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CUP: Martin Atop the All-Star Speed Charts
Written by: Tom Jensen   
Charlotte, N.C.
 
Mark Martin was quickest during practice for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXIV at Lowe's Motor Speedway. (Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images Photo) ยป More Photos

The big dogs of NASCAR went straight to the front during Friday’s lone 90-minute round of practice for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXIV, which will be televised live on SPEED Saturday at 7 p.m.

Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, who collectively have won six of the first 11 races of the season, led the session in the opening minutes, and when it was over, Busch was second and Edwards fourth.

But atop the speed charts at the end was two-time All-Star Race winner Mark Martin, who cranked out a lap of 181.751 miles per hour in his Dale Earnhardt Inc. No. 8 Chevrolet. Martin was able to edge out Busch’s 181.714 mph in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Third fast was Greg Biffle, teammate to Edwards at Roush Fenway Racing, who ran 180.923 mph in his Ford. Then it was Edwards at 180.584 mph and last year’s winner, Kevin Harvick, who had a best lap of 179.485 mph.

Busch, who unquestionably has been the biggest story in NASCAR this year, was fastest earlier in the day in practice for tonight’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. The 23-year-old phenom admitted he’s never had a year like this before.

“I’ve had some good domination years I guess you’d say or some good years where I’ve been able to run upfront in everything that I’ve raced, but consistently every single weekend and as many division as I’m in, no,” said Busch who has three wins each this season in Sprint Cup and Nationwide races and two more in Trucks.

Edwards, who is LMS President and General Manager H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler’s pick to win the All-Star event, said Busch is going to be a tough opponent for the rest of the season. “Kyle is really fast right now and all I can do, along with everybody else, is hope that he’s peaking right now and that he won’t be this fast in the Chase
(for the Sprint Cup) because he’s gonna be hard to beat if he is,” said Edwards. “But this thing goes in cycles though and we’ve still got a lot of races before the chase starts but that’s all you can hope for when a guy is that fast.”

Qualifying for the Sprint All-Star Race XXIV is scheduled for 6:15 EDT and will be televised live on SPEED, as will the race itself, which is Saturday night at 7 p.m. EDT.

Tonight’s qualifying format will be unique: The pole will go to the driver with the fastest total time over three laps, during which the driver must make a four-tire pit stop.

SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE XXIV PRACTICE RESULTS

Tom Jensen is the Senior NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com, the former Executive Editor of NASCAR Scene and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. He is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of SPEED,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the President of the National Motorsports Press Association. The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. Tom Jensen answers your questions during every race week and looks forward to hearing from you - please e-mail it to

SPEED will televise the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXIV and the NASCAR Sprint Showdown live on May 17, as well as provide more than 90 hours of support programming prior to the event. Stay tuned to SPEEDtv.com for frequent updates on the history of the event and all the details about this year’s action.
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