Martin Truex, Jr. poses for photos after winning the pole in qualifying for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images
Martin Truex, Jr. earned his first NASCAR Cup Series pole position in four seasons, taking the top starting spot in Saturday qualifying with a lap of 127.113 mph at the one-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
He’ll start Sunday’s race alongside last week’s race winner Chase Elliott.
Truex last started on pole at Kentucky Speedway in 2018 – one of two race wins from pole in the last three times he’s started out front. Another showing like that this week would be key for Truex, who is still racing for his first victory in 2022. His best showing a fourth place at Richmond, 13 races ago.
It’s the second pole position for Truex at New Hampshire – last earning the top starting spot in his 2017 championship season – and 20th pole position of his career.
Kurt Busch and his teammate Bubba Wallace will start on the second row, followed by Christopher Bell, who has three Xfinity Series wins at the track and finished runner-up to Aric Almirola in last year’s NASCAR Cup Series race at NHMS.
William Byron – who was fastest in practice – qualified sixth, followed by the defending winner Almirola, reigning series champion Kyle Larson, two-time New Hampshire race winner Brad Keselowski and four-time New Hampshire winner Kevin Harvick.
It’s the best start for Keselowski, in his first year as co-owner of the No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford, since a third-place qualifying effort at Daytona – his only other top-10 start of the season.
NASCAR Cup Series
New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Loudon, NH
Ambetter 301 – July 16, 2022
Saturday’s Qualifying Results
1. (19) Martin Truex, Jr., Toyota, 127.113 mph.
2. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 126.922 mph.
3. (45) Kurt Busch, Toyota, 126.825 mph.
4. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 126.513 mph.
5. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 126.425 mph.
6. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet, 126.387 mph.
7. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford, 126.040 mph.
8. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 126.019 mph.
9. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 125.252 mph.
10. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 0.000 mph.
11. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 0.000 mph.
12. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 0.000 mph.
13. (8) Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
14. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 0.000 mph.
15. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford, 0.000 mph.
16. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford, 0.000 mph.
17. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 0.000 mph.
18. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
19. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
20. (16) A.J. Allmendinger(i), Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
21. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
22. (43) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
23. (41) Cole Custer, Ford, 0.000 mph.
24. (47) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
25. (31) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
26. (38) Todd Gilliland #, Ford, 0.000 mph.
27. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
28. (2) Austin Cindric #, Ford, 0.000 mph.
29. (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford, 0.000 mph.
30. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
31. (21) Harrison Burton #, Ford, 0.000 mph.
32. (78) B.J. McLeod(i), Ford, 0.000 mph.
33. (15) J.J. Yeley(i), Ford, 0.000 mph.
34. (77) Josh Bilicki(i), Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
35. (42) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
36. (51) Cody Ware, Ford, 0.000 mph.
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