STP 500 starting grid, lineup for Martinsville
By Nick Tylwalk
It’ll be the easiest pole Martin Truex Jr. ever receives, but he’ll take it as he aims to improve on his past short track performances at the STP 500.
A common refrain heard during the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was that Martin Truex Jr. was fast everywhere, and it made sense since he ended up winning the championship. But it’s also true that he wasn’t quite as formidable on short tracks, giving other drivers a chance to grab a win Sunday in the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Truex did finish second at Martinsville in the fall playoff race, but came in only 16th last spring. He hasn’t managed a top-5 finish in any spring race at the track in the last five seasons, but he’ll get a big boost toward changing that because of rain washing out qualifying. Since the 78 leads in owner points, he’ll start on the pole on Sunday.
He’ll have to be good right from the start because the man lining up next to him, Kyle Busch, is really darn good at Martinsville, finishing second and first in the two 2017 races. He’s had some problems catching and passing the leaders this season, but if he gets out in front, look out.
And it will be interesting to see how Hendrick Motorsports deals with the rained out qualifying, because that organization’s early season struggles means its cars will all be starting from 16th on back. Keep an eye on both Jimmie Johnson, who has a ton of wins at the track, and Chase Elliott as they try to push to the front.
Next: Chase Elliott ignoring Denny Hamlin talk while preparing for Martinsville
Here’s how all 38 cars entered for the race on Sunday will line up:
STP 500 starting grid for Martinsville Speedway
- Martin Truex Jr. – No. 78 5-hour Energy/Bass Pro Shops Toyota
- Kyle Busch – No. 18 M&M’s Toyota
- Joey Logano – No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford
- Brad Keselowski – No. 2 Reese/Drawtite Ford
- Ryan Blaney – No. 12 Menards/Libman Ford
- Denny Hamlin – No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota
- Kyle Larson – No. 42 Credit One Bank/DC Solar Chevrolet
- Kevin Harvick – No. 4 Jimmy John’s Ford
- Clint Bowyer – No. 14 Haas Automation Ford
- Aric Almirola – No 10 Mobil 1 Ford
- Kurt Busch – No. 41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford
- Austin Dillon – No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet
- Erik Jones – No. 20 Circle K Toyota
- Ryan Newman – No. 31 Grainger Chevrolet
- Paul Menard – No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford
- Alex Bowman – No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – No. 17 Fastenal Ford
- Jimmie Johnson – No. 48 Lowe’s for Pros Chevrolet
- Bubba Wallace – No. 43 STP Chevrolet
- William Byron – No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet
- Chase Elliott – No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet
- Chris Buescher – No. 37 Healthy Choice Power Bowls Chevrolet
- Daniel Suarez – No. 19 Arris Toyota
- Michael McDowell – No. 34 A&W All American Food Ford
- AJ Allmendinger – No. 47 Kroger Click List Chevrolet
- Jamie McMurray – No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet
- Trevor Bayne – No. 6 AdvoCare Ford
- David Ragan – No. 38 MDS Transport Ford
- Kasey Kahne – No. 95 WRL General Contractors Chevrolet
- Harrison Rhodes – No. 51 Harry’s Chevrolet
- Matt DiBenedetto – No. 32 Can-Am/Wholey Ford
- Ty Dillon – No. 13 Geico Chevrolet
- Ross Chastain – No. 15 ChampionMachinery.com Chevrolet
- Gray Gaulding – No. 23 Earthwater Toyota
- Cole Whitt – No. 72 TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
- Landon Cassill – No. 00 VRX / Srarcom Fiber Chevrolet
- D.J. Kennington – No. 96 Gordon Brothers Toyota
- JJ Yeley – No. 55 Adirondack Tree Surgeons Toyota