Martin Truex Jr. was the final driver on observe within the pole spherical of qualifying, rocketing to the highest of the charts with a 19.686s lap that denied Hendrick Motorsports a entrance row lockout.
“I felt nice about our automobile on stickers,” mentioned Truex, who additionally led the best way in Cup follow. “You understand, you by no means wish to get too optimistic however it fired off actually good in follow — particularly that second run when the observe rubbered in.
“I used to be like: ‘Alright, if we will simply hit the steadiness right here for qualifying it needs to be actually quick.’ Pleased with James [Small, crew chief] and all the guys and everybody again at JGR and at TRD. We have not had an entire lot of excellent going for us recently. This feels superior. Anytime you are first at something on this collection is particular and thrilling. We acquired some work to do for tomorrow, however hopefully we will make a acquire on it and have an excellent day.”
That is Truex’s twenty fourth profession pole and his first of the 2024 season. His final P1 begin got here at this very race one yr in the past. Truex can be winless in his final full-time season of competitors, which he hopes to vary within the closing two weeks.
“Two extra probabilities to win,” mentioned Truex. “We wish it dangerous. We’re working onerous. We aren’t giving up and hopefully we will get one for everybody.”
Truex will share the entrance row with Chase Elliott, who was the highest-qualifying playoff driver. William Byron was third, Chase Briscoe fourth, and Ty Gibbs fifth. Rounding out the rest of the top-ten was Harrison Burton, Alex Bowman, Ryan Preece, Kyle Larson, and Austin Dillon.
Spherical 1
In Group A qualifying, the Stewart-Haas Racing drivers impressed with Briscoe and teammate Preece topping the charts, adopted by Elliott and Burton. Dillon was the ultimate driver to advance, beating Championship 4-bound Joey Logano by 0.025s.
Ryan Blaney, going through a possible must-win, certified 14th. Christopher Bell, who sits 29 factors above the cut-line, was a surprisingly mediocre sixteenth whereas the 2 drivers chasing him moved ahead to the pole spherical.Â
In Group B, Truex led the best way there with an astonishing 19.584s lap — over a tenth quicker than his eventual pole run. He was joined by the Hendrick trio of Byron, Bowman and Larson, in addition to JGR teammate Gibbs. Larson was the ultimate driver to advance, besting Josh Berry by 0.029s.
Tyler Reddick, who locked himself into the Championship 4 with a dramatic last-lap move at Homestead, made an error on his quick lap and can begin thirty first. Nonetheless, the lowest-starting playoff driver would be the one who didn’t even participate. After the throttle caught in follow, Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 automobile sustained important rear finish harm. Hamlin didn’t take part in qualifying because the workforce makes intensive repairs to the automobile. He’ll begin thirty seventh (final) on Sunday, 18 factors beneath the cut-line.
