NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: Martin Takes Phoenix Pole
Mark Martin scored the Phoenix pole for Michael Waltrip Racing...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted March 03, 2012   Avondale, AZ
Ageless Mark Martin, who was supposed to retire after the 2005 season, won the pole for Sunday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500, race No. 2 of 36 on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup calendar.

Martin, in just his second race with Michael Waltrip Racing, ran 136.815 mph in his No. 55 MWR Toyota, good enough for his 52nd career NASCAR Sprint Cup pole. “I just can’t tell how thankful I am for MWR,” said Martin.

For historical reference, Martin’s first career Cup pole came July 11, 1981 at the old Nashville Fairgrounds circuit in only his third career start. By contrast, Sunday’s race at PIR will be Martin’s 832nd career start.

"I've driven really good stuff ever since 1988,” said Martin, referring to the year he joined Roush Fenway Racing. “I did drive a couple slugs back in the early '80s. You can't do that without superior effort and equipment and effort on top of that. It's more than equipment that does that. I think all of you know that I do work real hard at it, and I know that I have to work harder at it than the guys that are 20 years younger than me. I'm willing to do that to be able to compete.

“Make no mistake, MWR and Rodney Childers (crew chief) have good stuff and they're making gains and making progress and they showed that last year in the last 10 races,” said Martin. “I hadn't been in the car very much, but I've been in it here and I have been in it at Daytona and I've been in it at New Smyrna and it's good stuff. I couldn't do it without that kind of effort. I feel really blessed.”

Qualifying second was reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, 136.216 mph, in his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet.

Regan Smith had an excellent lap of 135.998 mph in the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet, good enough for third on the grid. He was followed by Jimmie Johnson at 135.538 mph in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy.

Next came Juan Pablo Montoya, Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle and Kevin Harvick.

Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth posted the 26th-fastest speed, while Hendrick Motorsports teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon qualified 29th and 30th, respectively.

Qualifying was the only on-track activity today for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100.
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