Harvick speeds to fastest practice lap at Auto Club

Kevin Harvick, winner of the last three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races, continued his speedy ways at Auto Club Speedway as he raced his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford to the fastest time in Friday’s practice session, recording a lap at 189.066 mph.

Harvick’s lap was faster than the official track record of 188.511 mph set by Denny Hamlin in the 2016 qualifying session.

RELATED: Practice results

Two of Harvick’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammates — Clint Bowyer and Aric Almirola — also were among the top five as Bowyer was second-fastest in his No. 14 Ford at 188.211 mph while Almirola was third-fastest in his No. 10 Ford at 187.936 mph.

Ryan Newman was fourth in his No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet at 187.798 mph while defending Auto Club Speedway winner Kyle Larson rounded out the top five in his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet at 187.744 mph.

Daniel Suarez’s No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota sustained heavy damage to the right side about midway through the session when his car appeared to get loose and slammed into the outside wall.

WATCH: Suarez hits wall

Suarez’s No. 19 team raced to ready his backup car for qualifying, which begins at 7:15 p.m. ET on FS1.

One car served a practice hold — the No. 55 of Reed Sorenson sat for 15 minutes at the end of the session.