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Speed racer: Denny Hamlin goes nearly 205 mph at Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Denny Hamlin climbed from his car at Talladega Superspeedway and was shocked to learn he had not only topped the speed chart, but reached nearly 205 mph in pacing practice.

"It really caught me off guard," Hamlin said Friday after his lap at 204.904 mph.

The Daytona 500 winner posted the seventh-fastest lap of the season -- behind six drivers at a July practice at Daytona -- in the closing moments of the first drafting session. He was the only driver to top 204, but Kevin Harvick was second fastest at 203.