NASCAR: Martinsville Cup qualifying results
By Alex Herbst
Joey Logano stole the show in NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Martinsville, becoming the first non-playoff pole winner in the 2017 playoff races.
Qualifying at Martinsville Speedway was completed for the first time on the same day as the race on Sunday ahead of the First Data 500.
As part of NASCAR‘s effort to consolidate select Cup Series race weekends, Mother Nature threatened but fortunately did not wash out qualifying ahead of the First Data 500. And at the end of the session, Team Penske’s Joey Logano was on top and stole the pole.
Logano, who did not make the playoffs in 2017, was the fastest driver in all three rounds of Cup Series qualifying. The Fords flexed their muscle throughout the qualifying sessions, with other blue ovals including Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer, and Aric Almirola near the front as well. Martin Truex Jr., the championship favorite, will start alongside Logano on the front row.
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The only incident of note in qualifying was a spin by Jimmie Johnson in the second round. There had been sprinkles in the area at the time, but it was not connected to Johnson’s spin, as he “wheel-hopped” into Turn 4. The #48 Chevy will start at the rear of the field due to changing tires after qualifying.
Here are the full qualifying results ahead of the First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway (playoff drivers in italics):
- Joey Logano, Ford, Team Penske
- Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, Furniture Row Racing
- Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
- Ryan Blaney, Ford, Wood Brothers Racing
- Clint Bowyer, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- Denny Hamlin, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Brad Keselowski, Ford, Team Penske
- Erik Jones, Toyota, Furniture Row Racing
- Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
- Aric Almirola, Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
- Kurt Busch, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
- Kevin Harvick, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- Kyle Busch, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Daniel Suarez, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
- Matt Kenseth, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Paul Menard, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, Leavine Family Racing
- Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
- Danica Patrick, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports*
- Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, Germain Racing
- A.J. Allmendinger, Chevrolet, JTG-Daugherty Racing
- Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, Go Fas Racing
- Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, JTG-Daugherty Racing
- Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, TriStar Motorsports
- David Ragan, Ford, Front Row Motorsports
- Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, Premium Motorsports
- Landon Cassill, Ford, Front Row Motorsports
- Trevor Bayne, Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
- Gray Gaulding, Toyota, BK Racing
- Corey LaJoie, Toyota, BK Racing
- Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, TMG-Circle Sport Racing
- Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, Rick Ware Racing
- Carl Long, Chevrolet, MBM Racing
- Hermie Sadler, Chevrolet, Tommy Baldwin Racing
* – Will start at the rear of the field.
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Be sure to tune in for Sunday’s race in just a few hours from the famous paper clip, Martinsville Speedway. Coverage of the First Data 500 can be seen live on NBCSN and the NBC Sports app. Who will win the opening race of the Round of 8? Comment below with your picks.