CUP: Almirola Happiest In Happy Hour

Sprint Cup

CUP: Almirola Happiest In Happy Hour

Aric Almirola, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1-2-3 in Dover practice…

Mike Hembree | Posted June 01, 2012 Dover, DE

Aric Almirola led the second Sprint Cup practice Friday at Dover International Speedway for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks. (Photo: Getty Images)

After Toyotas dominated the opening practice, Ford driver Aric Almirola posted the fastest speed in Friday’s Happy Hour practice for Sunday’s FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway.

Almirola ran 157.204 miles per hour to lead 45 drivers participating in the 90-minute session.

Following in the top five were Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Scott Speed.

In the second five were Jamie McMurray, Michael McDowell, Kurt Busch, Joe Nemechek and J.J. Yeley.

Mark Martin, who led the first practice, was 29th in Happy Hour.

Qualifying for Sunday’s race is scheduled at noon ET Saturday. SPEED will broadcast the session.

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.

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Mike Hembree

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