Practice, qualifying at Darlington

5 p.m. update - Carl Edwards won the pole for the Nationwide Series race with a track-record speed of 176.994 mph.

And in the final Sprint Cup practice, Denny Hamlin was quickest (179.651) and followed by Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon.

Casey Mears was the fastest driver during the first of two practices Friday in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Darlington Raceway. He clocked a speed of 177.685. He was followed by Martin Truex Jr., Robby Gordon, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

The bad news for Johnson was that he hit the wall in Turn 1 and was forced to go to a backup car.

The second Sprint Cup practice is set to start at 2 p.m.

Nationwide Series qualifying will follow at 3:10 p.m. and the Cup drivers qualify at 5:15 p.m.