MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Martin Truex Jr. vowed to win the remaining races this season once he was knocked out of the NASCAR playoffs.

A pole-winning run Friday at Martinsville Speedway was a strong step toward fulfilling that goal.

Truex turned a lap at 98.206 mph to take the top starting spot Sunday. It was the fifth pole of the season for Truex, who also won the pole last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. A blown engine in his Toyota led to his elimination in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

He said after he was determined to win the final four races of the year, and took some solace in Friday’s run. Truex has never won at Martinsville Speedway.

“It hurt a lot this week,” Truex said. “I thought about it every day and every night. I just kept telling myself, ‘Go win Martinsville.”’

Joey Logano, winner of three straight poles, qualified second in a Ford. Logano won last week at Talladega to advance to the third round of the Chase, and was disappointed in missing out on the pole even though it’s his fifth consecutive front row start at Martinsville.