At the track where he recorded his first-career pole in November 2007, Martin Truex Jr. led qualifying for Saturday night's Samsung Mobile 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver, sponsored by Atlanta-based NAPA Auto Parts, toured the 1.5-mile speedway in 28.37 seconds. Roush-Fenway Racing's Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle were second and third, with Truex teammate Mark Martin and Hendrick Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne.

The top-10 was completed by Ryan Newman, who won the most-recent Sprint Cup race at Martinsville two weeks ago, Marcos Ambrose, Brad Keselowski, Jamie McMurray, and Jimmie Johnson.

Fan-favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. was 16th-fastest at the track where he recorded his first-career win in 2000. Defending Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, who won at Texas last fall, qualified 29th. Jeff Gordon, meanwhile, was a miserable 34th.

Unadilla's David Ragan was 21st in his No. 34 Ford, while Peachtree City's Reed Sorenson turned the 39th-quickest time

Missing the 43-car field were David Stremme, Joe Nemechek, and driver-owner Stacy Compton.