Coming into the weekend it is clear if the competition is going to want to make their mark at the Phoenix International Raceway, they’re going to have to go around Jimmie Johnson first. The driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet has won the last three events at PIR and led the weekend’s opening practice session for the Sprint Cup cars.

Running a total of sixty-two laps, Johnson posted his fast lap his fourth time around the 1-mile facility at a speed of 130.392 mph.

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. was second-quick in the session with a fast-lap of 27.625 seconds at a speed of 130.317 mph. Perhaps the closure of the No. 8 team has allowed the EGR organization to put their full effort behind the No. 1 and the No. 42 driven by teammate Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya ended the session in the tenth-spot.

Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle rounded out the top-5, while Jeff Gordon – the last winner on the Cup schedule – put his No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet in sixth.  Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick and Montoya made up the remainder of the top-10.

There is one more practice for the Cup cars before the hit the track for time trials later tonight. Be sure to check back to HardcoreRaceFans.com for all the latest news and results from Phoenix all weekend long.

NASCAR CUP SERIES PRACTICE RESULTS

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