NASCAR playoffs at Martinsville starting lineup: Martin Truex Jr. wins pole, Denny Hamlin crashes in practice

Truex will start up front in his next-to-last race before the end of his full-time racing career

By Steven Taranto

Nov 2, 2024 at 3:58 pm ET • 1 min read

Getty Images

RIDGEWAY, Va. -- Martin Truex Jr. won the pole for the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday afternoon, posting a lap of 19.686 (96.190 MPH) in the final round to earn his first pole of the 2024 season and the 24th of his Cup career. Truex's pole comes in the next-to-last race of his full-time Cup career, as the 2017 champion will step away following next weekend's season finale at Phoenix.

Truex's pole and its sentimental value was a welcome distraction for Joe Gibbs Racing, as an extended practice session prior to qualifying saw disaster strike for teammate Denny Hamlin. Entering turn 3, a chunk of rubber got caught in the throttle body on Hamlin's car, causing the throttle to hang and sending Hamlin hard into the outside wall. Hamlin's car suffered severe rear end damage, but his team has elected to try and repair the car as opposed to go to a backup car for Sunday's race.

Hamlin's fastest lap in practice ended up being third fastest overall, but he was unable to make a qualifying attempt and will start shotgun on the field in 37th.

Denny Hamlin will not turn a qualifying lap after crashing in practice.

He'll face an uphill battle in the elimination race at Martinsville. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4hN85BH6dS
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 2, 2024

Chase Elliott, who faces a virtual must-win scenario in order to make the Championship 4 at 43 points below the cut line, will start second and lead all playoff drivers to the green flag for the elimination race in the Round of 8. Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson start just behind him in third and ninth, followed by Joey Logano in 12th, Ryan Blaney in 14th, Christopher Bell in 16th, Tyler Reddick in 31st and Hamlin at the rear.