In the final race of his full-time career, Martin Truex Jr. will begin to go out in style.
The retiring Joe Gibbs Racing driver claimed the pole position during Saturday’s qualifying session for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.
The 2017 circuit champion recorded a hot lap of 134.741 mph, edging two-time titleholder Joey Logano by 0.01 seconds. Truex also captured the pole during last weekend’s Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway.
Of the final four drivers, Logano will lead the way from the outside of the front row. William Byron (134.128 mph) will start P8, Tyler Reddick (134.118) P10 and Blaney (134.263) P17. During the 50-minute practice lap session, Blaney turned the fastest lap at 132.48 mph.
2x the Truex poles to close his full-time career.@MartinTruex_Jr wins the #NASCAR Cup Series pole at @phoenixraceway! pic.twitter.com/bOaQ2EkPP9
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) November 9, 2024
Christopher Bell Feels ‘Cheated’
Christopher Bell clarified his feelings about not being among Sunday’s Championship 4.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver feels “cheated.”
During last Sunday’s event at Martinsville, Bell moved out of Bubba Wallace’s way because he believed the No. 23 Toyota had a flat tire. Bell said the defensive maneuver caused him to ride the wall on the final turn. It was like the since-outlawed “Hail Melon” executed by Ross Chastain in 2022.
NASCAR officials ruled over a half-hour after the race ended that Bell was disqualified from the playoffs, opening a spot for William Byron.
“My intentions were never to ride the wall; I didn’t gain an advantage riding the wall,” Bell said, as reported by The Associated Press. “I don’t believe I broke a rule. I feel cheated. I feel cheated out of the chance to compete for a championship and it all started whenever the race got fixed and manipulated by Chevrolet.
“I feel like I should have never been in that situation had the race been ran fairly, (Byron) would have lost enough spots to get me into the final race.”
Bell competed in the final four the previous two seasons.
Christopher Bell says he felt cheated and he should be in the Champ 4 after what he viewed as race manipulation by the Chevrolets, which he indicated was the reason Bubba Wallace fell back and the result of the actions of the final lap. pic.twitter.com/BS0u8nmz3A
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 9, 2024
Starting Lineup for NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race
Here is a look at the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway:
Starting Position, Driver, Car No., Team
- 1, Martin Truex Jr., 19, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 2, Joey Logano, 22, Team Penske
- 3, Ross Chastain, 1, Trackhouse Racing
- 4, Kyle Larson, 5, Hendrick Motorsports
- 5, Chase Elliott, 9, Hendrick Motorsports
- 6, Ty Gibbs, 54, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 7, Christopher Bell, 20, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 8, William Byron, 24, Hendrick Motorsports
- 9, Harrison Burton, 21, Wood Brothers Racing
- 10, Tyler Reddick, 45, 23XI Racing
- 11, Austin Cindric, 2, Team Penske
- 12, Chase Briscoe, 14, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 13, Justin Haley, 7, Spire Motorsports
- 14, Denny Hamlin, 11, Joe Gibbs Racing
- 15, Carson Hocevar, 77, Spire Motorsports
- 16, Alex Bowman, 48, Hendrick Motorsports
- 17, Ryan Blaney, 12, Team Penske
- 18, John Hunter Nemechek, 42, Legacy Motor Club
- 19, Erik Jones, 43, Legacy Motor Club
- 20, Corey LaJoie, 51, Rick Ware Racing
- 21, Noah Gragson, 10, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 22, Daniel Hemric, 31, Kaulig Racing
- 23, Jimmie Johnson, 84, Legacy Motor Club
- 24, Chris Buescher, 17, RFK Racing
- 25, Kyle Busch, 8, Richard Childress Racing
- 26, Derek Kraus, 16, Kaulig Racing
- 27, Brad Keselowski, 6, RFK Racing
- 28, Zane Smith, 71, Spire Motorsports
- 29, Bubba Wallace, 23, 23XI Racing
- 30, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 47, JTG Daugherty Racing
- 31, Kaz Grala, 15, Rick Ware Racing
- 32, Todd Gilliland, 38, Front Row Motorsports
- 33, Ryan Preece, 41, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 34, Daniel Suarez, 99, Trackhouse Racing
- 35, Michael McDowell, 34, Front Row Motorsports
- 36, Austin Dillon, 3, Richard Childress Racing
- 37, JJ Yeley, 44, NY Racing Team
- 38, Chad Finchum, 66, Power Source
- 39, Josh Berry, 4, Stewart-Haas Racing
- 40, Jeb Burton, 50, Team AmeriVet
Kyle Busch with a funny response to @JerryJordan_KTT, who was wondering if Busch has any “Hail Mary” dialed up to keep his winning season streak alive.
“I’m going to wall ride for 312 (laps).” #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/JhEJV5Bi43
— Noah Lewis (@Noah_Lewis1) November 9, 2024
