Whether it’s superspeedways, intermediate tracks or as he proved today half-mile raceways, no one is hotter than Joey Logano who will start from pole at Martinsville.
Coming off three straight race wins, Logano snared the pole at the flat 0.526-mile Virginian speedway in 19.215 seconds in the final round of knockout qualifying.
Logano edged fellow Chase driver Martin Truex Jr. by .012 seconds in the race for the top starting spot for the first race in the Chase’s Eliminator Round.
The Coors Light Pole Award was Logano’s second at the ‘paperclip’, the first one having come in March of this year. It was the 14th pole of his career, six of which have come in 2015.
Grabbing pole in NASCAR has two crucial advantages; starting off the point and pit box selection. The Penske Ford will be serviced from the last stall on pit road on the tight Martinsville layout.
“It’s an amazing run we’re on right now,” Logano said. “This Shell-Pennzoil team is unbelievable. I’m just the lucky guy that gets to drive this thing right now.
“It’s so much fun. We’re doing everything right, right now, but all that can end in a blink of an eye, so we’ve got to keep our focus. Starting first here — anywhere here at Martinsville pays a lot bigger than most race tracks. Having a great pit stall and staying up towards front — as well as keeping your fenders on the car is important. I couldn’t be more proud of these guys as I am right now.”
Non-Chase drivers AJ Allmendinger and Jamie McMurray will share the second row with Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch lining up behind.
Two Chase drivers failed to make the top 12 — Carl Edwards (14th) and Kurt Busch (15th).
The only major dramas in qualifying went the way of Kasey Kahne who found the fence and will start from the rear in a back-up car.
QUALIFYING: Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 – Martinsville Speedway
| POS. | CAR # | DRIVER | MAKE | SPONSOR | MPH | TIME | GAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | Joey Logano |  |
Shell Pennzoil | 98.548 | 19.215 | Leader |
| 2 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr |  |
Furniture Row/Visser Precision | 98.487 | 19.227 | –0.012 |
| 3 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger | |
Kroger/Clorox | 98.068 | 19.309 | –0.094 |
| 4 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | |
McDonald’s | 98.007 | 19.321 | –0.106 |
| 5 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | |
AARP MEMBER ADVANTAGES | 97.896 | 19.343 | –0.128 |
| 6 | 18 | Kyle Busch |  |
M&M’s Crispy | 97.850 | 19.352 | –0.137 |
| 7 | 31 | Ryan Newman | |
WIX Filters | 97.724 | 19.377 | –0.162 |
| 8 | 43 | Aric Almirola | |
Smithfield | 97.684 | 19.385 | –0.170 |
| 9 | 42 | Kyle Larson | |
Target Plaid | 97.618 | 19.398 | –0.183 |
| 10 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | |
FedEx Ground | 97.503 | 19.421 | –0.206 |
| 11 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | |
Alliance Truck Parts | 97.448 | 19.432 | –0.217 |
| 12 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | |
Outback Steak House | 97.347 | 19.452 | –0.237 |
| 13 | 14 | Tony Stewart | |
Bass Pro Shops / Mobil 1 | 97.891 | 19.344 | –0.129 |
| 14 | 19 | Carl Edwards | |
XFINITY | 97.835 | 19.355 | –0.140 |
| 15 | 41 | Kurt Busch | |
Monster Energy Chevrolet SS | 97.800 | 19.362 | –0.147 |
| 16 | 10 | Danica Patrick | |
GoDaddy | 97.734 | 19.375 | –0.160 |
| 17 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | |
Maxwell House | 97.714 | 19.379 | –0.164 |
| 18 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | |
Dollar General | 97.437 | 19.434 | –0.219 |
| 19 | 13 | Casey Mears | |
No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS | 97.362 | 19.449 | –0.234 |
| 20 | 9 | Sam Hornish Jr | |
Jacob Companies | 97.242 | 19.473 | –0.258 |
| 21 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | |
KOLBALT TOOLS | 97.113 | 19.499 | –0.284 |
| 22 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | |
Nationwide | 97.083 | 19.505 | –0.290 |
| 23 | 51 | Justin Allgaier | |
Auto Owners Insurance | 96.800 | 19.562 | –0.347 |
| 24 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | |
Great Clips | 97.689 | 19.384 | –0.169 |
| 25 | 16 | Greg Biffle | |
No. 16 Ford Fusion | 97.633 | 19.395 | –0.180 |
| 26 | 27 | Paul Menard | |
Moen / Menards | 97.593 | 19.403 | –0.188 |
| 27 | 40 | Landon Cassill | |
TBA | 97.427 | 19.436 | –0.221 |
| 28 | 55 | David Ragan | |
Aaron’s Online Dream Machine | 97.392 | 19.443 | –0.228 |
| 29 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | |
Zest Ford Fusion | 97.337 | 19.454 | –0.239 |
| 30 | 3 | Austin Dillon | |
Dow | 97.078 | 19.506 | –0.291 |
| 31 | 35 | Cole Whitt | |
MDS Transportation | 97.013 | 19.519 | –0.304 |
| 32 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | |
Advocare Ford Fusion | 96.959 | 19.530 | –0.315 |
| 33 | 38 | David Gilliland | |
Jerry Cook Hall of Fame Tribute | 96.924 | 19.537 | –0.322 |
| 34 | 34 | Brett Moffitt | |
Dockside Logistics | 96.731 | 19.576 | –0.361 |
| 35 | 23 | Jeb Burton | |
Rocky Ridge/Estes | 96.711 | 19.580 | –0.365 |
| 36 | 83 | Matt DiBenedetto | |
Cosmo | 96.612 | 19.600 | –0.385 |
| 37 | 98 | Ryan Preece | |
Vydox Plus/Champion Machinery | 96.533 | 19.616 | –0.401 |
| 38 | 46 | Michael Annett | |
Pilot Flying J | 96.435 | 19.636 | –0.421 |
| 39 | 26 | J.J. Yeley | |
Maxim | 96.371 | 19.649 | –0.434 |
| 40 | 32 | Kyle Fowler | |
CorvetteParts.net | 96.244 | 19.675 | –0.460 |
| 41 | 7 | Alex Bowman | |
Nikko RC / Toy State | 96.049 | 19.715 | –0.500 |
| 42 | 62 | Timmy Hill | |
Acredale Vending | 95.343 | 19.861 | –0.646 |
| 43 | 33 | Alex Kennedy | |
TBA | 95.161 | 19.899 | –0.684 |
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