The stage is set for the 67th annual Daytona 500, and Brad Keselowski has made a statement heading into Sunday’s Great American Race, topping the final NASCAR Cup Series practice with a blistering 193.307 mph lap in a tightly packed Ford-led draft.
Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford Mustang was part of a dominant Ford group, running in a single-file draft of about 15 cars early in the session—an ominous sign for the rest of the field as Team Blue flexed its superspeedway muscle one last time before the green flag drops.
Ford Leads the Charge, But Chevy and Toyota Are Right There
Behind Keselowski, Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman was just 0.033 mph slower, posting a lap of 193.274 mph, proving that Chevrolet isn’t far behind as race day approaches.
The top five was incredibly close, with Cole Custer (193.212 mph), Justin Allgaier (193.204 mph), and Kyle Larson (193.195 mph) rounding out the fastest drivers of the session.
Bowman, Allgaier, and Larson worked together in a late-session five-car draft, which also included Joey Logano and Helio Castroneves, a last-minute attempt to fine-tune their handling before the 500-mile battle.
Full Top 10: Keselowski Sets the Pace
- Brad Keselowski – 193.307 mph
- Alex Bowman – 193.274 mph
- Cole Custer – 193.212 mph
- Justin Allgaier – 193.204 mph
- Kyle Larson – 193.195 mph
- Corey LaJoie – 193.166 mph
- Ryan Preece – 193.029 mph
- Justin Haley – 193.005 mph
- Chris Buescher – 192.707 mph
- Zane Smith – 192.707 mph
Notably, Joey Logano, the reigning Cup Series champion, ended up 12th fastest, while Josh Berry (14th), Martin Truex Jr. (15th), Shane van Gisbergen (19th), and Helio Castroneves (20th) worked on race setups rather than outright speed.
The front-row starters for Sunday’s Daytona 500, Chase Briscoe (pole) and Austin Cindric (second), didn’t focus on raw speed in final practice. Cindric ranked 21st fastest, while Briscoe opted not to run at all.
Jimmie Johnson and William Byron Stay Low-Key in Final Tune-Up
Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, making another Daytona 500 appearance, posted the 22nd fastest time, while defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron was 23rd on the speed chart. However, Byron only completed two laps, the fewest of any driver in the session.
No Incidents in Final Practice—All Eyes on the 500
For a session filled with pack racing, the entire field escaped without any incidents, a relief for teams as they now shift full focus to Sunday’s Daytona 500.
The most laps run were 28 by Keselowski, Bowman, and Preece, indicating their confidence in their race setups. Meanwhile, Byron’s minimal track time suggests Hendrick Motorsports was protecting their defending winner’s car from unnecessary risks before the big race.
What’s Next? The Daytona 500 Awaits
The wait is almost over. The 2025 Daytona 500 goes green at 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, where Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric will lead the field to the start.
With Keselowski and the Ford brigade looking strong, Hendrick Chevys lurking in the mix, and Toyota eager to spoil the party, expect another unpredictable superspeedway showdown at The World Center of Racing.
