AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Matt Kenseth has won the pole at Phoenix International Raceway, grabbing the top spot late in Saturday’s qualifying session.
Kenseth’s lap of 137.101 mph gives him the top starting spot in Sunday’s race. AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose qualified second and third as Ford swept the top three spots.
Mark Martin qualified fourth and Martin Truex Jr. was fifth, followed by Jamie McMurray and David Reutimann.
Championship contenders Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards qualified eighth and ninth. Edwards takes a 3-point lead over Stewart into the penultimate race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Kenseth’s run separated Stewart and Edwards from starting side-by-side in the fourth row. Now Stewart will start in the outside of the fourth row, with Edwards on the inside of row five.
