NASCAR Martinsville 2016 qualifying results: Martin Truex Jr. rebounds by winning pole

It doesn’t completely negate the sting of an earlier than expected elimination from NASCAR’s playoffs, but Martin Truex Jr. was able to find some solace after winning the pole Friday at Martinsville Speedway.

Truex will lead the field to the green for Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500, the first of three races in the semifinal round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Title-eligibles Joey Logano and Jimmie Johnson qualified second and third, respectively, followed by non-Chasers AJ Allmendinger and Chase Elliott.

“As bad as last week was and as bad as it hurt to get that ripped out from under us, there’s nothing we could do about it,” Truex said. “It was tough. You have to move on and you have to look forward and try to be better the next week. I’m proud of everyone for sticking it out and keeping the faith and there is no quit in this team and it showed today.”

Truex won two of three races in the first Chase round, but was slowed by mechanical gremlins throughout the second segment, culminating with an engine failure last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. After being one of four drivers eliminated, he vowed to be a factor over the final four races.

“As soon as we got together in the garage in Talladega -- I literally pulled in there, got out and we all got together and said, ‘Let’s go win Martinsville, what do we have to do to win Martinsville?’” Truex said. “I think our attitude just instantly changed to, ‘Okay, we’re out of it, there’s nothing we can do about it now. Let’s not focus on this or rip us apart or pull us down or hold us back.’”

Matt Kenseth (starts 17th), Kevin Harvick (20th), and Kurt Busch (23rd) were the three lowest qualifiers among the eight remaining Chase drivers. Track position is critical at Martinsville, a half-mile paperclip-shaped oval known for rough-and-tumble racing and where passing can be difficult.

Separate incidents in the first round involving Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Austin Dillon slowed the session. Stenhouse wheel-hopped entering Turn 1 causing him to lose control and slam the outside wall. He will move to a backup car for Sunday’s race.

Dillon also wheel-hopped into the first corner, but was able to maintain control and suffered only minor damage when he hit the wall. He will stay in his primary car on Sunday.

“It is a fast race car,” Dillon said. “We started from the back and finished fourth here earlier this year, so we will be alright.”

Goody’s Fast Relief 500 lineup