AVONDALE, Ariz. — A few drivers, like Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, raced onto the track to get in their qualifying sessions. Others waited, some nearly 10 minutes, before heading out for the first time.

There were long stretches with almost no activity followed by mad scrambles to get runs in before time ran out. Cars raced past each other at close to a 100 mph difference.

No doubt, this first round of NASCAR’s new knockout qualifying will take some getting used to. Brad Keselowski earned the first Sprint Cup pole under NASCAR’s new format, edging Joey Logano with a track-record top speed of 139.384 mph at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday.

“It’s a lot more nerve-racking,” Keselowski said.

Keselowski was one of the first drivers to go out in the first session and finished behind Logano.

He trumped his teammate in the shorter, second session to earn his fourth career pole and a spot on the front row for Sunday’s 312-mile race. Jamie McMurray qualified third, defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was fourth.