NASCAR at Martinsville starting lineup: Kyle Larson edges out Bubba Wallace for his second straight pole

Larson took the pole by .001 seconds at the end of Saturday's qualifying session

By Steven Taranto

Apr 6, 2024 at 8:02 pm ET • 2 min read

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Kyle Larson earned his second-straight NASCAR Cup Series pole in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, posting a lap of 19.718 at the very end of qualifying to win the pole for the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. A mere .001 seconds separated Larson from outside polesitter Bubba Wallace, who will roll off second on Sunday after holding the fastest speed all the way until Larson took the checkered flag on his final lap.

Larson's pole puts him up front on a special weekend as Hendrick Motorsports is commemorating both the 40th anniversary of the company and the team's first win. Geoff Bodine earned that victory in the spring of 1984 at Martinsville, driving the same No. 5 Chevrolet that Larson will pilot on Sunday.

"Really cool to get this 40th anniversary Hendrick Camaro on the pole," Larson told Fox Sports. "It seems all four Hendrick cars are really good too. Hopefully it's a good day for the organization and we can celebrate for Rick and Linda [Hendrick] and everybody who's been a part of this organization for the 40 years."

SO CLOSE. Kyle Larson: 19.718 vs. Bubba Wallace: 19.719.

Repost to congratulate Kyle Larson on his NASCAR Cup Series POLE at Martinsville! pic.twitter.com/qoaGxZLkwq
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 6, 2024

Adding subtext to Sunday's front row is that Larson beat Wallace for the pole only one week after the two came together in Richmond, with Larson getting spun by Wallace while racing for fourth with two laps to go. Larson would end up finishing third while Wallace fell to 13th after a poor final pit stop as Wallace took responsibility and apologized for the contact in post-race.

"Of all people it'd be Larson," Wallace laughed to Fox Sports. "By a thousandth."

Three of the top 10 qualifiers were Hendrick Chevrolets, with Chase Elliott qualifying third and Alex Bowman, who spoke with CBS Sports this week, taking 10th starting spot. Daytona 500 champion William Byron starts deepest in the field of all the Hendrick drivers in 18th.