Defending Daytona 500 champion William Byron showcased the strength of Hendrick Motorsports’ superspeedway program Friday, posting a remarkable lap of 194.923 mph (46.172 seconds) to lead the second practice session for NASCAR’s premier event.

Byron, piloting the No. 24 Chevrolet, found speed early in the session through coordinated drafting with teammate Chase Elliott and other Chevrolet-affiliated teams. The strategic approach paid dividends, as Elliott secured the second position on the speed charts in his No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. demonstrated his continued prowess on superspeedways by posting the third-fastest time, less than a tenth of a second behind Byron’s pace-setting lap. The Richard Childress Racing duo of Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon rounded out the top five, underscoring Chevrolet’s strong showing in the session.

A notable storyline emerged from the Front Row Motorsports camp, as Zane Smith impressed with the sixth-quickest time in his repaired No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. The team’s efficient overnight work restored the car after Smith’s significant impact with the SAFER Barrier during Thursday’s first Duel race. Teammate Todd Gilliland followed in seventh, marking a strong recovery for the organization.

Daytona 500 polesitter Chase Briscoe, who had suffered front-end damage after hitting debris in Thursday’s Duel, took his repaired No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota for a successful test run. Despite the setback, Briscoe’s team completed necessary repairs, ensuring he’ll maintain his pole position for Sunday’s race.

Only 30 of the 40 qualified drivers participated in the 50-minute session, with notable absences including Brad Keselowski, Shane Van Gisbergen, and Helio Castroneves. The strategic decision to sit out practice sessions is common at superspeedways, where teams often prioritize preserving their equipment for the main event.

The Cup Series teams will have one final opportunity to dial in their machines during Saturday’s practice session, scheduled for 3:05 PM ET, before Sunday’s 67th running of the Great American Race.

Practice Top 10:

1. William Byron – 194.923 mph
2. Chase Elliott
3. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
4. Kyle Busch
5. Austin Dillon
6. Zane Smith
7. Todd Gilliland
8. Joey Logano
9. Kyle Larson
10. Ryan Blaney