It could be a record-setting day as the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams qualify for Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 at the Phoenix International Raceway at 1:30 p.m. on SPEED.
Sprint Cup point leader Carl Edwards has won the last two poles at Phoenix, including a record-setting lap of 137.279 this past February. Thanks to the reconfiguration of the track's backstretch dogleg, that record is likely to fall today. Jamie McMurrayequaled Edwards' lap during Friday's first practice session - while turning only the 24th quickest lap. Jeff Burton was fastest at 140.067 MPH. A pole wouldn't do much to cure the veteran's miserable season, but it would give him the best possible starting position as he seeks his third Phoenix win and his first Sprint Cup victory since 2008.
Kyle Busch, meanwhile, is qualifying for pit position and little else in his first race back from his NASCAR-imposed vacation. Busch's engine failed before he had even pulled out of his garage stall. Because NASCAR mandates that teams only use one engine during a race weekend, the swapout means Busch has to start at the rear of Sunday's field no matter where he qualifies.
To see where your favorite driver will go out in the 46-car qualifying order, head over to Jayski.com.