Mark Martin scored his third pole position of the season in qualifying for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
The 50-year-old veteran set a fastest lap of 26.903 seconds at an average speed of 133.814 mph, to claim his first ever pole at the one-mile oval, and the forty-fourth of his career. That was despite the track cooling off in the shade for some of the drivers who ran later in the evening, who were unable to beat the Hendrick driver.
"We thought that the track was going to pick up a lot (of speed) and I don't think it did," Martin said. "That kind of saved the day. We're proud of the lap. We didn't expect to sit on the pole by any means but we'll certainly take it.
"This is the happiest I've been with my race car in race trim all year. Can't wait for the race tomorrow night."
Brothers Kyle and Kurt Busch came close to Martin's benchmark but ended up second and third respectively, while points' leader Jeff Gordon will start tomorrow night from the outside of the second row ahead of Brian Vickers who rounded out the top-five.
Paul Menard was fastest from the Ford camp with the seventh quickest lap in his Yates Racing Fusion.
Regan Smith emerged as the best of the non-guaranteed drivers to make the field with an impressive ninth place ahead of Jimmie Johnson, who was a disappointing tenth fastest after topping both the day's practice sessions.
Also struggling in qualifying after a strong run in practice was Juan Pablo Montoya, who had been second to Johnson in the final session, but complained of a loose car driving into the corners on his qualifying run, ending up twentieth.
Among the rookies Scott Speed was the fastest while making his second visit to Phoenix in a Cup car after racing at the venue last year already. He qualified 18th while Joey Logano was 31st.
Both John Andretti and Bobby Labonte got in the field through their owner points standing, while Todd Bodine, Jeremy Mayfield, Dexter Bean, Brandon Ash, and Trevor Boys all failed to make the field.
Pos Driver Make Speed Time 1. Mark Martin Chevrolet 133.814 26.903
2. Kyle Busch Toyota 133.725 26.921 + 0.018
3. Kurt Busch Dodge 133.700 26.926 + 0.023
4. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 133.690 26.928 + 0.025
5. Brian Vickers Toyota 133.551 26.956 + 0.053
6. Tony Stewart Chevrolet 133.487 26.969 + 0.066
7. Paul Menard Ford 133.482 26.970 + 0.067
8. David Reutimann Toyota 133.457 26.975 + 0.072
9. Regan Smith Chevrolet 133.437 26.979 + 0.076
10. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 133.338 26.999 + 0.096
11. Carl Edwards Ford 133.318 27.003 + 0.100
12. Denny Hamlin Toyota 133.259 27.015 + 0.112
13. Greg Biffle Ford 133.240 27.019 + 0.116
14. David Ragan Ford 133.156 27.036 + 0.133
15. Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet 133.121 27.043 + 0.140
16. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 133.077 27.052 + 0.149
17. Matt Kenseth Ford 133.023 27.063 + 0.160
18. Scott Speed Toyota 132.831 27.102 + 0.199
19. David Stremme Dodge 132.812 27.106 + 0.203
20. Juan Montoya Chevrolet 132.631 27.143 + 0.240
21. Kasey Kahne Dodge 132.626 27.144 + 0.241
22. Joe Nemechek Toyota 132.616 27.146 + 0.243
23. Robby Gordon Toyota 132.607 27.148 + 0.245
24. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 132.602 27.149 + 0.246
25. AJ Allmendinger Dodge 132.558 27.158 + 0.255
26. Martin Truex Jr Chevrolet 132.519 27.166 + 0.263
27. David Gilliland Chevrolet 132.499 27.170 + 0.267
28. Jamie McMurray Ford 132.470 27.176 + 0.273
29. Marcos Ambrose Toyota 132.402 27.190 + 0.287
30. Ryan Newman Chevrolet 132.353 27.200 + 0.297
31. Joey Logano Toyota 132.168 27.238 + 0.335
32. Michael Waltrip Toyota 132.086 27.255 + 0.352
33. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 132.023 27.268 + 0.365
34. Dave Blaney Toyota 131.950 27.283 + 0.380
35. Sam Hornish Jr Dodge 131.936 27.286 + 0.383
36. Reed Sorenson Dodge 131.825 27.309 + 0.406
37. Scott Riggs Toyota 131.670 27.341 + 0.438
38. Casey Mears Chevrolet 131.608 27.354 + 0.451
39. Sterling Marlin Dodge 131.521 27.372 + 0.469
40. Elliott Sadler Dodge 130.928 27.496 + 0.593
41. John Andretti Chevrolet 130.567 27.572 + 0.669
42. Bobby Labonte Ford 130.534 27.579 + 0.676
43. Tony Raines Dodge 131.406 27.396 + 0.493