Homestead, Fla. • Martin Truex Jr. was the fastest of the four NASCAR Cup Series championship contenders in qualifying and will start second Sunday in the season finale.
Truex, the regular-season champion, turned a lap of 173.952 mph in the No. 78 Toyota at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday night. Denny Hamlin stole the pole from Truex on the last lap of qualifying. Hamlin went 173.980 mph to take the spot and give Toyota a 1-2 front row.
"That was a bit dramatic," Truex said, adding that he was a few thousands seconds away from a perfect day.