BROOKLYN, Mich. _ Martin Truex Jr. showed again that the underdog can get it done in NASCAR.
Truex, who drives for the single-car Furniture Row Racing outfit based in Denver, was the fastest in the first practice Friday at Michigan International Speedway.
Drivers are preparing for Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 Sprint Cup race, the 24th of 36 events in the series.
Truex, who is eighth in Cup points in his No. 78 Denver Mattress Toyota, scorched around the 2-mile MIS oval at 201.545 mph.
Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports) was second-fastest, at 201.134 in his No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, while Joey Logano (Team Penske) was third on the speed charts, at 200.966 in the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford.
NASCAR is running its new lower-downforce aerodynamic package at Michigan this weekend, in efforts to make the racing closer and encourage more passing.
