MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Denny Hamlin, who is outside a transfer spot to Championship 4, crashed during practice Saturday at Martinsville Speedway and will not attempt qualifying.
The team will repair the car and not go to a spare car.
Hamlin’s car finished in third place in the 45-minute practice session. Martin Truex Jr. was in first place. Corey LaJoie finished second in the session.
Regardless, Hamlin will not attempt qualifying on Saturday afternoon. That means he will start at the back of the field in Sunday’s race (2 p.m. ET on NBC). It also means he will have the last choice of pit boxes.
Hamlin enters the weekend 18 points below the cut line. He is attempting to make his fifth Championship 4 appearance and first since 2021.
This story is being updated…
