Jimmie Johnson plays spoiler in winning pole at Phoenix

“The passion, energy and excitement synonymous with the Can-Am brand will be on full display throughout the Can-Am 500 race weekend as the Chase for the (NASCAR) Sprint Cup comes to Phoenix”.

Now, with his championship chances on the line, he will race there Sunday hoping to advance to the title-deciding season finale.

And if any of the three drivers below Edwards happens to win on Sunday and joins Jeff Gordon as an automatic qualifier for Homestead, the number of spots available on points will shrink from three to two.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is also out of the Chase, was third, with Chase driver Carl Edwards fourth.

Busch converted pole to an early lead and was starting to lap backmarkers as early as lap 10, while Dillon dropped away allowing Penske’s Brad Keselowski to take up second place before the first caution on lap 17 when Ruben Pardo (MBM Motorsports) came to a smoky halt on the track in turn 2.

According to the latest oddsmakers, Kevin Harvick is now a 3/1 favorite to win.

“The vehicle has speed”, Busch said.

“Phoenix worldwide Raceway works closely with the FBI and Homeland Security, as well as other local, state and federal agencies, throughout the planning and implementation of our event security plan”, track president Bryan Sperber said in a statement.

The NASCAR Chase Final Four will be set on Sunday at Phoenix and here are a few drivers and storylines to keep an eye on…

“You look at this particular Chase; it’s much different than last year’s Chase”. If Harvick had not triggered a wreck that ended the race in Talladega, Ala., he most likely would have been eliminated. Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr are in the drivers’ seat. Positioned just out of the top four, seven points behind, Edwards needs a big race this weekend.

Johnson turned a lap at 143.158 miles per hour in qualifying Friday to win the pole at Phoenix global Raceway.

In 25 career starts, Busch has one win, six top-five finishes and 14 top-10s.

“We didn’t qualify as well as we did last time, but the auto was really good in race trim as we practiced today”, Harvick said. Recently, he became the first driver since Jeff Gordon in 1995-96 to lead more than 2,000 laps in consecutive seasons.

Erik Jones has a chance to remain flawless at Phoenix worldwide Raceway when he attempts to move closer to the Truck Series title. “I think Homestead is more of a wild-card for me just because I’ve never been there and don’t really have any experience at that place, but the situation is going to differ so much depending on where the points are and how everything shakes out”.