Mayfield, No. 66 Haas Team Starts 40th at Phoenix

AVONDALE, AZ (Nov. 9) – Jeremy Mayfield drove his No. 66 Haas Automation Chevrolet to a qualifying lap time of 27.753 seconds, at an average speed of 129.716 miles per hour, on Friday afternoon at Phoenix International Raceway.

That effort gives Mayfield the 40th starting position in Sunday’s 312-lap NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event.

“We haven’t found what the car needs yet,” Mayfield said. “I was really protecting the rear of the car all day. It’s been really loose getting in, but we’ll keep working until we get it right.”

The top starting position went to Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford), who managed a lap of 27.114 seconds at an average speed of 132.773 miles per hour. The rest of the top-five is made up of Martin Truex, Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet), Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet), J.J. Yeley (No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet) and Mayfield’s Haas CNC Racing teammate, Johnny Sauter (No. 70 Fleetpride / Yellow Chevrolet).

The race airs live on ABC and MRN Radio affiliates, Sunday, Nov. 11, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET.