Martin Truex, Jr. Wins Phoenix Pole; Logano Starting on Front Row

In his final race as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver, Martin Truex, Jr. will be leading the field to the green flag, with Championship 4 driver Joey Logano starting on the outside of the front row.

After a full-time NASCAR Cup Series career that has spanned more than 15 seasons, Martin Truex, Jr. will close this chapter of his racing-centric life with back-to-back pole positions.

Driving a throwback paint scheme to his debut race in the NASCAR Cup Series, Truex was able to post the quickest lap time in the final round of qualifying on Saturday at Phoenix Raceway.

The pole is the 25th at NASCAR’s top-level for Truex, making him the 33rd driver in series history to reach the quarter-century mark in qualifying triumphs.

Truex posted a lap time of 26.718 seconds (134.741mph) to secure the Busch Light Pole Award at the one-mile oval in Avondale, Arizona, slightly edging out Championship 4 driver Joey Logano to take the top spot.

Logano, looking for his third NASCAR Cup Series championship for Team Penske, was just one-hundredth of a second slower than Truex, and as a result, will have to settle for an outside front row start.

However, the driver of the No. 22 Ford Mustang Dark Horse will be at a major detriment when Sunday’s event begins, losing his pit selection rights after his Team Penske machine failed pre-qualifying inspection twice.

Ross Chastain, the winner of last year’s season-finale at Phoenix Raceway, will start from third place for Sunday’s 312-lap contest. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott will complete the top five starters.

Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell ranked sixth and seventh fastest in the second round of qualifying, while William Byron, the second-best of the championship-eligible drivers will start from eighth