In fact, the top three speeds all came from drivers in Group A with Hamlin leading the way with an average lap speed of 93.928 mph.
Corey Lajoie ended up second-fastest (93.747 mph) and playoff contender William Byron was third (93.696 mph).
Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Martin Truex Jr., who also needs a good run Sunday to advance to the Championship was fastest in Group B at 92.973 mph.
Among those drivers who ran at least 10 consecutive laps, LaJoie had the best average lap speed (93.232 mph). Byron and Austin Cindric were second and third, respectively, in that category.
Group A
Hamlin showed his strength right away in the first 20-minute session setting the stop average lap speed at 93.928 mph.
LaJoie was second quick at 93.747 mph while Byron was third at 93.696 mph.
Ty Gibbs and Cindric rounded out the top five in what turned out to be an incident-free session.
Hamlin did experience a loose bolt in his No. 11 Toyota’s shifter, which required some work on pit road, and he completed just 23 laps.
Playoff drivers Tyler Reddick and Chris Buescher were eighth and 13th-fastest, respectively.
Group B
Truex topped the second 20-minute session and posted his best average lap speed of 92.973 mph late in the session.
Ryan Blaney, who led most of the session, ended up second-fastest (92.873 mph) and Joey Logano was third (92.814 mph).
Harrison Burton and Aric Almirola rounded out the top five.
Playoff drivers Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson were sixth and eighth-fastest, respectively.
| Cla | Driver | # | Manufacturer | Laps | Time | Interval | Mph | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  D. HAMLINJoe Gibbs Racing |
11 | Toyota | 23 |
20.160 |
93.929 | ||
| 2 | C. LAJOIESpire Motorsports |
7 | Chevrolet | 45 |
+0.039 20.199 |
0.039 | 93.747 | |
| 3 | W. BYRONHendrick Motorsports |
24 | Chevrolet | 50 |
+0.050 20.210 |
0.011 | 93.696 | |
| 4 |
T. GIBBSJoe Gibbs Racing
|
54 | Toyota | 36 |
+0.067 20.227 |
0.017 | 93.617 | |
| 5 | A. CINDRICTeam Penske |
2 | Ford | 49 |
+0.071 20.231 |
0.004 | 93.599 | |
| 6 |  D. SUAREZTrackHouse Racing |
99 | Chevrolet | 54 |
+0.115 20.275 |
0.044 | 93.396 | |
| 7 | B. WALLACE23XI Racing |
23 | Toyota | 55 |
+0.134 20.294 |
0.019 | 93.308 | |
| 8 | T. REDDICK23XI Racing |
45 | Toyota | 46 |
+0.147 20.307 |
0.013 | 93.249 | |
| 9 | K. HARVICKStewart-Haas Racing |
4 | Ford | 41 |
+0.153 20.313 |
0.006 | 93.221 | |
| 10 | K. BUSCHRichard Childress Racing |
8 | Chevrolet | 34 |
+0.157 20.317 |
0.004 | 93.203 | |
| 11 | R. STENHOUSE JRJTG Daugherty Racing |
47 | Chevrolet | 45 |
+0.169 20.329 |
0.012 | 93.148 | |
| 12 | T. GILLILANDFront Row Motorsports |
38 | Ford | 36 |
+0.199 20.359 |
0.030 | 93.010 | |
| 13 | M. TRUEX JRJoe Gibbs Racing |
19 | Toyota | 30 |
+0.207 20.367 |
0.008 | 92.974 | |
| 14 | R. BLANEYTeam Penske |
12 | Ford | 54 |
+0.229 20.389 |
0.022 | 92.874 | |
| 15 | J. LOGANOTeam Penske |
22 | Ford | 44 |
+0.242 20.402 |
0.013 | 92.814 | |
| 16 | C. BUESCHERRFK Racing |
17 | Ford | 38 |
+0.261 20.421 |
0.019 | 92.728 | |
| 17 | R. CHASTAINTrackHouse Racing |
1 | Chevrolet | 40 |
+0.289 20.449 |
0.028 | 92.601 | |
| 18 | B. KESELOWSKIRFK Racing |
6 | Ford | 26 |
+0.294 20.454 |
0.005 | 92.578 | |
| 19 | H. BURTONWood Brothers Racing |
21 | Ford | 35 |
+0.304 20.464 |
0.010 | 92.533 | |
| 20 | A. ALMIROLAStewart-Haas Racing |
10 | Ford | 43 |
+0.315 20.475 |
0.011 | 92.484 | |
| 21 | C. BELLJoe Gibbs Racing |
20 | Toyota | 54 |
+0.318 20.478 |
0.003 | 92.470 | |
| 22 | K. LARSONHendrick Motorsports |
5 | Chevrolet | 32 |
+0.371 20.531 |
0.053 | 92.231 | |
| 23 | M. MCDOWELLFront Row Motorsports |
34 | Ford | 39 |
+0.377 20.537 |
0.006 | 92.204 | |
| 24 | C. BRISCOEStewart-Haas Racing |
14 | Ford | 40 |
+0.384 20.544 |
0.007 | 92.173 | |
| 25 | C. ELLIOTTHendrick Motorsports |
9 | Chevrolet | 37 |
+0.405 20.565 |
0.021 | 92.079 | |
| 26 | A. BOWMANHendrick Motorsports |
48 | Chevrolet | 35 |
+0.416 20.576 |
0.011 | 92.030 | |
| 27 |
C. HOCEVARLegacy Motor Club
|
42 | Chevrolet | 34 |
+0.436 20.596 |
0.020 | 91.940 | |
| 28 | J. HALEYKaulig Racing |
31 | Chevrolet | 40 |
+0.448 20.608 |
0.012 | 91.887 | |
| 29 | E. JONESLegacy Motor Club |
43 | Chevrolet | 21 |
+0.485 20.645 |
0.037 | 91.722 | |
| 30 | R. PREECEStewart-Haas Racing |
41 | Ford | 37 |
+0.488 20.648 |
0.003 | 91.709 | |
| 31 | A. ALLMENDINGERKaulig Racing |
16 | Chevrolet | 20 |
+0.501 20.661 |
0.013 | 91.651 | |
| 32 | R. NEWMANRick Ware Racing |
51 | Ford | 29 |
+0.504 20.664 |
0.003 | 91.638 | |
| 33 | A. DILLONRichard Childress Racing |
3 | Chevrolet | 41 |
+0.508 20.668 |
0.004 | 91.620 | |
| 34 | T. DILLONSpire Motorsports |
77 | Chevrolet | 27 |
+0.525 20.685 |
0.017 | 91.545 | |
| 35 | J. YELEYRick Ware Racing |
15 | Ford | 29 |
+0.565 20.725 |
0.040 | 91.368 | |
| 36 | B. MCLEODLive Fast Motorsports |
78 | Chevrolet | 19 |
+0.635 20.795 |
0.070 | 91.060 |
