AVONDALE, Ariz. — Mark Martin followed a solid run at the Daytona 500 by capturing the pole for today’s Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday.
Martin finished 10th at Monday night’s fiery Daytona 500 and kept his roll going, capturing his 52nd career pole with a top speed of 136.81 mph.
Regan Smith, of the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing team, was in line to earn his first career pole until Martin bettered his time late in the qualifying session. Defending Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart also passed Smith on the final qualifying run of the day and will start up front with Martin in today’s 312-mile race.
“Poles mean something,” Smith said. “Nobody is going to remember we qualified third … but we’re happy to be starting up front.”
Five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, coming off a rough run at the Daytona 500, will start fourth — next to Smith on the second row. Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth was 26th in qualifying.
