HMS Fast in Kansas Happy Hour

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Sept. 28, 2002) -- Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Joe Nemechek landed in the top-five during the final NASCAR Winston Cup Series “Happy Hour” practice at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, posting three of the four best times on the race track. Driving the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, Johnson was second-fastest in the session with a lap of 31.585 seconds and 170.967 mph. Jeff Gordon was third in the No. 24 DuPont Chevy and Joe Nemechek fourth in the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Monte Carlo. Two-time Winston Cup champion Terry Labonte was 15th overall in the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet, putting 23 laps on his race car in the final practice. Steve Park was quickest in Happy Hour with a lap of 31.554 seconds and 171.135 mph. In Friday’s early session, Gordon led all Hendrick Motorsports teams with the third-best lap -- 31.128 seconds and 173.477 mph. Johnson was fifth overall, putting 25 laps on the No. 48 Chevy, with Nemechek seventh and Labonte 22nd. Ryan Newman led the day`s first practice at 30.898 seconds and 174.769 mph. Sunday’s Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway is scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET green flag.