Defending champ Joey Logano will start last at Martinsville
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano will start at the back of the field for Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway.
Logano’s crew discovered a water tank leak, forcing repairs on the car leading to an “unapproved adjustment” that automatically forces drivers to the rear in 36th place. Logano had qualified 15th.
Ryan Preece will start on the pole, one of four Stewart-Haas Racing cars in the top seven along with Aric Almirola in third, Chase Briscoe in fourth and Kevin Harvick in seventh.
The race at the paperclip-shaped half-mile course features the much-anticipated return of Chase Elliott, who makes his comeback after missing the last six weeks with a broken leg following a snowboarding accident in Colorado. Elliott will start 24th.
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