AVONDALE, Ariz., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Championship leader Jimmie Johnson won the pole Friday for Sunday's AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Johnson set a track qualifying record of 139.222 miles per hour for the next-to-last race in the chase for the Sprint Cup championship. It was his third pole of the season and the 32nd of his career.
Matt Kenseth, who is in second place in the championship chase, qualified 14th. He will begin Sunday's race seven points behind Johnson, a five-time winner of the Sprint Cup title.
Denny Hamlin captured the outside pole with a lap of 139.023 mph. Joey Logano qualified third, followed by Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr.
Jeff Burton, who will compete in his 1,000th race in NASCAR's top series, qualified 15th.
