Image by Rusty Jarrett/NKP/LAT
Inspection failures send Truex, seven others to rear of Martinsville field
Eight drivers will start at the rear of the field in the First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway, including playoffs driver Martin Truex Jr.
Seven of those drivers had their qualifying times disallowed because of failures in post-qualifying inspection. Those who failed inspection were Truex Jr. (qualified sixth), David Ragan (qualified 14th), Jimmie Johnson (qualified 23rd), Darrell Wallace Jr. (qualified 32nd), JJ Yeley (qualified 34th), Jeb Burton (qualified 36th), and Timmy Hill (qualified 37th).
Paul Menard lost his qualifying time after his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing team changed the engine as ignition issues occurred during Friday’s qualifying session.
Ragan’s car failed inspection twice, meaning the No. 38 Ford Row Motorsports team will also have a crew member ejected. Hill's car also failed twice and will lose a crew member.
Wallace was already headed to the rear because he will be in a backup No. 42 Chevrolet. Wallace crashed in the first round of qualifying.
Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer will lead the field to the green flag shortly after 2:30 p.m. ET. Martinsville is the first race in the Round of 8 for the NASCAR Playoffs.
Kelly Crandall
Kelly has been on the NASCAR beat full-time since 2013, and joined RACER as chief NASCAR writer in 2017. Her work has also appeared in NASCAR.com, the NASCAR Illustrated magazine, and NBC Sports. A corporate communications graduate from Central Penn College, Crandall is a two-time George Cunningham Writer of the Year recipient from the National Motorsports Press Association.
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