NASCAR Cup Series

Practice 3 results for Daytona 500 as McDowell tops 200 mph

Published Feb. 17, 2016 5:45 p.m. ET

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Michael McDowell paced the first of two 45-minute practices Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway in advance of Thursday’s Can-Am Duel qualifying race.

McDowell, one of eight drivers trying to qualify for the final four spots in the Daytona 500 field, set a fast lap of 200.173 miles per hour in the No. 59 Thrivent Financial/KLOVE Chevrolet.

Right behind McDowell were all three Roush Fenway Racing Fords, with Trevor Bayne leading Greg Biffle and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Casey Mears completed the top five.

As expected, it was a conservative session, as drivers are trying to protect their primary cars for the qualifying races and more importantly, Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Tonight’s second and final session runs from 6:10-6:55 p.m. and will be televised life on FS1.

Five cars will start the Can-Am Duels from the rear of the field: Martin Truex Jr., who did not make a qualifying attempt; Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Kevin Harvick and Brian Vickers had their qualifying times disallowed for track-bar violations; and Bayne and Biffle for gear changes.

Check out the complete results from the practice here: