Snapshot: Phoenix

On the front row | Full lineup
1. Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota (142.113 mph)
2. Brad Keselowski, Team Penske No. 2 Ford (142.079 mph)

Yet another track record
Joey Logano established a track qualifying record during the opening round with his lap of 142.141 mph, breaking the mark set by Team Penske teammate Brad Keselowski (139.384 mph) earlier this year. It was the 23rd track qualifying record this season for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Logano also set track qualifying marks this year at Las Vegas and Martinsville.

Failed to qualify
Clay Rogers, Beard Motorsports No. 75 Chevrolet

Fastest in practice
First practice: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet (141.521 mph)
Second practice: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet (138.403 mph)
Final practice: Jamie McMurray, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates No. 1 Chevrolet (137.106 mph)

No regrets
“Certainly I’m not perfect. I’ve made some bad (decisions), but I didn’t make any bad ones last week, and I still feel that way.” — Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, on late-race contact with Jeff Gordon at Texas.

The need for speed
“I hate to admit it, but I’m very happy with 13th. We were about a 25th-place car in practice and I was nervous about this and it went well, so that’s good.” — Carl Edwards, Roush Fenway Racing, on his qualifying run.

No better place
“I think if we had to pick a track that we had to come to, and come to race, we’d come here expecting to win every time that we come to this race track. Or at least be in the mix.” — Kevin Harvick, after qualifying third.

Defending Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 champion
Kevin Harvick

Driver rating
Best driver rating average at Phoenix International Raceway based on past nine years:
Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet (116.5)
Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet (103.9)
Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet (99.9)

Former Phoenix International Raceway winners in the field
Kevin Harvick 5; Jimmie Johnson 4; Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon 2; Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart.

Fantasy sleeper (powered by Rotowire) | Set your Fantasy Live lineup
Tony Stewart. “Smoke” has largely gone through this season as a complete fantasy afterthought. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Stewart has shown that most of this season’s troubles are now in the rearview mirror with finishes of fourth- and 11th-place the last two weeks at Martinsville and Texas, and Phoenix has always been kind to the owner/driver.

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