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Martin Truex Jr. wins pole award at Martinsville Speedway

JHby: Jonathan Howard11/02/24Jondean25
Martin Truex Jr. Martinsville pole
Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The old veteran had one more trick up his sleeve! Martin Truex Jr. wins the pole award at Martinsville Speedway, his first of the year. This could also be the last pole award before Truex retires from NASCAR full-time.

This is a real treat for fans in attendance. Truex has been looking for a bright spot for this season, and Martinsville may be the place he does it.

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Look, we all know the playoff battle is going to be intense. But how great would it be to see one last win for Martin Truex Jr., much like Jeff Gordon in his final season?

A champion like Martin Truex Jr. deserves to go out on top. While we don’t know how the race is going to end up, we know how it will start. The No. 19 out front and in the wind.

Chase Elliott, William Byron, Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, Harrison Burton (!), Alex Bowman, Ryan Preece (!), Kyle Larson, and Austin Dillon make up the rest of the top-10. How about Burton and Preece? Those are two drivers who have really shown up lately.

Of course, we saw Burton win the Daytona race before the end of the regular season. But Preece has three top-10s in the last seven races. Could he make that four in the last eight? Remember, Preece’s 2025 plans are not public yet.

Martin Truex Jr. looking to spoil potential walk-off win

Nothing matters more to Martin Truex Jr. than getting one more win. It is what every driver wants in their final year of full-time racing. But winning the pole and winning a 500-lap race are two completely different things.

Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and likely Denny Hamlin have to win to advance. Truex is going to do his best to get in the way of that. Even if it comes down to him and Hamlin. After all, his teammate took a win from him earlier this season at Richmond.

So, what can we expect in this race? It is hard to tell. We have a new tire compound and that should provide more passing opportunities. Drivers will have to actually be aware of how much they are wearing their tires down. But it might not make that much of a difference.

Martin Truex Jr. is starting on pole. Denny Hamlin is starting in the very back after wrecking in practice. Who would you put your money on to win this race?