Martinsville Starting Lineup: NASCAR Cup Series (October 28, 2018)

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!

Kurt Busch climbs into his NASCAR race car at Martinsville Speedway
MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 27: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, climbs into his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2018 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

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!

Kyle Busch - Pole Award at Martinsville Speedway
MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 27: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Halloween Toyota, poses with the Busch Pole Award after posting the fastest lap during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2018 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

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)

Links

Martinsville Speedway | NASCAR

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