Subscribe
Jobs
Cars
Real Estate
Apts
Classifieds
Shop
AVONDALE, Ariz. – Martin Truex Jr. bounced back from a midweek NASCAR penalty with a pole-winning run at Phoenix International Raceway.
Truex turned a lap of 135.120 mph Friday to qualify first in his No. 1 Chevrolet. It was a huge lift for his team, which failed post-race inspection last week at Texas to draw a 50-point penalty. Crew chief Kevin Manion also was fined $50,000.
“That’s how you can sum up our season,” Truex said.
Kurt Busch qualified second for Sunday’s race with a lap of 134.589 in his No. 2 Dodge. It’s the first time in NASCAR that the Nos. 1 and 2 will start next to each other on the front row for a Sprint Cup race.
Defending three-time series champion Jimmie Johnson qualified third.
Mark Martin, who trails Johnson by 71 points in the standings with two races remaining, qualified 10th.
Last week, Johnson was wrecked trying to pass Sam Hornish Jr., who ran into Johnson after he made contact with David Reutimann.
Johnson finished 38th and lost a large portion of his points lead. But with two races remaining, he still likes his chances, particularly Sunday at PIR, where he’s won three of the last four races.
“I can’t wait to get on track so I can start thinking about something else,” Johnson said before qualifying. “All I can think about is three laps of Texas right now.”
