Denny Hamlin set the pace for Saturday's Sprint Cup race at Richmond, in which he will start from pole position.
But attention will be paid to drives who need strong finishes to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. And in Friday's qualifying, Jamie McMurray showed he was not about to let his bubble burst.
Hamlin's final speed was 122.344 mph. Kyle Larson was a tick slowed, and 2015 race winner Matt Kenseth wound up third in qualifying.
McMurray goes off fourth. He has a 22-point lead on Ryan Newman for the 16th and final Chase berth.