NASCAR Cup Series

Monster Energy Series Saturday morning practice results from Auto Club

Published Mar. 25, 2017 12:30 p.m. ET

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Tom Jensen

The young guns of NASCAR continued to shine Saturday morning at Auto Club Speedway, where rookie Erik Jones set the fast lap in the first of the day’s two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practices in advance of Sunday’s Auto Club 400 (FOX, 3 p.m. ET).

Jones wheeled the No. 77 Furniture Row Racing Toyota to a best lap of 187.251 miles per hour, tops in the 55-minute session. Jones also posted the best 10-consecutive-lap average speed during practice.

Second-fast was second-year driver Chase Elliott and his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, which had a fast lap of 186.843 mph.

Third was Phoenix winner Ryan Newman and the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, followed by Elliott’s teammate, seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson. A six-time California winner, Johnson was second in 10-consecutive-lap speeds.

Brad Keselowski, who won in Atlanta earlier this year. completed the top five in his Penske Ford.

During the session, Kevin Harvick had a minor wallbanger, but not so severe that he’ll have to go to a backup car. Harvick was sixth-fast in practice.

With a minute-and-half left in practice, David Ragan had hard contact in Turn 3 and he will have to go to a backup for Sunday’s race.

The final Happy Hour round of practice is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET, with live television coverage on FS1.

Race coverage on Sunday begins at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.

Check out full practice results by clicking here.

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