Friday March 29th, 2024 7:45AM

McMurray upstages Chase drivers with Martinsville pole run

By Reid Spencer-NASCAR Wire Service
MARTINSVILLE, VA - When the green flag waves to start the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, it won't be a Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup driver who leads the field to the start/finish line.<br /> <br /> Touring the .526-mile short track in 18.954 seconds (99.905 mph) in his No. 1 Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, Jamie McMurray upstaged the championship contenders on Friday in winning the pole for the first race in the Eliminator Round of the Chase.<br /> <br /> In claiming his second Coors Light pole award of the season, his second at Martinsville and the 11th of his career, McMurray beat title contenders Joey Logano (99.605 mph) and Matt Kenseth (99.318 mph) for the top spot.<br /> <br /> Tony Stewart (99.297 mph) qualified fourth, followed by Chase driver Denny Hamlin (99.266 mph). Six of the eight eligible remaining Chase drivers qualified in the top 12. Brad Keselowski will start sixth, Ryan Newman ninth and Carl Edwards 11th.<br /> <br /> In McMurray's case, practice made perfect. His pole followed a productive recent test session at the historic short track.<br /> <br /> "We tested here a couple of weeks ago, and I thought we had one of the best tests that I've been a part of, really since I started racing," McMurray said. "Really well organized
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