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Harvick fastest in Sprint Cup Happy Hour despite engine failure

kevin harvick happy hour 2015 getty

Even with a blown engine, Kevin Harvick was still the fastest driver overall in Saturday’s final Sprint Cup practice session for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Harvick recorded a field-best speed of 191.054 mph on his first practice lap before the engine in his Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet let go after his 35th lap around the 1.5-mile track in the session.

Harvick had qualified Friday on the outside of the front row for Sunday’s race. But with Saturday’s misfortune, the defending Sprint Cup champion will instead start at the back of the field.

Kasey Kahne (189.805 mph) was second-fastest in Happy Hour, followed by Austin Dillon (189.746).

One other thing to note: Brian Scott has turned over his qualified spot in the race to Michael Annett, who will drive the No. 33 car in Sunday’s race. Because of the driver change, Annett will also start at the back of the field.

Here’s how final Sprint Cup practice played out:

1. Kevin Harvick … 191.054 mph … 35 laps
2. Kasey Kahne … 189.805 … 42 laps
3. Austin Dillon … 189.746 … 64 laps
4. Denny Hamlin … 189.571 … 53 laps
5. Carl Edwards … 189.493 … 48 laps
6. AJ Allmendinger … 189.221 … 34 laps
7. Jimmie Johnson … 188.758 … 52 laps
8. Clint Bowyer … 188.719 … 55 laps
9. Casey Mears … 188.648 … 42 laps
10. Jamie McMurray … 188.507 … 51 laps
11. Kyle Larson … 188.494 … 50 laps
12. Joey Logano … 188.258 … 58 laps
13. Jeff Gordon … 187.913 … 57 laps
14. Dale Earnhardt Jr. … 187.913 … 65 laps
15. Paul Menard … 187.799 … 41 laps
16. Matt Kenseth … 187.519 … 49 laps
17. Ryan Newman … 187.253 … 44 laps
18. David Ragan … 187.108 … 56 laps
19. Greg Biffle … 186.818 … 49 laps
20. Regan Smith … 186.579 … 53 laps
21. Martin Truex Jr. … 186.453 … 40 laps
22. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. … 186.253 … 45 laps
23. Michael McDowell … 186.015 … 26 laps
24. Brett Moffitt … 185.704 … 44 laps
25. Trevor Bayne … 185.586 … 31 laps
26. Brad Keselowski … 185.375 … 63 laps
27. Sam Hornish Jr. … 185.331 … 38 laps
28. Aric Almirola … 185.276 … 40 laps
29. Alex Bowman … 185.139 … 32 laps
30. Danica Patrick … 184.652 … 37 laps
31. Tony Stewart … 184.327 … 57 laps
32. Justin Allgaier … 184.119 … 31 laps
33. Landon Cassill … 183.905 … 33 laps
34. David Gilliland … 183.534 … 26 laps
35. Brendan Gaughan … 183.497 … 20 laps
36. Cole Whitt … 182.603 … 20 laps
37. Mike Bliss … 182.290 … 23 laps
38. Jeb Burton … 182.219 … 27 laps
39. JJ Yeley … 181.681 … 36 laps
40. Josh Wise … 181.384 … 26 laps
41. Michael Annett … 180.486 … 24 laps
42. Joe Nemechek … 179.545 … 26 laps
43. Ron Hornaday Jr. … 177.978 … 19 laps

Best Consecutive 10-lap Average:

1. Denny Hamlin ... 185.978 mph
2. Jeff Gordon ... 185.815
3. Jimmie Johnson ... 185.457
4. Kyle Larson ... 185.395
5. Kevin Harvick ... 185.202

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