(By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service)
Posted: Saturday,February 26th, 2011
AVONDALE, Ariz.—Cool temperatures were conducive to hot laps Friday at the 1-mile track. In the first Sprint Cup practice session, Kurt Busch posted a lap at 136.539 mph, bettering the record 136.389 mph Carl Edwards ran during qualifying last November.
“We went out in qualifying trim, and I think that I got a draft—or at least the air was broken up—when I chased (Clint) Bowyer down right in front of me, and that might have added to our car running a little faster,” Busch said.
AVONDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: Kurt Busch, driver of the #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge, drives in the garage area during practice for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on February 25, 2011 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for NASCAR)
“Our goal was to go out right away and post a fast lap, in case qualifying is rained out.”
Busch’s fast lap held up through second practice. That means he’ll go out last in Saturday’s qualifying session among drivers already locked into the field. If qualifying is rained out—and there’s a 60 percent chance of rain in Phoenix on Saturday—Busch will start Sunday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 from the pole.
The Camping World Truck Series track record also fell Friday, with pole winner Clint Bowyer (133.949 mph) and second-place qualifier Austin Dillon (133.695 mph) breaking the record 133.605 mph Dillon set during qualifying in November.
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