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Wheeling his No. 22 Team Penske Ford at 96.504 mph, Joey Logano jumped to the top of the leaderboard on Sunday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway to secure the Coors Light Pole Award.
This marked Logano’s first pole since Phoenix in March and 19th career pole in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
With a fast lap of 96.479 mph, last week’s Kansas Speedway winner Martin Truex Jr. will start second alongside Logano in the First Data 500 later today (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN/NBC Sports App) in his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota.
“I think the last time we were here Truex got us be a few thousandths, so it’s cool to flip-flop that again,” Logano said upon winning his fourth pole in six races at Martinsville. “I’ve got something to race with this week. I’m really excited about the race and starting up front is always a big deal here. We may not get the good pit stall that we would want, but starting towards the front is always a nice thing to have. You can set your own pace and kind of take care of your car.”
Chase Elliott’s No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will roll off the grid third, while fellow sophomore driver Ryan Blaney qualified fourth in his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five in his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
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Round of 8 contender Jimmie Johnson wheel hopped and spun in the second round, skimming the wall and stopping the clock momentarily. He did not attempt another lap, although credited with a starting position of 24th, will move to the rear of the field.
Kevin Harvick was on the track when Johnson spun, which resulted in his lap not counting once the caution flag flew. He made another lap, qualifying 13th after Erik Jones’ late lap knocked him out of the top 12. Harvick was one of three Playoffs drivers that did not make the final round of qualifying, along with Johnson and Kyle Busch (14th). All eight NASCAR Playoffs drivers made it to the second round.
The Monster Energy Series will return to the track shortly at Martinsville, with the First Data 500 race beginning at 3 p.m. ET (NBCSN/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).