WATKINS GLEN - Defending Zippo 200 champion Kevin Harvick led a reshuffled NASCAR Nationwide practice session at Watkins Glen International on Friday.
NASCAR's junior series provided the only on-track stock car activity after intermittent rain raised havoc with NASCAR's schedule, forcing officials to scrap both practice and qualifying for its top Sprint Cup division.
Jet-engine dryers worked most of the day to dry the track surface of the 2.45-mile circuit, causing officials to alter the Nationwide schedule, combining the two scheduled sessions into a single 2-hour, 15-minute practice that began at 2:45 p.m.
Harvick, in the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet, navigated the twists and turns of the Glen layout in 1 minute, 12.822 seconds (121.177 mph). He was followed by Jeff Burton, who was two-tenths of a second behind in the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet. Road-race specialists Max Papis and Dario Franchitti were third and fourth, respectively. Two-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top five.
Qualifying for today's Zippo 200 takes place this morning. The chance of rain for the 3 p.m. start of the 82-lap race is just 20 percent.
Carl Edwards, 16th in practice with his No. 60 Ford Fusion, would relish the chance to race in the rain again. Edwards finished sixth on a rain-swept Montreal road course last week when NASCAR made history in using treaded rain tires for the first time in a points race.
"It would be fun if it rained again ... and this time I've got a windshield wiper," said Edwards, who had to resort to using a small household mop as a squeegee to clean his windshield during caution periods of the Montreal race.
Fifteen Sprint Cup regulars took part in the Nationwide practice, providing each with some valuable track time on a day when most drivers' work consisted of extended press interviews.
"For me, it was real important to get some track time today," Edwards said. "It definitely helps to get as much seat time as you can here."
Sprint Cup points leader Kyle Busch, driving the No. 92 D'Hondt Toyota Camry, was 16th-fastest. The six-time Nationwide Series winner completed just 16 laps, spending most of his time in the paddock making adjustments. He wasn't concerned with the lack of track time.
"We didn't run too many laps, but it shouldn't be a problem," Busch said. "We were just trying to get the car better."
Busch, 23, is bidding to become the first driver to win three NASCAR road course races in a single season. He previously won the Nationwide race on the Mexico City road course and the Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway.
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