Martinsville Speedway qualifying results from October 27, 2018 for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday
UPDATE: Several cars sent to the rear of the field following pre-race inspection (Starting lineup updated below)
NASCAR qualifying from Martinsville Speedway is up next. The skies are dark as the green flag is set to drop on the session at the ).526-mile oval. The Ridgeway, Virginia track hosts the opening race in the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs
View the full 2018 Martinsville starting lineup below.
Martinsville Menu: MENCS
TV | Prac 1 | Prac 2 | Qual | Race
Round 1
Martinsville Qualifying
Duration: 15 minutes (Top 24 advance)
The track has changed drastically since the last MENCS practice. The truck race has just concluded. That rubber will be pulled from the track early.
Many cars pull to the end of pit lane and park. Kyle Busch ran a very slow full lap to scuff his tires. Aric Almirola has run a half a lap with the same strategy.
10 minutes remain, 20 cars have turned a time.
9 minutes remain, Bubba Wallace is hard in the wall! The red flag is out. He stepped on the brakes and the rear end jumped around. He backed it into the fence hard. He’ll go to a backup car. Jimmie Johnson and AJ Allmendinger had laps interrupted by that red flag.
3 minutes remain, Ryan Blaney sits at the top of the board. As of now, all Round of 8 playoff drivers are above the cut line. Chase Elliott is 22nd.
1 minute remains, Johnson moves to 23rd on the board. That puts Chase Elliott on the bubble! Elliott returns to the track for a second run in round one.
Elliott does not improve his time. But, it doesn’t matter, nobody has bumped in. Elliott is the last car to advance into round two.
Ryan Blaney wins round one of Martinsville qualifying!
Round 1 – Martinsville Qualifying: 1. Ryan Blaney (19.660); 2. Clint Bowyer (19.694); 3. Aric Almirola (19.717); 4. Kurt Busch (19.719); 5. Joey Logano (19.730); 6. Denny Hamlin (19.738); 7. Jamie McMurray (19.740); 8. AJ Allmendinger (19.756); 9. Kyle Larson (19.763); 10. Ryan Newman (19.763); 11. Daniel Suarez (19.792); 12. Kyle Busch (19.795
Round 2
Martinsville Qualifying
Duration: 10 minutes (Top 12 advance)
6 minutes remain in round two of Martinsville qualifying. Denny Hamlin sits at the top of the board as 8 cars have turned a lap.
4 minutes remain, Joey Logano is 15th on the board. Harvick is on the bubble.
20 seconds remain, Joey Logano runs 12th. That bumps Harvick out of the final round! Harvick and Elliott are two Round of 8 drivers in the NASCAR Playoffs that will not advance.
Kurt Busch was quickest in round two of Martinsville Speedway qualifying!
Round 2 – Martinsville Qualifying: 1. Kurt Busch (19.692); 2. Kyle Busch (19.711); 3. Denny Hamlin (19.715); 4. Clint Bowyer (19.716); 5. Aric Almirola (19.722); 6. Daniel Suarez (19.731); 7. Kyle Larson (19.741); 8. Martin Truex Jr (19.751); 9. Ryan Blaney; 10. William Byron; 11. Brad Keselowski; 12. Joey Logano;
Round 3
Martinsville Qualifying
Duration: 5 minutes (Run for the pole at Martinsville Speedway)
The skies are far darker than they were at the start of the session. Rain is in the area.
Denny Hamlin is on the track early in the final round of NASCAR qualifying. Six cars are on the track as soon as the session began. Hamlin is quickest of those cars.
It takes a few laps to get heat in the tires. The fastest lap in lap two or three in your run. Hamlin, Truex and Almrola trade space at the top of the board. Almirola runs faster, Hamlin takes it right back.
Two minutes remain, the second wave of cars are on the track. Bowyer to the top. Busch to the top.
Kyle Busch will start from the pole position in Sunday’s NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway!
View the full NASCAR starting lineup for Martinsville Speedway below.
Martinsville Starting Lineup
NASCAR Cup Series
October 28, 2018
Note: The lineup below has been updated to support the new lineup following pre-race inspection failures
Pos | Driver | Time
1. Kyle Busch
19.673
2. Clint Bowyer
19.700
3. Denny Hamlin
19.702
4. Ryan Blaney
19.706
5. Aric Almirola
19.713
6. Kurt Busch
19.749
7. Brad Keselowski
19.770
8. Daniel Suarez
19.786
9. Kyle Larson
19.806
10. Joey Logano
19.825
11. William Byron
19.877
12. Kevin Harvick
19.822
13. Chris Buescher
19.840
14. Alex Bowman
19.842
15. AJ Allmendinger
19.859
16. Ryan Newman
19.865
17. Jamie McMurray
19.889
18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
19.894
19. Chase Elliott
19.902
20. Michael McDowell
19.915
21. Erik Jones
19.927
22. Ross Chastain
19.898
23. Ty Dillon
19.905
24. Matt Kenseth
19.913
25. Austin Dillon
19.916
26. Matt DiBenedetto
19.918
27. Regan Smith
19.941
28. Cole Whitt
20.057
29. CD Kennington
20.162
30. Joey Gase
20.342
31. Hermie Sadler III
20.472
32. Landon Cassill
—
Cars to the rear:
33. Martin Truex Jr
19.739 (Inspection Failure)
34. Jimmie Johnson
19.916 (Inspection Failure)
35. Paul Menard
21.040 (Engine Change)
36. David Ragan
19.834 (Inspection Failure x2)
37. Bubba Wallace
20.062 (Backup Car)
38. JJ Yeley
20.205 (Inspection Failure)
39. Jeb Burton
20.388 (Inspection Failure)
40. Timmy Hill
20.432 (Inspection Failure x2)
All teams will start the race. 40 teams and 40 starters, nobody will head home after qualifying.
Update
Several cars have been sent to the rear of the field following pre-race inspection on Sunday morning. Those drivers are listed below.
Martin Truex Jr, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Timmy Hill, JJ Yeley and Jeb Burton were the list of cars sent to the rear following the first pass through the inspection tent. Additionally, Bubba Wallace will go to a backup car and Paul Menard’s team elected to change engines following qualifying.
Related: Multiple cars to start at the rear following inspection at Martinsville Speedway
More
Martinsville Speedway: TV Schedule
Martinsville Race Results: October 29, 2017 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Chase Elliott vs Denny Hamlin at Martinsville Speedway (Video)
Matt Kenseth vs Joey Logano at Martinsville Speedway (Video)
