Earnhardt Ganassi's Martin Truex Jr. leads 1-2 sweep by Nos. 1 and 2
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Martin Truex Jr. won the pole for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
AVONDALE. Ariz. – Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. won his third NASCAR Sprint Cup pole of the season by qualifying fastest Friday for the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Interestingly, cars No. 1 and No. 2 were first and second, respectively, in qualifying as Penske Racing’s Kurt Busch was second. Truex’s No. 1 Chevrolet turned a fast lap of 135.120 mph, while Busch’s No. 2 Dodge went 134.579 mph.
Chase For The Sprint Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports) was third at 134.454, with Richard Petty Motorsports’ Kasey Kahne fourth and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin fifth.
Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway Racing) qualified sixth, giving Chase drivers the second through sixth positions for the race Sunday.
JGR’s Kyle Busch was seventh, followed by Chase driver Tony Stewart (Stewart-Haas Racing) in eighth, Casey Mears (Richard Childress Racing) in ninth and Chase driver Mark Martin (Hendrick) 10th.
The remaining Chase drivers were Hendrick’s Jeff Gordon 14th, Earnhardt Ganassi’s Juan Pablo Montoya 17th, Red Bull Racing’s Brian Vickers 19th, Stewart-Haas’ Ryan Newman 24th, and Roush Fenway’s Carl Edwards 25th.
Making the race through qualifying were Bobby Labonte (TRG Motorsports), Max Papis (Germain Racing), David Gilliland (Phoenix Racing), Dave Blaney (Prism Motorsports), Joe Nemechek (Nemco Motorsports), Scott Speed (Red Bull), Michael McDowell (Tommy Baldwin Racing) and Tony Raines (Front Row Motorsports).
Failing to qualify were Regan Smith (Furniture Row Racing), Kevin Conway (TRG Motorsports) and Brandon Ash (Brandon Ash Racing).
