It’s very tempting, probably because it’s quite proper, to break down current NASCAR into the pre- and post-Next Gen era, which began in 2022. The modern Cup Series car — the equally cussed and praised Next Gen — chauffeured in a whole new way of setting up and driving on Sundays.
Speed still counts, but it’s not everything. Handling remains a key component, as does braking at certain tracks, especially the tiny variety, such as Martinsville this weekend.
With that in mind, here are the past seven pole winners at Martinsville, in order, beginning in the spring of 2022: Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex, Larson, Truex, Christopher Bell.
And the seven winners from those years: William Byron, Bell, Larson, Blaney, Byron, Blaney, Denny Hamlin. That’s right, no one has won from the pole since the new cars rolled off the trucks three-plus years ago. In fact, those seven race winners’ average starting position is 12th.
Who’s next to try for the sweep?
William Byron, who won the pole Saturday and will start alongside Ty Gibbs on the front row.
Top 10 speeds at Martinsville
William Byron: 98.185
Ty Gibbs: 98.175
Kyle Larson: 98.038
Joey Logano: 98.002
Denny Hamlin: 97.876
Cole Custer: 97.871
Kyle Busch: 97.850
Chase Elliott: 97.845
Chase Briscoe: 97.279
Austin Cindric: 97.643
NASCAR playoff lineup at Martinsville
How to watch, what time and what channel for NASCAR
Saturday: Xfinity Series race, IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250, 7:30 p.m. (CW)
Sunday: Cup Series race, Xfinity 500, 2 p.m. (NBC).
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR qualifying results set starting lineup for playoff race at Martinsville
Reporting by Ken Willis, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
