With qualifying for Sunday's Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway scheduled for Saturday afternoon, teams were forced to work on both qualifying and race trim during Friday's two practices. A majority of the drivers chose to focus on qualifying in the opening session, switching to longer runs in Happy Hour. With different agendas at work

Several big names jumped to the top of the charts in the first practice, with defending series champ Tony Stewart pacing the field. Stewart was one of four drivers to finish in the top 10 in both races at PIR last season, and he led the most laps in the fall event. Stewart was by far the driver to beat at the end of 2011, and it looks like he could keep the momentum going to start 2012.

Mark Martin was second on the charts, and since the start of the 1999 season, his 9.5 average finish at Phoenix is the second best in the series. During the stretch, he has yet to finish outside the top 20. Considering he has driven for multiple race teams during the span, there is no reason to think he can't deliver a solid outing for fantasy owners in his first start at the track with Michael Waltrip Racing.

Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne rounded out the top five, and Newman and Kahne are the two drivers owners should target. Newman won the February event in 2010, and Kahne won the fall event. Both drivers finished in the top 10 in both races in 2011, and Newman has finished in the top five in his last four starts at Phoenix. If owners are trying to decide between the two, may want to lean toward Kahne. Newman's value took a slight when he wrecked his car in the opening practice and went to a backup.

Only five drivers ran 10 or more consecutive laps in the first session, and while Paul Menard and Jimmie Johnson posted the best 10-lap averages, the small amount of competition should keep owners from putting too much stock in the times. That being said, Johnson does lead all drivers with a 5.4 average finish at Phoenix. He is a four-time winner at the track, and he has never finished outside the top 15 at PIR.

In Happy Hour, Michael Waltrip Racing teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer led the way. Neither driver has been an elite option at Phoenix in the past, although both have had a few top-10 finishes. As a result, fantasy owners may want to take a wait-and-see approach with Bowyer and Truex early in the year.

Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top five, and Gordon is the best fantasy option of the bunch. He is the defending winner of this weekend's race, and he has averaged a top-10 finish at the track since 1999. He is also coming off a year when he was excellent at flat tracks. Meanwhile, Busch is still an unknown with Phoenix Racing and Montoya is coming off a terrible 2011 season and a rough opening race at Daytona to say the least.

In terms of 10-lap average speeds, Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kahne and Johnson led a star-studded top five. Stewart, Kyle Busch and Martin joined the HMS duo, and all five drivers are former winners at PIR. In fact, the top seven drivers in terms of average speed in Happy Hour are all former winners.

Owners looking for a big name to avoid should consider last weekend's winner. Matt Kenseth has been mediocre at best at PIR in recent years, and he was nowhere near the top of the sheets in either practice session. To make matters worse, Kenseth wrecked his car in the final practice, forcing him to a backup for Sunday's race.

Happy Hour Speeds (sorted by Best Lap)

10-Lap Average Speeds (must run 10 consecutive laps)

First Practice Speeds (sorted by Best Lap)

10-Lap Average Speeds (must run 10 consecutive laps)