If the starting lineup is any indication, Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway could dramatically impact the Chase picture.
NASCAR Martinsville starting lineup 2012: Jimmie Johnson leads qualifying
Brad Keselowski is the points leader with four races to go, but his seven-point margin over Jimmie Johnson is in jeopardy after Keselowski qualified 32nd and Johnson won the pole position.
The pole, Johnson’s third of the season, might allow him to catch and possibly lap Keselowski early in the race before the No. 2 team can work on its strategy.
“I don’t want to count them out,” Johnson said. “It would be foolish for me to sit here and think they’re not going to race their way through. ... They’re going to have a tough time on pit road with that (pit stall) pick.”
Brian Vickers qualified second in Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 55 car, followed by Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton and the other main Chase contender – Denny Hamlin.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., in his first race back after recovering from concussions, qualified 20th.
Mike Bliss and JJ Yeley failed to qualify for Sunday’s race.
Here’s the starting lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway:
- Jimmie Johnson
- Brian Vickers
- Kyle Busch
- Jeff Burton
- Denny Hamlin
- Matt Kenseth
- Tony Stewart
- Clint Bowyer
- Paul Menard
- Aric Almirola
- Jeff Gordon
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Kevin Harvick
- Joey Logano
- Kasey Kahne
- David Ragan
- Ryan Newman
- Bobby Labonte
- Kurt Busch
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Michael McDowell
- Casey Mears
- Carl Edwards
- Jamie McMurray
- Juan Pablo Montoya
- AJ Allmendinger
- Sam Hornish Jr.
- Ken Schrader
- David Reutimann
- Greg Biffle
- Josh Wise
- Brad Keselowski
- Marcos Ambrose
- Landon Cassill
- David Gilliland
- Scott Riggs
- Dave Blaney
- Joe Nemechek
- Reed Sorenson
- David Stremme
- Travis Kvapil
- Stephen Leicht
- Scott Speed
DNQ: Mike Bliss, JJ Yeley
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