Team Penske’s strong start continues as Joey Logano captures Phoenix pole
By Nick Tylwalk
No one can say that the Penske Fords aren’t fast in the first part of the 2017 NASCAR season.
Even with a top-10 finish at Las Vegas, Joey Logano was mostly in the news this week for something that happened after the race. No one should be talking about that on Sunday, though, since he’ll be in prime position to contend for a Camping World 500 win after starting on the pole.
As relayed by NASCAR.com, Logano turned a lap of 137.321 mph in the final qualifying round on Friday at Phoenix Raceway. That was about half a mph more than another fast Ford driver, Ryan Blaney, who will start on the outside of Row 1.
Chevrolet drivers rounded out the top five qualifiers, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. starting third and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson — who enters the Camping World 500 just a point out of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series lead — and Jamie McMurray right behind.
Current points leader Brad Keselowski will start sixth, with Chase Elliott, Erik Jones, Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne rounding out the top 10.
Logano’s pole award was his first of 2017 and first ever at Phoenix Raceway, though his Team Penske teammate Keselowski started in the top spot just last week for the Kobalt 400. Keselowski also has a victory in his pocket from Atlanta, while Logano has been competitive each week but not found the Winners Circle yet.
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Because there were only 39 entries for the Camping World 500, every car will make the field. Here’s a look at the full qualifying results for Sunday’s race:
- Joey Logano
- Ryan Blaney
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Kyle Larson
- Jamie McMurray
- Brad Keselowski
- Chase Elliott
- Erik Jones
- Kyle Busch
- Kasey Kahne
- Kurt Busch
- Matt Kenseth
- Clint Bowyer
- Jimmie Johnson
- Ty Dillon
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Austin Dillon
- Paul Menard
- Denny Hamlin
- A.J. Allmendinger
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Ryan Newman
- Kevin Harvick
- Trevor Bayne
- Michael McDowell
- Danica Patrick
- Daniel Suarez
- Aric Almirola
- Landon Cassill
- Matt DiBenedetto
- Corey Lajoie
- Cole Whitt
- Chris Buescher
- David Ragan
- Reed Sorensen
- Gray Gaulding
- Derrike Cope
- Jeffrey Earnhardt
- Timmy Hill