Hamlin Takes Martinsville Pole as Larson Eyes Title

Hamlin posted a lap of 19.226 seconds to claim the top starting spot for Sunday’s 500-lap race. His Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs qualified second, 0.049 seconds behind, while Larson took third after placing 29th in practice. Hamlin said his Toyota and the team’s adjustments helped him hit the marks he wanted on his qualifying lap.

Larson leads Hamlin by 73 points with two races left in the Chase. A 77-point advantage after Martinsville would guarantee Larson the title before the season finale, scheduled for November 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He has won three of the eight Chase races, including last week’s Talladega event.

Larson said he was not treating an early clinch as the expectation, and instead wanted to stay near the front and preserve a points cushion for next week. Hamlin, who has six Martinsville wins, said his team would focus on producing its best possible day and see where that left them in the standings.

Seven drivers remain mathematically eligible for the championship. Hamlin is second in the standings, followed by Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe, who trail Larson by 74 and 79 points, respectively. Briscoe qualified 11th and Bell 14th. Joey Logano, another title contender, starts fifth.