RIDGEWAY, Va. - In a make-or-break weekend for several Hendrick Motorsports drivers, Saturday got off to a good start at Martinsville Speedway.
Chase Elliott ended the lone practice session as the quickest driver in the field. Kyle Larson and William Byron also posted laps inside the top-seven spots.
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Come qualifying, it was Byron grabbing the all important pole position. The lap also guarantees the first box on pit road, a huge advantage at Martinsville.
NASCAR playoff standings
As for the points, Elliott (-62) and Byron (-36) enter in virtual must-win situations. Larson (+36) will aim to do the same as he currently sits as the last driver above the cutline.
NASCAR starting lineup at Martinsville
- William Byron, No. 24 Cincinnati Chevrolet
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet
- Joey Logano, No. 22
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11
- Cole Custer, No. 41
- Kyle Busch, No. 8
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19
- Austin Cindric, No. 2
- Michael McDowell, No. 71
- Christopher Bell, No. 20
- Ross Chastain, No. 1
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Racing Chevrolet
- Ryan Preece, No. 60
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6
- Austin Dillon, No. 3
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23
- Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 88
- Zane Smith, No. 38
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42
- Riley Herbst, No. 35
- Ty Dillon, No. 10
- Erik Jones, No. 43
- Josh Berry, No. 21
- Chris Buescher, No. 17
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47
- A.J. Allmendinger, No. 16
- Justin Haley, No. 7
- Noah Gragson, No. 4
- Cody Ware, No. 51
- Casey Mears, No. 66