MARTINSVILLE, Va. - Martin Truex Jr. will start at the rear of the 40-car field for today’s playoff race (2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN) at Martinsville Speedway after his car failed inspection.
His car was one of seven that failed inspection Sunday morning.
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Cars were impounded after Saturday’s qualifying and inspected Sunday morning. Any car that failed inspection the first time had its qualifying time disallowed and lost its spot in picking pit stalls.
Truex was to have started sixth. He is one of the eight playoff drivers competing for a spot in the championship race next month at Miami. Today’s race is the opener of the third round. Truex is winless in 77 career short-track Cup races.
Jimmie Johnson, who has won nine Cup races at Martinsville, also will start from the rear after his car failed inspection for mechanical measurements. He qualified 23rd. Johnson is winless this season. He has scored at least one victory in each of the past 16 seasons.
David Ragan also will start at the rear after his car failed inspection. He was to have started 14th. Ragan’s car failed a second time. The penalty for that is the loss of one crew member.
Brad Keselowski and Landon Cassill will start from the rear for unapproved adjustments.
Bubba Wallace’s backup car also failed. He already was starting at the rear for going to a backup car.
Also failing inspection were the cars of JJ Yeley, Jeb Burton and Timmy Hill.
Paul Menard also will start at the rear for an engine change the team made after qualifying.
The car chiefs on Ragan and Timmy Hill’s cars were ejected for failing inspection twice.