MARTINSVILLE, Va.–Discuss excellent timing.
William Byron, considered one of 4 drivers realistically needing a victory at Martinsville Speedway to advance to the Championship 4 race within the NASCAR Cup Sequence Playoffs, picked the perfect second to win his first pole place on the historic brief observe.
Protecting the 0.526-mile distance in 19.286 seconds (98.185 mph) on Saturday, Byron edged non-Playoff driver Ty Gibbs (98.175 mph) by 0.002 seconds for the highest beginning spot in Sunday’s Xfinity 500 (2 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
The Busch Mild Pole Award was Byron’s third of the yr and sixteenth of his profession however his first for the reason that eighth race of the 2025 season at Darlington Raceway.
Although he is beginning up entrance, Byron was cautious of putting an excessive amount of emphasis on his pole-winning run.
“It is good, but it surely would not rely for something but,” mentioned the driving force of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, who begins Sunday’s race fifth within the Playoff standings and 36 factors under the lower line for the Nov. 2 Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. “Yeah, it is good. We have ready nicely coming right here, and I really feel fairly good about my race automotive…
“You all the time need observe place, and being on the pole is sweet. It offers us a superb pit stall–that’s most likely the most important key out of it–and it offers us an opportunity to regulate the race for just a little bit.”
Byron’s teammate, Kyle Larson, fourth within the standings and 36 factors above the elimination line, will begin third after a lap at 98.038 mph. Playoff drivers Joey Logano (98.002 mph) and Denny Hamlin (97.876 mph) secured beginning positions 4 and 5 for the ultimate race within the Spherical of 8.
Logano is 38 factors under the lower line in a digital must-win state of affairs. Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe have already got made the Championship 4 with a victories within the Spherical of 8.
Cole Custer certified sixth, adopted by Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Briscoe and Austin Cindric. Together with Byron and Logano, Elliott and Thirty first-place qualifier Ryan Blaney virtually definitely should win the race to advance.
Blaney has gained the final two fall Playoff races at Martinsville. His victory in 2023 led to a sequence championship.
–Reid Spencer, particular to Area Stage Media
