After earning the pole position for the Subway Fresh Fit 500, Mark Martin paced both the morning and afternoon practice sessions today to make him the favorite to win the race on Sunday.
Kyle Busch made his debut at the Phoenix International Raceway back in the year 2004 and he finished second in his very first start. Now, shift your focus to 2013 and he now has four wins at this track and earned his fifth pole position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
54-year old Mark Martin once again continued to display his dominance of the weekend as he was the fastest in the second practice session of the weekend. He bested Kyle Busch who ran his fastest lap at 135.201 mph. Martin's lap was just over 135.450 mph.
As a five-time champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Jimmie Johnson is used to media attention. He’s traveled the country before. Has made numerous appearances not only on behalf of sponsors, but as part of his champion obligations. And often times he’s answered the same questions every which way he could think of.
Mark Martin captured his third career pole at the Phoenix International Raceway and this is his 20th career top-10 start dating back to his debut here in 1988. At 54 years old, Martin still shocks guys like the young Kasey Kahne, who will start on the front row for the first time at Phoenix.
Matt Kenseth showed off some speed this Friday morning as his No.20 Dollar General Toyota was the fastest in the first session of practice. Kenseth's lap was at over 137.023 mph. Joe Gibbs Racing took three of the top five positions.
“We want to win championships – that what we’re here for. To do that, you first need to be consistent each and every week." - Kyle Busch, February 2013
As part of winning the Daytona 500, Jimmie Johnson has been on a whirlwind media tour, going to different stops from one end of the United States to another. For Johnson, in his travels, it's been all about savoring the victory.
In the double nickel running of the Great American Race, with the first female ever to start from the pole, here is what else was surprising and not surprising from the 2013 Daytona 500.
The 26-year-old Ferguson from Lincolnton, North Carolina, will make his second career Truck start with Kaulig Racing more than a month after making his Truck debut at Bristol.
Spire Motorsports has earned one win and three top five finishes. Rajah Caruth took the checkered flag in last year's Rackley Roofing 200 after leading 61 laps.
In 12 previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Spire Motorsports has two top-five finishes with a best result of second earned twice by Zane Smith (2024) and Carson Hocevar (2025).
