Fort Worth, TX (Sports Network) - Martin Truex Jr. claimed the pole for the
Samsung Mobile 500 after topping Matt Kenseth in Friday's qualifying session
at Texas Motor Speedway.
Truex, who drives the No. 56 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing, posted a lap
at 190.369 mph for his second pole at Texas and the seventh of his Sprint Cup
Series career. His maiden pole in the series came at this fast 1.5-mile track
in November 2007.
Kenseth, the defending race winner, captured the outside pole after qualifying
0.033 seconds behind Truex.
Greg Biffle, the current points leader, placed third in qualifying, followed
by Truex's teammate, Mark Martin, and Kasey Kahne.
Ryan Newman, who won the most recent Sprint Cup race at Martinsville earlier
this month, qualified sixth. Marcos Ambrose, Brad Keselowski, Jamie McMurray
and Jimmie Johnson completed the top-10.
Defending series champion Tony Stewart qualified 29th in a backup car. Stewart
wrecked his primary car during Friday's final practice session. He won at
Texas last November.
Biffle enters the race with a six-point lead over Dale Earnhardt Jr., who
qualified 16th. Stewart, Kenseth, Truex and Kevin Harvick are all 12 points
behind Biffle. Harvick will start 15th.
David Stremme, Joe Nemechek and Stacy Compton failed to qualify.
Saturday's 500-mile race at Texas is scheduled to start just after 7:30 p.m.
(ET).
The Sports Network