Carl Edwards had the fastest lap on one of the fastest days ever at Phoenix International Raceway, setting a track record Saturday to earn the pole and a chance to win two straight races in the desert.
Edwards, who won the most recent race at Phoenix International from the pole in November, ran a lap of 137.279 mph in his No. 99 Ford on the one-mile oval, breaking the record of 136.389 mph that he set before the November race.
Kurt Busch qualified second and will start alongside Edwards in the front row.
Edwards, 31, said he had “watched the [Daytona 500] replay a couple of times.” As the race wound down, Edwards, with a strong push from David Gilliland, got to Bayne’s rear bumper but could not pass him at the checkered flag.
“There are a lot of things I could have done differently,” Edwards said, without being specific.
Regardless, Edwards is on a roll. He won the final two races last season, including the Phoenix race, before his second-place finish at Daytona. Los Angeles Times
Kasey Kahne (137.096 mph) will start third in the second Cup race of the season. Kyle Busch (136.981 mph), who earlier in the day won the pole for Saturday’s Nationwide Series race, will line up beside Kahne in the fourth starting spot.
Kurt Busch called narrowly missing the pole “a bummer,” but the driver of the No. 22 Penske Dodge took consolation from his front-row starting position.
“We’re happy with our run,” Busch said. “I gave up a few thousandths of a second when the car wiggled a bit. Carl ran a great lap. This is a track-position race, and to start up front is a nice hurdle to get over.”
Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne was one of the few drivers who couldn’t generate much speed on the record-setting day. The 20-year-old wrecked after his brakes locked up on the first lap of Friday’s opening practice and ended up qualifying 33rd in his backup car.
Regan Smith, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Jamie McMurray, Brad Keselowski and Greg Biffle will start from positions 5 through 10, respectively.
Brian Keselowski failed to qualify for the 43-car field. NASCAR.com
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix - Race Line-Up
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