Clint Bowyer tops final Atlanta practice; Kyle Busch crashes

Clint Bowyer powered to the fastest lap Saturday to cap an eventful final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Bowyer drove through a persistent mist to set the benchmark with a 179.104 mph lap in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 Ford. Bowyer, set to start third in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (2 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM), was also fastest in Friday’s opening practice on the 1.54-mile track.

RELATED: Final practice results | Full schedule for Atlanta

Kyle Busch posted the second-fastest lap at 178.873 mph early in practice, but crashed into the Turn 2 retaining wall at the nine-minute mark. The rear-end damage forced his Joe Gibbs Racing crew to prepare a reserve No. 18 Toyota ahead of Sunday’s 500-miler.

MORE: Best 10-lap averages | Kyle Busch crashes

Austin Dillon notched the third-fastest lap (178.712 mph) in the Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Chevrolet. Michael McDowell (178.672) and Corey LaJoie (178.436) completed the leaderboard’s top five, just ahead of three-time Atlanta winner Kurt Busch (178.018) in sixth.

Xfinity Series regular Austin Cindric spent time in the Team Penske No. 2 Ford as a fill-in for Brad Keselowski, who sat out the early part of final practice with what the team described as flu-like symptoms. The No. 2 Ford wound up 28th on the final practice leaderboard.

MORE: Cindric subs for ailing Keselowski

Erik Jones logged the 24th-fastest speed, but his track time was curtailed as he brought the No. 20 Toyota to the garage midway through the 80-minute session with power-steering trouble.

Defending race winner Kevin Harvick, who fought through steering issues during Friday’s on-track activity, clocked the 21st-best lap in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Ford.

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