NASCAR cancels Martinsville qualifying; Martin Truex Jr. awarded pole

Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch will share the front row for Sunday’s STP 500 after NASCAR canceled qualifying Saturday due to inclement weather.

Martin Truex Jr. is on the pole for the third straight race, though this time it came with an assist from Mother Nature after inclement weather canceled Cup Series qualifying Saturday at Martinsville Speedway.

Truex was the top qualifier the past two races based off of speed, however when a rain-sleet mix began falling Saturday on the Virginia track NASCAR had little recourse but to cancel qualifying and set the starting lineup for Sunday’s STP 500 based on owner’s points. That decision placed the defending series champion and current points leader on the pole.

Kyle Busch, who won the playoff race at Martinsville last fall, starts second. Joey Logano is third, with defending race winner Brad Keselowski fourth and Ryan Blaney fifth.

Truex posted the fastest single lap speed and had the fastest 10-lap average in first practice on Saturday, then followed by being quickest in final practice. The Furniture Row Racing driver is seeking his first Cup Series win on a track less than one mile in length.

“We’re definitely getting closer I feel like,” Truex said. “…I want to win at any short track at this point in time and we’ve been really good on the short tracks lately. This one, still not quite where we want to be and still feel like we’re figuring it out. Hopefully this is the weekend.”

The uncooperative weather also forced NASCAR to postpone the Truck Series from Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening, following the Cup Series race. Polesitter Ben Rhodes led the first 23 laps of the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 before the increasing precipitation prompted officials to halt the race.

Fox Sports 1 will air both the Cup (2 p.m. ET) and Truck Series races on Sunday.