Overview
- Qualifying on Saturday produced the official Xfinity 500 grid with Hamlin turning a 19.226-second lap for pole, Ty Gibbs second and Kyle Larson third.
- The published starting lineup lists full-field times and notes Cody Ware recorded no lap after practice damage and will start last.
- Martinsville is a tight half-mile track where track position and late cautions often reshuffle results, so a front-row start helps but does not guarantee a win.
- Larson enters the weekend with roughly a 73-point lead and needs only a small points gain at Martinsville to clinch the championship before the season finale, keeping Sunday’s race central to the title math.
- Sunday’s Xfinity 500 will be broadcast on NBC with MRN and SiriusXM radio and teams will use their qualifying positions to shape short-track pit strategy and setups that could decide the championship outcome.