Kyle Busch sets record in winning pole for NASCAR race in Phoenix
Kyle Busch set a track qualifying record in winning the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway.
Busch, the last driver to make his qualifying run as the sun set behind the track Friday, turned a lap of 138.766 mph on the one-mile PIR oval, breaking the previous record of 137.279 mph set by Carl Edwards on Feb. 27, 2011.
Martin Truex Jr. was second at 138.217 mph. Denny Hamlin will start third, Kasey Kahne fourth and Aric Almirola fifth.
The two drivers contending for this year’s Sprint Cup title, Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski, qualified much further back in the 43-car field.
Keselowski qualified 14th at 136.622 mph in his No. 2 Dodge and Johnson -- a four-time winner at Phoenix -- qualified 24th at 135.440 mph.
Johnson, seeking his sixth Sprint Cup championship, leads Keselowski by seven points with two races left: the Phoenix race and the season finale at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Nov. 18.
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