Kyle Larson drove his No. 42 Credit One Bank Camaro ZL1 to a front row starting spot in today’s knockout-style qualifying session for Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway. Larson turned a lap of 136.643 mph, 26.346 seconds to capture his fifth top five start at the one-mile, tri-oval track.
MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 78 5-hour ENERGY/Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry, Furniture Row Racing - Starting Position: 1st - What was that qualifying run like to get the pole? “It was a good run. We worked really hard coming here, knowing what we’ve done here in the past. We’ve run well, but we never could quite get it just right to go for the pole. I think we were fifth here last fall. We had a good game plan coming here and I had to adjust my driving a little bit and then adjusted the way they set the car up and it all played into our hands. Just really proud of everybody on this 5-hour ENERGY/Bass Pro Toyota and definitely a good starting spot.”
JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion - Qualifying Position: 5th “I got a little free that last run. I had a decent one and two the first lap but washed up in three and four. Just chasing the back of the car. I slowed up the second lap and went faster. Just trying to get all you can."
KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 CREDIT ONE BANK CAMARO ZL1 – Qualified 2nd - HOW DID IT CHANGE FROM ROUND 2 TO ROUND 3 OR DID YOU NOTICE A CHANGE IN THE TRACK? “I thought between rounds it maybe just got a little more grip. Nothing crazy. It was definitely different when we qualify later in the day. It seems like from practice to qualifying in the past you go a little bit faster. But today, it was hotter outside and it was a little slicker there in that first round."
KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Skittles Sweet Heat Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Are you concerned that NASCAR has made decisions based on social media? “Absolutely. I think what they see on social media and also goes based off of driver penalties and other things as well, too.”
The most famous words in motorsports, drivers start your engines, will echo through the Estrella Mountains for the TicketGuardian 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway on Sunday, March 11. The renowned words will be delivered by Bryan Derbyshire, CEO of TicketGuardian as he serves as the Grand Marshall during pre-race ceremonies for the TicketGuardian 500.
Michael McDowell, driver of the No. 34 K-LOVE Radio Ford Fusion, is a Arizona native who considers IMS Raceway his hometown track. McDowell met with media members prior to Cup Series qualifying at Phoenix.
Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion, was the fastest Ford in opening Cup practice at ISM Speedway in Phoenix. Logano spoke with media prior to hitting the track for qualifying later today.
RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 GRAINGER CAMARO ZL1, met with members of the media at ISM Raceway and discussed his victory at Phoenix last year, getting used to the new Camaro ZL1 body, and many other topics. Full Transcript:
BRANDON JONES, No. 19 Juniper Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - What are your thoughts about being here at Phoenix this weekend? “Phoenix has always been one of those track I have to put a lot effort into to get really good at. That’s been one of the awesome things about my switch to Toyota this year is using those resources in the simulator program that they have there."
In four NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Watkins Glen International (WGI) Spire Motorsports earned its lone top-10 finish when Sammy Smith finished sixth in last year’s Mission 176 at the Glen.
