After posting the fifth fastest speed in Friday’s practice at Phoenix International Raceway, Martin Truex Jr. slapped the wall late in the session, forcing the team to unload its backup No. 78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota.
What made matters worse for the Denver-based team is that they did not participate in the first round of qualifying due to a number of pass throughs with the backup car in the technical inspection line. When the No. 78 was cleared, time was about to expire in the qualifying session. By not taking a qualifying lap, Truex will start last (40th) in Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at the 1-mile oval.
“We’re just going to have to battle our way through the field on Sunday,” said Truex. “We’ve done it before and we can do it again.”
The pole winner was Alex Bowman, who is subbing for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Rounding out the top-12 in order were: Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch.
Sunday’s Can-Am 500 will be televised on NBC, 12:30 p.m. MT (2:30 ET).