NASCAR Talladega Starting Lineup: Mark Martin Leads Qualifying For 2011 Chase Race

Mark Martin won the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, jumping to the top spot with five cars left in Saturday’s qualifying session.

As such, the 52-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver will lead the starting lineup, ahead of teammate Jimmie Johnson and Richard Childress Racing’s Clint Bowyer.

Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne and Martin’s other teammates, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., rounded out the top six, followed by Paul Menard, David Ragan, Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth.

The pole was the 51st of Martin’s long career and his second of the season. The veteran also picked up a pole in the July Daytona race – another restrictor-plate event like Talladega.

Josh Wise, Scott Speed, Geoff Bodine and T.J. Bell failed to qualify.

Here’s the starting lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Talladega race:

DNQ: Josh Wise, Scott Speed, Geoff Bodine, T.J. Bell