NASCAR lineup, playoff grid set by qualifying results at Martinsville

It’s very tempting, probably because it’s quite proper, to break down current NASCAR into the pre- and post-Next Gen era, which began in 2022. The modern Cup Series car — the equally cussed and praised Next Gen — chauffeured in a whole new way of setting up and driving on Sundays.

Speed still counts, but it’s not everything. Handling remains a key component, as does braking at certain tracks, especially the tiny variety, such as Martinsville this weekend.

With that in mind, here are the past seven pole winners at Martinsville, in order, beginning in the spring of 2022: Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex, Larson, Truex, Christopher Bell.

And the seven winners from those years: William Byron, Bell, Larson, Blaney, Byron, Blaney, Denny Hamlin. That’s right, no one has won from the pole since the new cars rolled off the trucks three-plus years ago. In fact, those seven race winners’ average starting position is 12th.

Who’s next to try for the sweep?

William Byron, who won the pole Saturday and will start alongside Ty Gibbs on the front row.

Top 10 speeds at Martinsville

William Byron: 98.185

Ty Gibbs: 98.175

Kyle Larson: 98.038

Joey Logano: 98.002

Denny Hamlin: 97.876

Cole Custer: 97.871

Kyle Busch: 97.850

Chase Elliott: 97.845

Chase Briscoe: 97.279

Austin Cindric: 97.643

NASCAR playoff lineup at Martinsville

1. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (19.286 seconds)
2. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (19.288)
3. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (19.315)
4. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford (19.322)
5. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (19.347)
6. Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford (19.348)
7. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (19.352)
8. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (19.353)
9. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (19.376)
10. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford (19.393)
11. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (19.399)
12. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (19.401)
13. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (19.408)
14. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota (19.411)
15. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (19.417)
16. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford (19.433)
17. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (19.437)
18. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford (19.438)
19. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford (19.453)
20. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (19.455)
21. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota (19.459)
22. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (19.462)
23. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford (19.505)
24. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (19.511)
25. Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota (19.520)
26. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (19.526)
27. Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford (19.530)
28. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (19.530)
29. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford (19.559)
30. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (19.560)
31. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (19.606)
32. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet (19.629)
33. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (19.648)
34. Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (19.670)
35. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford (19.704)
36. Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford (19.832)
37. Casey Mears, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford (19.895)

How to watch, what time and what channel for NASCAR

Saturday: Xfinity Series race, IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250, 7:30 p.m. (CW)

Sunday: Cup Series race, Xfinity 500, 2 p.m. (NBC).