MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Chase Elliott heads into Sunday’s playoff heat race at Martinsville Speedway focused on a win to qualify for the Championship 4, and he’s confident he can accomplish the feat.

“I think the last couple of weeks have probably been as good as we’ve been in this car, especially since the end of 2022, of course,” he said on Saturday.

Elliott qualified second for Sunday’s race (2 p.m. ET on NBC). This is his best starting position since his pole position in New Hampshire at the end of June.

Elliott enters the event 43 points below the cut line. Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick secured spots in Championship 4 with victories in this round.

That leaves six drivers vying for the final two spots in next week’s title race. Christopher Bell and William Byron occupy those spots, but Byron, who is seven points above the cut line, said he felt he had to win because of the competition behind him.

Those below the cut line are Kyle Larson (-7 points), Denny Hamlin (-18), Ryan Blaney (-38) and Elliott.

Denny Hamlin’s crash during practice Saturday at Martinsville Speedway puts title hopes in jeopardy

Elliott is the only driver remaining in the playoffs without multiple wins this season. His only victory came at Texas in April.

“We definitely need to win more races and I think that’s something we know,” crew chief Alan Gustafson said this week. “There are probably opportunities we haven’t taken advantage of or risks we haven’t taken. …At the end of the day, what really matters is what happens this week and the week after.

Although the last two races at Las Vegas and Homestead didn’t match the tight turns and short track of Martinsville, Elliott is encouraged by his team’s performance.

Two drivers will join Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick in Championship 4.

He ran well in Las Vegas until his car was damaged in an incident with Reddick. Elliott finished fifth last week at Homestead, only his second top-five finish since 2018, and led 81 laps.

“I’m excited for the weekend and just excited about where we’re at,” Elliott said. “Las Vegas was horrible. I mean horrible, horrible. And Homestead too, for about two years, maybe three years, in those two places. So to go and have the type of speed we’ve had the last few weeks, I think it’s great.

“I think it’s something that, even though we didn’t get the results we wanted, I think we have to take advantage of it because man, there have been some bad days over the last few years on those tracks in particular. So staying together, continuing to work and pushing and finding a way to improve the places that have been struggling, I think those are the signs you want to see in a team.

Chase Elliott will start second, leading the playoff drivers in the Round of 16 finale.

Elliott will look to repeat what he did in 2020 when he won the Round of 16 final at Martinsville to advance to the championship race, which he won the following week.

“When I look back on that year, that win was as important as the Phoenix win because without it you don’t have that chance,” Elliott said. “It was just a crazy week. You come in here and your back is against the wall. It’s not like you won Vegas, right, and you had all eyes on Phoenix for two or three weeks. For us, we all have our eyes on Homestead. And now all eyes are on Martinsville.

“I didn’t even think about Phoenix. It’s just about getting the job done now. I think as you go through these situations, I really believe and trust in our process. If we can go do the work (Sunday), then you will start your homework (Sunday) evening.

“You start preparing and getting ready, and that’s what we did. We had no choice. We were locked up in Martinsville. We were able to get the job done. And then when the checkered flag flew, we tried to enjoy the moment for a little while, but it was a little difficult knowing that in seven days you’re racing for a championship.