A massive black cloud was not the only thing moving quickly Friday afternoon at the Darlington Raceway. Seven-time Darlington winner Jeff Gordon used a run late in the final practice session to take the top-spot with a lap of 27.684 seconds at a speed of 177.633 mph.

Two-time Darlington winner Jeff Burton also shot to the top of the charts at the end of the hour and a half long session. The driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet missed out on the top-spot by only 0.004 seconds.

Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson was third-fastest in the final session in his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. Also a two-time Darlington race winner, Johnson knows it takes the total package to win.

“This place is always changing and now it’s changed in a way where the speed is so much higher and the opportunities to pass are a lot less than we’ve seen in the past,” Johnson said Friday morning. “So Darlington lives up to its name where you can never conquer the track, you never know what to expect. If you win here it takes a total package. You have to have a fast car and pit stops. Everything is highlighted here because it’s so difficult to pass and now that the speeds are so high car handling is more of a premium and track position and other things. So it’s a challenging track and I guess that’s why the fans love it so much. You can never put your guard down here.”

Denny Hamlin was fourth-fastest in his No. 11 Farm Bureau Toyota and Mark Martin rounded out the top-5.

A number of drivers caught the wall again in the day’s second and final session. Sam Hornish Jr. spun his No. 77 Dodge, while teammate David Stremme pancaked the wall and was forced to a back-up car. Richard Petty Motorsports’ AJ Allmendinger and Reed Sorenson’s team was forced to change an engine.

Qualifying is scheduled for 5:10pm E.T., however heavy rains have set in over the speedway and it appears time trials may be delayed. Be sure to check back to HardcoreRaceFans.com for all the latest news from the now rain-soaked Darlington Raceway.

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