David Reutimann has scored pole for the all-important final race of the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup at Richmond in Virginia.

Reutimann turned a lap at 127.383 mph, claiming the top starting spot in the race that will begin with more than a dozen drivers trying to secure one of the three spots still up for grabs in the 10-race playoffs that begin next weekend.

The 12-driver field will be set after Saturday night’s 400-lap event, and under the new format, the final two wild card spots will go to the drivers ranked 11 to 20 in the points who have the most regular-season victories.

As Reutimann sees it, he’s just as entitled to race for the victory as anyone else.

“No different than any other race,” said Reutimann.

“You just got out there and try to outrun them. You don’t want to mess with anybody’s day, but I’m out for me.”

Jamie McMurray, another driver out of contention for a Chase spot, will start on the outside of the front row.

Five-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson will start third, with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin to his outside. Martin is among the drivers who need to win the race and have several other contenders falter to find his way into the Chase field.

Australia’s Marcos Ambrose in that group, but he will need to win the race to have any chance. He has plenty of work ahead of him starting 34th on the grid.

“You know, I am just confused right now. I thought that was better than that,” said Ambrose.

“I thought that was a decent lap but turns out that it wasn’t. I don’t really know right now what we need to get better at for tomorrow, but we will get to work on it.”

Among the drivers in closest contention for the final three spots, Dale Earnhardt Jr. qualified 27th, and Tony Stewart qualified 22nd. Earnhardt, who is ninth in the standings, needs only to finish 20th or better to secure a playoff berth. Stewart, who is 10th, needs to be 18th or better.

GRID: Wonderful Pistachios 400 | Richmond International Raceway

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Btuned is a premier European vehicle specialist based in North Lakes, Queensland, servicing clients across Australia’s Eastern Seaboard. With over 45 years of combined hands-on experience—including decades of factory training with brands like BMW, MINI,...

Btuned is a premier European vehicle specialist based in North Lakes, Queensland, servicing clients across Australia’s Eastern Seaboard. With over 45 years of combined hands-on...