Last year’s Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch survived an unusual qualifying session and claimed the pole for Sunday’s 12th annual Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
The No. 18 Skittles machine wound up today’s lone practice session in eighth, giving the No. 18 team confidence headed into the afternoon qualifying session.
The first round of qualifying saw a bizarre incident involving Kasey Kahne’s No. 5 machine. On his cool down lap after his run, Kahne’s car began smoking headed down the backstretch. The driver was able to get out of the car, as endless smoke came billowing out of the cowl flap on the hood.