Former Talladega winner Michael Waltrip was fastest in the second and final Sprint Cup practice session of the day at the Talladega Superspeedway on Friday.
With the Aaron's 499 weekend the first impound race of the year the next time the cars will be on track will be for Coors Light Pole qualifying on Saturday and then the race itself on Sunday so it was something of a surprise to see no less than half a dozen drivers sitting out the session.
Of the 40 drivers who did venture out it was 2003 October Talladega race winner Waltrip setting the pace with a best time of 49.680-seconds (192.754mph) aboard his #55 NAPA Toyota. Times were some way off those set in morning practice with lots of drivers focusing more on single car runs rather than the faster, but riskier drafting practice.
Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon's temporary replacement PJ Jones and Martin Truex Jr rounded out the top five with Carl Edwards once again leading the Ford charge in seventh place.
Sam Hornish Jr was eighth quickest while Dale Earnhardt Jr continued to struggle in his #88 Hendrick Chevrolet and remained outside the top 20 in 22nd position.
Kevin Harvick, who led the opening practice session of the weekend, was one of those who chose to save their machinery for qualifying and the race and didn't set a time. Phoenix winner Jimmie Johnson, who ran in the top ten in the morning practice, didn't venture out either while last year's double Talladega winner Jeff Gordon, rookie Regan Smith, Harvick's teammate Clint Bowyer and Chip Ganassi Racing's Juan Montoya were the others who chose not to practice.
![Michael Waltrip - NAPA Toyota [pic credit: image.net]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/303467.jpg)
