With ambient temperatures in the low 90s and Phoenix International Raceway’s one-mile surface even hotter on Friday, Team Penske knew tire conservation was paramount in qualifying for Sunday’s Camping World 500.
NASCAR Phoenix 2017 qualifying results: Joey Logano wins Camping World 500 pole
Joey Logano captured his first pole of the season in qualifying for Sunday’s race at Phoenix.
That strategy called for Joey Logano to run only one lap in each of the first two sessions, thereby providing him additional grip in the decisive third round. He used that to his advantage with his 137.321 mph average speed, fast enough to capture the pole for the fourth Monster Energy Cup Series race of the season.
Wood Brothers Racing’s Ryan Blaney, employing the same game plan as his quasi-teammate, qualified a career-best second. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start third, with Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray completing the top five. Rounding out the top 10 were Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, rookie Erik Jones, Kyle Busch, and Kasey Kahne.
Logano’s pole run capped a day where his high-profile run-in with Busch last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the central focus. The two drivers were racing for the third position on the final lap when Logano got loose and slid into Busch, who then spun off Turn 4 coming toward the checkered flag.
Afterward, Busch sought Logano out on pit road and threw a haymaker at Logano, whose crew members quickly intervened. A scrum then ensued with Busch being tackled to the ground. He would emerge from the pile with a cut on his forehead.
NASCAR did not penalize any of the participants involved, though officials did meet with Busch and Logano on Friday to clear the air and warn against any retribution. Logano apologized numerous times on Friday and accepted blame for the accident, while Busch was evasive when asked by reporters about what transpired both last week and in his meeting with NASCAR.
“Obviously, we had that meeting today and there were a lot of distractions that we don’t typically have, but it is a matter of managing those distractions and getting your head back in the right spot for when it is game time,” Logano said. “I was able to use everything the right way, use our tools and our people around me to help me get my mind back where it needs to be and be able to focus and lay down a good lap.”
Phoenix master Kevin Harvick, who owns a track-record eight victories, will start 23rd on Sunday. This is the deepest he’s qualified on the one-mile oval since Nov. 2011, when he started 27th. Last year, Harvick won this race from the No. 18 position.
All 39 drivers entered qualified for the Camping World 500.
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