Martin on roll with third pole
Next goal is to win at Phoenix tonight
Mark Martin won his third pole of the season Friday, taking the top spot at Phoenix International Raceway for tonight’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Subway Fresh Fit 500.
Martin ran a lap at 133.814 mph in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to beat Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch.
Before this season, Martin hadn’t won a pole since 2001.
Martin couldn’t have picked a better spot to try to end teammate Jimmie Johnson’s three-race win streak at PIR.
“When we beat Jimmie Johnson to win a race, I’m going to feel like I beat Superman,” Martin said. “I will say this, we are very proud of the performance that we’ve had on the racetrack all year.”
Martin also won the pole at Bristol and Atlanta. His best finishes this year were sixth-place runs at Bristol and Texas.
Polesitters have won two of the last four races at PIR – Johnson last November and Jeff Gordon in April 2007.
The 50-year-old Martin won at PIR in 1993 out of the third position, and it is one of his favorite tracks. This will be Martin’s 25th race there, with nine top-five finishes and 15 top-10s.
“I’ve had a lot of great races here,” Martin said.
Nationwide Series
Greg Biffle won the Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday.
Biffle had to hold off Jason Leffler over several late restarts, then hold him off for a final two-lap sprint to the finish. It gave team owner Jack Roush his 100th Nationwide victory.
Biffle has won two of the four races he’s entered this season.
Leffler was second, followed by Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick.
David Ragan was sixth, followed by Brendan Gaughan, Justin Allgaier, Mike Bliss and Kyle Busch. Busch rallied from two laps down to finish 10th and pass Carl Edwards for the series points lead.
Kahne stays put
Cross Kasey Kahne’s name off the list of drivers on the move. He said he doesn’t want to break his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports at the end of the NASCAR season.
“I made a commitment to race with (the team) through 2010, so I’ll do that for sure,” Kahne said. “I told them from the start that if we can get our cars where they are right and competitive with the best teams out here, then I don’t know why I would ever want to move from that company.”
AJ Allmendinger has a guaranteed ride with Richard Petty Motorsports next season. It’s this year that’s still in limbo.
Richard Petty Motorsports said Allmendinger will drive for the team in 2010 but does not have a car number or sponsor details finalized.
“I’m thrilled about this,” Allmendinger said. “Racers are no different than anyone else. We like to know we have a job. I’m very thankful to be where I am, and I expect we will keep running better and better each weekend.
“I think I have found a long-term home at Richard Petty Motorsports.”
Castroneves will race
Helio Castroneves will be back on the track less than 24 hours after the Brazilian IndyCar driver was acquitted of tax evasion charges.
Penske Racing president Tim Cindric said the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner will return in time for practice and qualifying today for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.