the fastest best-10 consecutive-lap average. It was Blaney ahead of Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, and Tyler Reddick.

Hamlin was seventh in the category and Larson was 12th.

NEXT: Cup Series qualifying at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

RESULTS