Phoenix, AZ (Best E Casino) - Carl Edwards beat Martin Truex Jr. by a scant 0.003 seconds to capture the pole for Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 Nextel Cup race at the Phoenix International Raceway, the ninth of 10 races that make up the Chase for the Nextel Cup. The No.99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford driver grabbed the top spot with a best lap of 27.114 seconds (132.773 m.p.h.).

The pole victory was Edwards' first of the season and third of his Cup career.

"That was a lot of fun, but I didn't think it was going to hold up," said Edwards. That run felt great, I think if I did it 10 more times I couldn't go faster.

"To be in the Bud Shootout next year, is awesome."

Starting alongside Edwards on Sunday will be Truex Jr. who posted a time of 27.117 seconds.

Jeff Gordon (27.129) and hometown favorite J.J. Yeley (27.224) will make up row two.

"I'm a little bummed out," said Gordon. "I thought we had a shot at the pole. I knew it was going to be very close."

The remainder of the "Chase" field will start in the following order: Jimmie Johnson (sixth), Kurt Busch (ninth), Jeff Burton (12th), Denny Hamlin (15th), Matt Kenseth (18th), Clint Bowyer (20th), Tony Stewart (21st), Kevin Harvick (34th) and Kyle Busch (38th).

After racing for 9,449 miles over 34 events, just 712 miles remain in the final two events which make up the "Chase for the Nextel Cup." Johnson has a three-race win streak to put himself in the "drivers seat."

"I know we're racing for the championship and now we have control of it," said Johnson.

Johnson's ninth win of the season, and first ever at the Texas Motor Speedway, finally put him in front of teammate Jeff Gordon. It is also the most wins in a single season since Gordon posted a 13-win effort in his third championship season of 1998.

Johnson has made eight starts at PIR, yielding no poles, no wins, but six top-10s and an average finish of 7.3. Gordon as been a little better with three poles, one win and a stunning 14 top-10s in 17 starts.

Barring a complete mental collapse or engine failure, it is not likely that this race will win or lose the 2007 Nextel Cup championship. However, it will set up the final parameters for what should be a great finish at the Homestead-Miami Speedway next week.

Three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr., who will drive full-time in Nextel Cup in 2008, qualified for his first "Cup" race with a time of 27.468 seconds, good enough for 26th on the grid.

The race is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (et).