K. Wallace fastest in Phoenix Happy Hour

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kenny Wallace might be headed for a great weekend.

	Kenny Wallace

Wheeling the No. 23 Hills Bros. Dodge he first took over in August, Wallace paced the final practice session on Saturday morning. He'll start sixth in Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 -- his best start of the year -- after another impressive run Friday during Bud Pole Qualifying.

"We've been doing some testing and it shows," said crew chief Philip Lopez. "Kenny has been with us for a bit now and we finally got the chance to go test. In Kentucky, we learned about him and he learned a lot about what we're doing.

Kevin Harvick in the No. 29 Goodwrench Chevrolet was the meat of the Bill Davis Racing sandwich as Scott Wimmer was third on the practice chart. Harvick, who will start 25th, posted a speed of 128.164 mph (28.089 sec) on the sixth of 46 laps run.

Wimmer, who will start 19th in the No. 27 Siemens Dodge, went 128.114 mph (28.100 sec) on his sixth of 46 laps.

"The No. 27 brought an identical car to ours," Lopez said. "The No. 22 guys (Ward Burton's team) built it just last week. It helps to have more information. The only thing in those things are the drivers."

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Bud Pole Award winner Ryan Newman was fourth. Dale Jarrett, Joe Nemechek, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney rounded out the top-10.

Johnson, who had to take a provisional Friday to make the race, paced the first 45-minute practice. Jeremy Mayfield, Kenny Wallace, Rusty Wallace, Tony Stewart, Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bill Elliott, Matt Kenseth and Johnny Benson followed him.

During the final session, points leader Stewart was 28th after running 48 laps. Martin, who trails Stewart by 112 points, ran 54 circuits around the one-mile oval.