RIDGEWAY, Va. - A softer tire could lead to more passing when it comes to the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday.
Still, when it comes to the 0.526-mile, paperclip-shaped short track, starting spots and track position are always key.
To that point, qualifying for Sunday's race went into the books on Saturday afternoon.
And it was a successful session for Hendrick Motorsports. All four cars earned top-10 starting spots via single-lap runs, led by Chase Elliott, whose lap of 19.735 seconds was good enough for the second starting spot.
"I thought our NAPA Chevy was close," Elliott said. "Feel like my balance was really good to go fast. I just think we might need a little bit for the race but thought we had a solid day overall and really proud of the effort coming into the weekend. Great car, great prep. So, good starting spot, a lot of work to do tomorrow and long ways to go, ready to get it."
Right behind him will be a pair of teammates with Alex Bowman (19.738) set to start third a week after winning a pole at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kyle Larson was next in fourth with a lap of 19.754 seconds with William Byron, the event's defending winner, earning the 10th spot (19.781).
Prior to qualifying, all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers took part in the second of two practice sessions. Larson (sixth), Byron (seventh) and Elliott (10th) each turned in a top-10 single lap.
Hendrick Motorsports drivers have combined to win the last three spring races at Martinsville and the organization's 29 victories there are the most by any team at any track in NASCAR history.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series race was scheduled for later on Saturday. Hendrick Motorsports' Corey Day was set to roll off eighth in his series debut.
NASCAR Cup qualifying results
- Christopher Bell, No. 20, 19.718
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet, 19.735
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 19.738
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 19.754
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11, 19.757
- Chris Buescher, No. 17, 19.757
- Joey Logano, No. 22, 19.761
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23, 19.766
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45, 19.78
- William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet, 19.781
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19, 19.805
- Kyle Busch, No. 8, 19.811
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54, 19.816
- Josh Berry, No. 21, 19.819
- Michael McDowell, No. 71, 19.833
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42, 19.843
- Ross Chastain, No. 1, 19.85
- Austin Dillon, No. 3, 19.857
- Zane Smith, No. 38, 19.865
- Austin Cindric, No. 2, 19.871
- Ryan Preece, No. 60, 19.884
- Cole Custer, No. 41, 19.889
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16, 19.892
- Noah Gragson, No. 4, 19.895
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34, 19.903
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99, 19.919
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6, 19.944
- Ty Dillon, No. 10, 19.975
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77, 19.981
- Justin Haley, No. 7, 19.99
- Erik Jones, No. 43, 19.993
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12, 20.018
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88, 20.09
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47, 20.108
- Riley Herbst, No. 35, 20.118
- Cody Ware, No. 51, 20.267
- Casey Mears, No. 66, 20.583
- Burt Myers, No. 50, 20.613
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NASCAR practice results
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23, 20.115
- Christopher Bell, No. 20, 20.172
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11, 20.182
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77, 20.197
- Cole Custer, No. 41, 20.2
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 20.204
- William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet, 20.205
- Ryan Preece, No. 60, 20.23
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88, 20.236
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet, 20.243
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54, 20.25
- Kyle Busch, No. 8, 20.251
- Noah Gragson, No. 4, 20.259
- Cody Ware, No. 51, 20.261
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6, 20.261
- Erik Jones, No. 43, 20.268
- Ty Dillon, No. 10, 20.27
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34, 20.274
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19, 20.284
- Joey Logano, No. 22, 20.294
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42, 20.297
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 20.306
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45, 20.307
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99, 20.308
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12, 20.309
- Austin Dillon, No. 3, 20.328
- Ross Chastain, No. 1, 20.333
- Chris Buescher, No. 17, 20.333
- Michael McDowell, No. 71, 20.351
- Riley Herbst, No. 35, 20.357
- Josh Berry, No. 21, 20.377
- Zane Smith, No. 38, 20.381
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16, 20.384
- Justin Haley, No. 7, 20.388
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47, 20.396
- Austin Cindric, No. 2, 20.472
- Burt Myers, No. 50, 20.721
- Casey Mears, No. 66, 21.073
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NASCAR on TV this weekend
Saturday, March 29
- 5 p.m. - NASCAR Xfinity Series race, CW
Sunday, March 30
- 3 p.m. - NASCAR Cup Series race, FS1