NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500: Qualifying, Martin Truex Jr.’s Pole Position, Round of 8 Finale Lineup At Martinsville Speedway

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Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published02 Nov 2024

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cup martin truex jr pole at martinsville (1)

Martin Truex Jr. plans to formally announce his NASCAR Cup Series retirement following next weekend’s Championship 4 event at Phoenix Raceway. 

The 2017 circuit champion is fighting more than time. Truex remains determined to make a difference despite not being a playoff driver. With two races remaining as a full-time competitor, Truex transversed Martinsville Speedway at 96.190 mph to claim Saturday’s qualifying session. The No. 19 Toyota team will start on the inside of the front row during Sunday’s Xfinity 500, next to playoff driver Chase Elliott, who finished 0.072 seconds behind Truex. 

Winless since claiming the Loudon event July 17, 2023, Truex, a future Hall of Famer with 34 career wins, seeks one more. 

 “We’ve got two more chances to win,” Truex said, per NASCAR.com. “We want it bad, we’re working hard, we’re not giving up, and hopefully we can get it for everyone.” 

Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin may Truex to “get it” for him. He was visibly upset after wrecking his No. 11 Toyota during a practice.  

“We had just come back out, we had just made an adjustment to the car, and it was doing everything it needed to do,” Hamlin said.  “We just got unlucky.” 

Truex also topped the practice field, registering a 95.070 mph lap.

Denny Hamlin’s Playoff Quest ‘’Infinitely Harder … Not Impossible’  

 Hamlin appears to be in trouble. 

After a stuck throttle sent his Joe Gibbs Racing machine hard into the outside wall at Martinsville Speedway during Saturday’s practice, Hamlin was unable to qualify and will start last. 

“It was maneuvering through the pack pretty well,” Hamlin said. “I went into Turn 3, and the car just didn’t slow down, and the throttle hung on us. The throttle had no chance to come backwards.  

“That certainly caught me off guard, but it happens.” 

Opening Sunday’s Round of 8 finale 18 points below the elimination line, Hamlin told NBC Sports his P37 starting spot will make his quest to qualify for his first final four since 2021 “infinitely harder … not impossible.” 

Few drivers have ever started from the rear and won at the shortest track on the Cup circuit. The last winning pilot who started outside of the top 20 was Dale Earnhhart Jr., who began P23 in October 2014. Kurt Busch set a track record by winning in October 2002 after starting P36.

Starting Lineup for NASCAR Cup Series’ Xfinity 500    

Here is a look at the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Xfinity Series at Martinsville Speedway:

Starting Position, Driver, Car No., Team

  • 1, Martin Truex Jr., 19, Joe Gibbs Racing
  • 2, Chase Elliott, 9, Hendrick Motorsports
  • 3, William Byron, 24, Hendrick Motorsports
  • 4, Chase Briscoe, 14, Stewart-Haas Racing
  • 5, Ty Gibbs, 54, Joe Gibbs Racing
  • 6, Harrison Burton, 21, Wood Brothers Racing
  • 7, Alex Bowman, 48, Hendrick Motorsports
  • 8, Ryan Preece, 41, Stewart-Haas Racing
  • 9, Kyle Larson, 5, Hendrick Motorsports
  • 10, Austin Dillon, 3, Richard Childress Racing
  • 11, Josh Berry, 4, Stewart-Haas Racing
  • 12, Joey Logano, 22, Team Penske
  • 13, Todd Gilliland, 38, Front Row Motorsports
  • 14, Ryan Blaney, 12, Team Penske
  • 15, Daniel Hemric, 31, Kaulig Racing
  • 16, Christopher Bell, 20, Joe Gibbs Racing
  • 17, Michael McDowell, 34, Front Row Motorsports
  • 18, Brad Keselowski, 6, RFk Racing
  • 19, Bubba Wallace, 23, 23XI Racing
  • 20, Daniel Suarez, 99, Trackhouse Racing
  • 21, Erik Jones, 43, Legacy Motor Club
  • 22, Ross Chastain, 1, Trackhouse Racing
  • 23, Kyle Busch, 8, Richard Childress Racing
  • 24, Austin Cindric, 2, Team Penske
  • 25, Noah Gragson, 10, Stewart-Haas Racing
  • 26, Chris Buescher, 17, RFK Racing
  • 27, Carson Hocevar, 77, Spire Motorsports
  • 28, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 41, JTG Daugherty Racing
  • 29, Shane van Gisbergen, 16, Kaulig Racing
  • 30, Justin Haley, 7, Spire Motorsports
  • 31, Tyler Reddick, 45, 23XI Racing
  • 32, John Hunter Nemechek, 42, Legacy Motor Club
  • 33, Kaz Grala, 15, Rick Ware Racing
  • 34, Corey LaJoie, 51, Rick Ware Racing
  • 35, Josh Bilicki, 66, Power Source
  • 36, Zane Smith, 71, Spire Motorsports
  • 37, Denny Hamlin, 11, Joe Gibbs Racing