Nascar

Martin Truex Jr. wins NASCAR pole at Pocono Raceway

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Racing legend Richard Petty, right, talks with Jimmie Johnson (48) in the garage area of Pocono Raceway during practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400 auto race Sunday Friday, July 29, 2016, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) (The Associated Press)

Kyle Busch (18) talks to a crew member in the garage area at Pocono Raceway during practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400 auto race Sunday Friday, July 29, 2016, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) (The Associated Press)

Jimmie Johnson (48) drives in the garage area at Pocono Raceway during practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400 auto race Sunday Friday, July 29, 2016, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) (The Associated Press)

Martin Truex Jr. turned a lap of 179.244 mph and won the pole Friday at Pocono Raceway.

Truex won his third pole of the season in the No. 78 Toyota and the 10th of his career. He has one of his four career Sprint Cup victories at Pocono.

Carl Edwards was second, followed by Paul Menard, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman.

Driving for Richard Childress Racing, Menard was the surprise of the day at Pocono. Menard has just two top-10 finishes all season.

But he topped the lone practice chart in his first race weekend with crew chief Danny Stockman. RCR dumped Justin Alexander for Stockman for Menard's stretch run.