The first practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is in the books and Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin took the top-two spots on the speed charts. Johnson put the No. 48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Chevrolet atop the leader board with a lap of 30.327 seconds at a speed of 182.807 mph. Looking for his fourth victory at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Johnson enters the weekend second in points, locked in the Chase and with one thing on his mind – winning.

For his veteran teammate, on the other hand, the goal for Mark Martin is securing a Chase berth. Posting the second fastest lap of the session, Martin’s quick lap came on his first turn around the track at a time of 30.377 seconds at a speed of 182.507 mph. The veteran is currently tenth in the standings, a mere twenty-six points ahead of Matt Kenseth in twelfth.

Denny Hamlin was third fastest in the opening session with a lap of 30.507 seconds at a speed of 181.729 mph. Sitting fourth in the points, Hamlin is optimistic about his chances this weekend. With one top-5 and two top-10s in his previous eight starts at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Virginia-native is still searching his first win at the speedway.

Points leader Tony Stewart put his No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet fourth on the charts after fifty laps around the speedway. Explaining earlier in the day he was “running 100% pressure free.” With nothing to lose, Stewart’s goal is win, win, win and with two wins, eight top-5s and thirteen top-10s in twenty-one starts, Smoke is sure to be a threat.

Penske Racing’s Kurt Busch – who dominated March’s Atlanta event – was fifth fastest in the hour and a half session. Sixth in the standings, Busch is looking good in terms of making the Chase and Sunday night the blue deuce will also be one of the strong contenders.

Carl Edwards, broken foot and all, was sixth fastest, while Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Juan Pablo Montoya and David Reutimann rounded out the top-10. Rain ended the session, but the Cup cars are back on the track for their final practice of the weekend.

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