NASCAR News: Martinsville Short-Oval Weekend Preview

All three top NASCAR Series – Cup, Xfinity and Trucks – race at the Martinsville Speedway paperclip-shaped short oval this weekend

NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Xfinity 500

The Place: Martinsville Speedway

The Date: Sunday, November 3

The Time: 2 p.m. ET

The Purse: $8,991,338

TV: NBC, 1:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 263 miles (500 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 130),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 260), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 500)

Penultimate Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville to finalize Championship Four

Time has come to decide who will make-up the Championship 4 Round this season, and the historic 0.526-mile Martinsville Speedway will once again play host to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 8 elimination race, the Xfinity 500 on Sunday, November 3 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

After a dazzling display of talent in the closing laps of the Homestead-Miami Speedway Playoff race, which saw 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick now joins Team Penske’s Joey Logano as the only two drivers locked into the next round. With two spots still available, at least one will be filled by a driver that earns their position in the Championship 4 Round on points.

Currently, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell (+29) and Hendrick Motorsport’s William Byron (+7) are the two drivers occupying the spots above the Championship 4 Round cut line. Just below the cutoff to the next round is 2021 series champion Kyle Larson (-7), followed by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin (-18), Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney (-38) and Hendrick Motorsport’s Chase Elliott (-43).

2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings Outlook
Following Homestead-Miami Speedway – October 27, 2024
Round of 8 – Race No. 8 of 10

Rank	Driver	Vehicle	Points	Race Wins	Stage Wins	Playoff Pts	+/- Cutoff
1	Tyler Reddick	45	4,098	3	6	29	In On Wins
2	Joey Logano	22	4,070	3	2	12	In On Wins
3	Christopher Bell	20	4,132	3	11	32	29
4	William Byron	24	4,110	3	2	23	7
5	Kyle Larson	5	4,103	6	12	52	-7
6	Denny Hamlin	11	4,092	3	7	15	-18
7	Ryan Blaney	12	4,072	2	4	19	-38
8	Chase Elliott	9	4,067	1	1	14	-43
9	Alex Bowman	48	2,264	1	1	0	Eliminated From Playoffs
10	Martin Truex Jr.	19	2,213	0	4	0
11	Austin Cindric	2	2,189	1	4	0
12	Daniel Suarez	99	2,185	1	1	0
13	Ty Gibbs	54	2,163	0	2	0
14	Brad Keselowski	6	2,147	1	0	0
15	Chase Briscoe	14	2,146	1	0	0
16	Harrison Burton	21	2,100	1	0	0

Since the inception of the elimination-style format in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2014 (the last 10 seasons), seven of the last 10 winners have earned a spot in to the Championship 4 Round with a victory in the ninth race of the Playoffs (70%) – Kevin Harvick (2014, Phoenix), Joey Logano (2016, Phoenix), Kyle Busch (2018, Phoenix), Denny Hamlin (2019, Phoenix), Chase Elliott (2020, Martinsville), Christopher Bell (2022, Martinsville) and Ryan Blaney (2023, Martinsville). Interestingly, of the seven only four drivers have won the final race of the Round of 8 when entering below the cutline (40%) – Kevin Harvick (2014, Phoenix), Denny Hamlin (2019, Phoenix), Chase Elliott (2020, Martinsville), Christopher Bell (2022, Martinsville).

Unfortunately for the drivers below the Championship 4 Round cutline, pointing their way into the next round has proven to be difficult. Only once since 2014 has a driver pointed their way into the Championship Four when entering the final race of the Round of 8 below the cutline, and that was Martin Truex Jr. in 2021. He entered the penultimate race at Martinsville sixth in points (-3) and earned his spot in the Championship Four.

Clinch Scenarios for Playoff Elimination Race at Martinsville Speedway

This weekend, Martinsville Speedway offers one final opportunity in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 for the six postseason competitors not locked-in to compete for the final two open positions in the Championship 4 Round.

Two of the coveted four spots are spoken for, thanks to Team Penske’s Joey Logano taking the victory at the Round of 8 opener in Las Vegas and 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick pocketing the victory at Homestead-Miami. That leaves just two spots open, and we know at least one of two spots will be claimed by a driver on points.

Already Clinched

The following two drivers have clinched a spot in the four-driver field of the next round: Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano.

Can Clinch Via Points

If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the third winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Christopher Bell or William Byron.

Christopher Bell: Would clinch with 26 points
William Byron: Would clinch with 49 points
Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help
Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help
Chase Elliott: Could only clinch with help

If there is a new winner from Kyle Larson or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the second winless driver in the standings.

Christopher Bell: Would clinch with 34 points
William Byron: Could only clinch with help
Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Christopher Bell, William Byron, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott

Martinsville Speedway: The perfect paperclip-shaped short track for the Playoffs

The 2024 season marks the 21st year Martinsville Speedway has hosted a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race, and the fifth-time the track has hosted the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – the Round of 8 elimination race (Race No. 9 of 10).

Since the inception of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2004, Martinsville Speedway has occupied three distinct positions on the postseason schedule; from 2004 – 2010 (seven seasons) Martinsville hosted the sixth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Then from 2011 – 2019 (nine seasons) Martinsville Speedway hosted the seventh race in the Playoffs and from 2020 – 2023 (four seasons) Martinsville has hosted the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – the Round of 8 elimination race that will decide the Championship Four.

A total of 12 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway. NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in postseason wins at Martinsville Speedway with six Playoff victories (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2016).

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in postseason wins at Martinsville Speedway with two Playoff victories (2009, 2010). This weekend, five of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 Playoff drivers are former Martinsville Speedway Playoff race winners, including Denny Hamlin (2009, 2010), Joey Logano (2018), Chase Elliott (2020), Christopher Bell (2022) and Ryan Blaney (2023).

NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race Winners at Martinsville Speedway
Date	Race Winner	Crew Chief	Organization	Race No.
10/24/2004	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports	32
10/23/2005	Jeff Gordon	Steve Letarte	Hendrick Motorsports	32
10/22/2006	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports	32
10/21/2007	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports	32
10/19/2008	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports	32
10/25/2009	Denny Hamlin	Mike Ford	Joe Gibbs Racing	32
10/24/2010	Denny Hamlin	Mike Ford	Joe Gibbs Racing	32
10/30/2011	Tony Stewart	Darian Grubb	Stewart-Haas Racing	33
10/28/2012	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports	33
10/27/2013	Jeff Gordon	Alan Gustafson	Hendrick Motorsports	33
10/26/2014	Dale Earnhardt Jr	Steve Letarte	Hendrick Motorsports	33
11/1/2015	Jeff Gordon	Alan Gustafson	Hendrick Motorsports	33
10/30/2016	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports	33
10/29/2017	Kyle Busch	Adam Stevens	Joe Gibbs Racing	33
10/28/2018	Joey Logano	Todd Gordon	Team Penske	33
10/27/2019	Martin Truex Jr	Cole Pearn	Joe Gibbs Racing	33
11/1/2020	Chase Elliott	Alan Gustafson	Hendrick Motorsports	35
10/31/2021	Alex Bowman	Greg Ives	Hendrick Motorsports	35
10/30/2022	Christopher Bell	Adam Stevens	Joe Gibbs Racing	35
10/29/2023	Ryan Blaney	Jonathan Hassler	Team Penske	35

Three times non-Playoff drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway: (2005, 2014, 2021).

In 2005, Jeff Gordon was ranked 15th in the points at the time of his Playoff win at Martinsville.

In 2014, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was 11th in points at the time of the win. Earnhardt Jr. had made the Playoffs in 2014 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

In 2021, Alex Bowman was 14th in points at the time of the win at Martinsville Speedway, the ninth race of the postseason. Bowman had made the Playoffs in 2021 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

In addition, a total of 10 different crew chiefs have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway, led by Chad Knaus with six victories (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2016 all with driver Jimmie Johnson).

Four different organizations have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway, led by Hendrick Motorsports with 12 victories (2004-2008, 2012-2016, 2020, 2021).

And all three official OEMs have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway, led by Chevrolet with 13 wins, followed by Toyota with five and Ford with two.

Eight times the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway has gone on to win the title that same season (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2023).

In 2006, Jimmie Johnson won from the ninth starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first of seven NASCAR Cup Series championships. It was his only win during the 2006 Playoffs.

In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won from the fourth starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship that same season. The Playoff victory was the first of a record setting four straight postseason wins during the 2007 Playoffs (Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas and Phoenix).

In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won from the first starting position at Martinsville Speedway (Qualifying was cancelled), then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of three victories during the 2008 Playoffs.

In 2011, Tony Stewart won from the fourth starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the seventh race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his third NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was one of a single season record setting five Playoff victories for Stewart during the 2011 postseason.

In 2016, Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the seventh race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his record tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of three Playoff victories during the 2016 postseason.

In 2018, Joey Logano won from the 10th starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the seventh race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his first of two Playoff victories during the 2018 postseason.

In 2020, Chase Elliott won from the eighth starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the ninth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of three victories during the 2020 postseason.

In 2023, Ryan Blaney won from the 11th starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the ninth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of two victories during the 2023 postseason.

The worst finish in a Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway by a driver that went on to win the title the same season was 33rd by Kevin Harvick in 2014 – that season Martinsville Speedway was the seventh race in the Playoffs.

This Is It: Penultimate Playoff race offers one last chance to advance

Shaped like a paperclip at a length of 0.526-mile, Martinsville Speedway (2020-Present), is the third different track to host the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; joining Darlington Raceway (one race: 2004) and Phoenix Raceway (15 races: 2005-2019).

A total of 13 different drivers have won the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (Race 35 of 36), led by Jimmie Johnson (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009) and Kevin Harvick (2006, 2012, 2013, 2014) with four victories each.

Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in win in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ ninth race with two victories (both at Phoenix 2005, 2018).

This weekend, five of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 Playoff drivers are former winners in the ninth race of the Playoff, including Joey Logano (2016 Phoenix), Denny Hamlin (2019 Phoenix), Chase Elliott (2020 Martinsville), Christopher Bell (2022 Martinsville) and Ryan Blaney (2023 Martinsville).

Plus, a total of 13 different crew chiefs have won the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by Chad Knaus with four victories (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 all with driver Jimmie Johnson).

Seven different organizations have won the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by Hendrick Motorsports with eight victories (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2020, 2021).

And all three official OEMs have won the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by Chevrolet with 12 wins, followed by Toyota with five and Ford with three.

NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race No. 9 – Race Winners
Date	Track	Race Winner	Crew Chief	Organization
11/14/2004	Darlington	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports
11/13/2005	Phoenix	Kyle Busch	Alan Gustafson	Hendrick Motorsports
11/12/2006	Phoenix	Kevin Harvick	Todd Berrier	Richard Childress Racing
11/11/2007	Phoenix	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports
11/9/2008	Phoenix	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports
11/15/2009	Phoenix	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus	Hendrick Motorsports
11/14/2010	Phoenix	Carl Edwards	Bob Osborne	Roush Fenway Racing
11/13/2011	Phoenix	Kasey Kahne	Kenny Francis	Red Bull Racing
11/11/2012	Phoenix	Kevin Harvick	Gil Martin	Richard Childress Racing
11/10/2013	Phoenix	Kevin Harvick	Gil Martin	Richard Childress Racing
11/9/2014	Phoenix	Kevin Harvick	Rodney Childers	Stewart-Haas Racing
11/15/2015	Phoenix	Dale Earnhardt Jr	Greg Ives	Hendrick Motorsports
11/13/2016	Phoenix	Joey Logano	Todd Gordon	Team Penske
11/12/2017	Phoenix	Matt Kenseth	Jason Ratcliff	Joe Gibbs Racing
11/11/2018	Phoenix	Kyle Busch	Adam Stevens	Joe Gibbs Racing
11/10/2019	Phoenix	Denny Hamlin	Christopher Gabehart	Joe Gibbs Racing
11/1/2020	Martinsville	Chase Elliott	Alan Gustafson	Hendrick Motorsports
10/31/2021	Martinsville	Alex Bowman	Greg Ives	Hendrick Motorsports
10/30/2022	Martinsville	Christopher Bell	Adam Stevens	Joe Gibbs Racing
10/29/2023	Martinsville	Ryan Blaney	Jonathan Hassler	Team Penske

Five times non-Playoff drivers have won the ninth Playoff race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason: (2005, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2021).

In 2005, Kyle Busch was ranked 19th in the points at the time of the win at Phoenix.

In 2011, Kasey Kahne was ranked 14th in the points at the time of the win at Phoenix.

In 2015, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was seventh in points at the time of the win at Phoenix. Earnhardt Jr. had made the Playoffs in 2015 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

In 2017, Matt Kenseth was seventh in points at the time of the win at Phoenix. Kenseth had made the Playoffs in 2017 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

In 2021, Alex Bowman was 14th in points at the time of the win at Martinsville Speedway, the ninth race of the postseason. Bowman had made the Playoffs in 2021 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

Six times the winner of the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has gone on to win the title that same season: (2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2020, 2023).

In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won from the sixth starting position at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race of the postseason, and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. The Playoff victory was the fourth of a record setting four straight postseason wins during the 2007 Playoffs (Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas and Phoenix).

In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won from the pole at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race of the postseason, and went on to win his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his third of three victories during the 2008 Playoffs.

In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race of the postseason, and went on to win his fourth consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. The victory was his fourth of four wins during the 2009 postseason.

In 2014, Kevin Harvick won from the third starting position at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race of the postseason, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. Harvick faced elimination from the Playoffs heading into this race and become the first to clinch his spot in the Championship 4 by winning the Round of 8 elimination race. The win was also his second of three Playoff victories during the 2014 postseason.

In 2020, Chase Elliott won from the eighth starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the ninth race of the postseason, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of three Playoff victories during the 2020 postseason.

In 2023, Ryan Blaney won from the 11th starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the ninth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of two victories during the 2023 postseason.

The worst finish in the ninth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs by a driver that went on to win the title that same season:

At Phoenix, 38th by Jimmie Johnson in 2016.

At Darlington, sixth by Kurt Busch in 2004.

At Martinsville, 14th by Kyle Larson in 2021.

To catch all the side-by-side action the NASCAR Cup Series is known for at Martinsville, make sure to tune-in to practice and Busch Light Pole Qualifying on the NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Final chance for Playoff contenders to race their way into the Championship 4

Currently, Joey Logano (Las Vegas) and Tyler Reddick (Homestead-Miami) are the only two NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contenders to secure their spots in the Championship 4 Round by virtue of their wins. That leaves just two spots up for grabs among the six remaining Playoff challengers, and since the introduction of the ‘elimination-style’ format in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2014, six drivers below the cutline have raced their way into the Championship 4 Round, by virtue of a win or points earned, in the ninth and final cutoff race of the Round of 8 over the last 10 seasons.

2014: Heading to Phoenix Raceway (the ninth race of the Playoffs) in 2014, Kevin Harvick was ranked eighth in the Playoff standings, six points back from NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon in the fourth and final transfer position to the Championship 4 Round. Kevin Harvick won the race at Phoenix and automatically advanced to the final round. Jeff Gordon finished runner-up, but it was not enough and was bounced out of the Playoffs. The remaining three spots were earned by points with Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman advancing. Harvick would go on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title in 2014 by winning again the following weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the championship finale – it was the inaugural year of the elimination-style format in the postseason.

2015: The four drivers below the Championship 4 Round cutline heading into the ninth race of the 2015 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 elimination race at Phoenix Raceway – Carl Edwards in fifth (-7 points from Martin Truex Jr. in the fourth and final transfer position on points), Brad Keselowski in sixth (-19), Kurt Busch in seventh (-28) and Joey Logano in eighth (-63) – all failed to advance to the Championship 4 Round and were eliminated from the Playoffs following the Phoenix race. At Phoenix, Truex finished 14th, Logano finished third, Kurt Busch finished seventh, Keselowski finished ninth and Carl Edwards finished 12^th but it wasn’t enough to advance. Jeff Gordon had earned his spot via win in the Round of 8, the three remaining spots were earned on points by Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr.

2016: The four drivers below the Championship 4 Round cutline without a win heading into the ninth race of the 2016 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 elimination race at Phoenix Raceway – Matt Kenseth in fifth (-1 point from the cutoff), Denny Hamlin in sixth (-2), Kevin Harvick in seventh (-18) and Kurt Busch in eighth (-34) – all failed to advance to the Championship 4 Round and were eliminated from the Playoffs following the Phoenix race. At Phoenix, Harvick finished fourth, Kurt Busch finished fifth, Hamlin finished seventh and Matt Kenseth finished 21st but it wasn’t enough to advance. Three of the Championship 4 spots were earned by Round of 8 winners – Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Joey Logano (Logano won the Phoenix elimination race) and Kyle Busch, who finished runner-up at Phoenix, earned the final spot on points.

2017: The four drivers below the Championship 4 Round cutline heading into the ninth race of the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 elimination race at Phoenix Raceway – Denny Hamlin (-19 points from the cutoff), Ryan Blaney (-22), Chase Elliott (-49) and Jimmie Johnson (-51) – all failed to advance to the Championship 4 and were eliminated from the Playoffs following the Phoenix race. At Phoenix, Elliott finished second, Blaney finished 17th, Hamlin finished 35th and Jimmie Johnson finished 39th, but it wasn’t enough to advance. Two of the four Championship 4 spots were earned by Round of 8 winners – Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick – and Martin Truex Jr. (who finished third at Phoenix) and Brad Keselowski (16th at Phoenix) snagged the final two spots on points.

2018: The four drivers below the Championship 4 Round cutline heading into the ninth race of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 elimination race at Phoenix Raceway – Kurt Busch in fifth (-3 points from the cutoff), Chase Elliott in sixth (-17), Aric Almirola in seventh (-35) and Clint Bowyer in eighth (-51) – all failed to advance to the Championship 4 Round and were eliminated from the Playoffs following the Phoenix race. At Phoenix, Almirola finished fourth, Elliott finished 23rd, Kurt Busch finished 32nd and Clint Bowyer finished 35th, but it wasn’t enough to advance. Three of the Championship 4 spots were earned by Round of 8 winners – Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch (Busch won the Phoenix elimination race) and Martin Truex Jr., who finished 14th at Phoenix, earned the final spot on points.

2019: Heading to Phoenix Raceway, the ninth race of the Playoffs in 2019, Denny Hamlin was ranked fifth in the Playoff standings, 20 points back from Joey Logano in the fourth and final transfer position to the Championship 4 Round. Heading into Phoenix, Hamlin ranked fifth (-20 points form the cutline) and was followed by Kyle Larson in sixth (-23), Ryan Blaney in seventh (-23) and Chase Elliott in eighth (-78). Denny Hamlin would win the race at Phoenix and automatically advance to the final round. Joey Logano finished ninth at Phoenix, but it was not enough and was eliminated from the Playoffs. Joining Logano in being eliminated, was Blaney (who finished third at Phoenix), Larson (fourth at Phoenix) and Elliott (39th at Phoenix). Three of the Championship 4 spots were earned by Round of 8 winners – Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin – and Martin Truex Jr., who finished 14th at Phoenix, earned the final spot on points. Hamlin would go on to finish the season fourth in the championship standings.

2020: Heading to Martinsville Speedway, the ninth race of the Playoffs in 2020, the drivers ranked below the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Championship 4 Round cutline were Alex Bowman in fifth (-25), Chase Elliott in sixth (-25), Martin Truex Jr. in seventh (-36) and Kurt Busch in eighth (-81). Chase Elliott would go on to win the Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway clinching his spot in the Championship 4 and bouncing Kevin Harvick (17th-place finish at Martinsville), who was in the fourth and final transfer position on points, out of the final round. Kurt Buch (fifth-place finish), Alex Bowman (sixth) and Martin Truex Jr. (22nd) all failed to make the Championship 4 Round and were eliminated from the Playoffs following Martinsville. Two of the four Championship 4 spots were earned by Round of 8 winners – Joey Logano and Chase Elliott – and Denny Hamlin (who finished 11th at Martinsville), and Brad Keselowski (fourth at Martinsville) snagged the final two spots on points.

2021: Heading to Martinsville Speedway, the ninth race of the Playoffs in 2021, Kyle Busch was ranked in the fourth and final transfer positions on points, and the drivers ranked below the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Championship 4 Round cutline were Ryan Blaney in fifth (-1 point from the Championship 4 cutline), Martin Truex Jr. in sixth (-3), Brad Keselowski (-6) and Joey Logano (-26). Alex Bowman, a non-Playoff driver would win the Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway and Martin Truex Jr. would race his way into the Championship 4 Round by earning more stage points during the race and finishing fourth at Martinsville Speedway eliminating his teammate Kyle Busch from the postseason. Kyle Busch (runner-up finish), Ryan Blaney (11th-place finish), Brad Keselowski (third-place finish) and Joey Logano (10th-place finish) all failed to make the Championship 4 Round and were eliminated from the Playoffs following Martinsville. Kyle Larson earned his spot in the Championship 4 in 2021 on wins in the Round of 8 at Texas and Kansas, he was joined by Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin, who earned their spots on points.

2022: Heading to Martinsville Speedway, the ninth race of the Playoffs in 2022, William Byron was ranked in the fourth and final transfer position on points, and the drivers ranked below the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Championship 4 Round cutline were Denny Hamlin in fifth (-5 points), Ryan Blaney in sixth (-18), Christopher Bell (-33) and Chase Briscoe (-44). In a must-win situation, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell would win the Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway eliminating William Byron from the postseason. Ryan Blaney (third-place finish), Denny Hamlin (fifth-place finish), and Chase Briscoe (ninth-place finish) all failed to make the Championship 4 Round and were eliminated from the Playoffs following Martinsville. Ross Chastain was able to maintain his position about the Championship 4 with the now notorious ‘Hail-Melon’ move that had him ride the outside wall in Turns 3 and 4 to pass Hamlin and secure the final position in the next round. Joey Logano earned his spot in the Championship 4 in 2022 on his win in the Round of 8 opener, and he was joined by Christopher Bell with his win at Martinsville and Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain, who earned their spots on points.

2023: Heading to Martinsville Speedway, the ninth race of the Playoffs in 2023, Ryan Blaney was ranked in the fourth and final transfer position on points, and the drivers ranked below the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Championship 4 Round cutline were Tyler Reddick in fifth (-10 points), Martin Truex Jr. in sixth (-17) Denny Hamlin (-17) in seventh and Chris Buescher (-43) in eighth. Ryan Blaney would go on to win the race clinching his spot in the Championship 4 Round and Byron, who entered the race third in the standings up +30 points on the cutline, would race his way into the Championship 4 Round on points with a 13th-place finish. Denny Hamlin (third-place finish), Chris Buescher (eighth-place finish), Martin Truex Jr. (12th-place finish) and Joey Logano (10th-place finish) all failed to make the Championship 4 Round and were eliminated from the Playoffs following Martinsville. Kyle Larson (Las Vegas) and Christopher Bell (Homestead) earned their spots in the Championship 4 Round in 2023 on wins in the Round of 8, they were joined by Ryan Blaney and William Byron following Martinsville.

Some good ‘ole history on the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville

Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville Speedway, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating racetracks in the United States. The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville Speedway was on July 4, 1948. The first NASCAR Cup Series race was on September 25, 1949 and the race was won by Red Byron in Raymond Park’s 1949 Oldsmobile.

The track has undergone several changes over the years, in 1955 the track was paved and the first 500-lap event at Martinsville Speedway was in 1956. Concrete corners were added atop the asphalt in 1976, and the track added LED lighting during the 2016-2017 offseason. In total, there have been 151 NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one race in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.

Over the years, 63 different drivers have won at least one pole at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, and 31 of the 63 have won multiple poles. NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip leads the series in poles at Martinsville Speedway with eight (1979, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1992).

This weekend, seven of the 63 NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway pole winners are active, led by Joey Logano with five Martinsville poles (2015 sweep, spring 2016, fall 2017, spring 2019). Plus, four of the seven active Martinsville pole winners are Playoff drivers – Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott.

Active Martinsville Pole Winners	Poles	Seasons
Joey Logano	5	2019, ’17, ’16, ’15 sweep
Denny Hamlin	4	2019, ’13, ’10, ’07
Kyle Larson	2	2024, ’22
Martin Truex Jr	2	2023, ’16
Kyle Busch	2	2018, ’14
Ryan Preece	1	2023
Chase Elliott	1	2022

A total of 59 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won a race at Martinsville Speedway, and 28 of the 59 different NASCAR Cup Series winners at Martinsville Speedway have won multiple times. NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 15 victories (1960, 1962, 1963, 1967 sweep, 1968, 1969 sweep, 1970, 1971, 1972 sweep, 1973, 1975, 1979).

This weekend 11 of the 59 NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway race winners are active, led by Denny Hamlin with five Martinsville Cup Series victories (2008, 2009, 2010 sweep, 2015). And seven of the 11 active Martinsville winners are Playoff drivers – Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano.

Active Martinsville Winners	Wins	Seasons
Denny Hamlin	5	2015, ’10 sweep, ’09, ’08
Martin Truex Jr	3	2021, ’20, ’19
William Byron	2	2024, ’22
Brad Keselowski	2	2019, ’17
Kyle Busch	2	2017, ’16
Ryan Blaney	1	2023
Kyle Larson	1	2023
Christopher Bell	1	2022
Alex Bowman	1	2021
Chase Elliott	1	2020
Joey Logano	1	2018

NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.

Fan Voting for the 2025 DAYTONA 500 Trioval Grass Design Kicks Off Today – Starting today, the voting period for the Trioval Grass Design for the 2025 DAYTONA 500 has begun. This serves as the 10th consecutive year fans can cast their vote for their favorite Trioval Grass Design to be displayed during the 67th running of The Great American Race on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.

Voting is open now through Friday, Nov. 8. Fans can click here to submit their vote for one of the three creative designs and are encouraged to share their choice via Facebook and X (Twitter). The unveiling of the winning design will take place in January 2025.

Wood Brothers Racing Names Miles Stanley as Crew Chief for 2025 – Miles Stanley, a seasoned race engineer in the NASCAR Cup Series and longtime employee of Team Penske, will transition to Wood Brothers Racing in 2025 – the team’s 75th anniversary season – to serve as crew chief of the famed No. 21 Ford with driver Josh Berry.

Stanley, a native of Akron, Ohio, currently serves as Team Penske’s performance engineering manager, a role he has held for three years. Previously, Stanley served as the race engineer for Joey Logano’s championship-winning No. 22 team from 2013 to 2019. He was instrumental in the team’s success those seven seasons including 21 wins and qualifying for the NASCAR Playoffs Championship Four three times which led to the series title in 2018.

After finishing fifth in the Cup Series standings in 2019, Stanley transitioned to the No. 12 team in 2020 with Ryan Blaney behind the wheel. The duo battled for race wins throughout the season, extending Ryan Blaney’s streak of four consecutive seasons with a win and Playoff berth. In 2021, Stanley earned his first opportunity as a crew chief with Team Penske in the Cup Series, leading the team’s part-time No. 33 entry with Austin Cindric before taking on his current role in 2022 where he also contributed to the organization’s 2022 and 2023 Cup Series championships.

“The Wood Brothers name is synonymous with the sport of NASCAR, and to be able to serve as the crew chief for the iconic No. 21 is an incredible opportunity,” said Stanley. “I’m looking forward to working with Josh Berry, whose skills and enthusiasm are sure to bring great value to the team. It’s an exciting time for the Wood Brothers with the addition of Josh Berry and the celebration of their 75th anniversary in NASCAR in 2025. We’ll be ready to hit the ground running.”

Bootie Barker Set to Call Final Race for No. 23 Team at Phoenix, Charles Denike to replace Barker, who will remain with 23XI, following season finale – 23XI Racing announced this week that veteran crew chief Bootie Barker will call his final race with Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 team at the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Following the end of the season, Barker will be replaced by Charles Denike, the current crew chief for the No. 19 truck team at McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Barker will remain with 23XI and continue to work with the competition leadership team to prepare cars and strategize for races. His new role will be based at Airspeed.

“23XI has been good to me, and I hope I have been as good for 23XI,” said Bootie Barker. “Loyalty is important to me, and I will continue to do all I can in my new role to help everyone here succeed. I was fortunate to be a part of 23XI’s inception, and I look forward to being a part of the team’s continued journey.”

“Bootie has meant a lot to me and the No. 23 team,” said Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry. “We’ve been together for some special moments, and I’m glad he’s still going to be a part of what we’re building at 23XI. I’m excited to work with Charles and see what we can accomplish together.”

Denike joins 23XI and the No. 23 team after working as a team manager, race engineer, and crew chief in several of NASCAR’s touring series. The move to 23XI will be Denike’s first experience in the Cup Series.

NASCAR Cup Series milestones to watch for this season – Below is a look at some of the anticipated NASCAR Cup Series milestones to watch for this season.

Driver Starts (300 or more)

Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in career starts with 712 starts, followed by Martin Truex Jr. (691), Denny Hamlin (684), Joey Logano (577), Brad Keselowski (555), Michael McDowell (499), A.J. Allmendinger (446), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (434), Austin Dillon (406), Kyle Larson (364), Ryan Blaney (340), Chris Buescher (327), Alex Bowman (323) and Chase Elliott (320).

Michael McDowell will make his 500th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Martinsville Speedway this weekend becoming the 47th different driver in series history to make 500 starts or more and is one of six active full-time drivers in the Cup Series to reach the 500 start-plateau joining Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski.

Driver Wins (10 or more)

Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in career wins with 63 victories, followed by Denny Hamlin (54), Brad Keselowski (36), Joey Logano (35), Martin Truex Jr. (34), Kyle Larson (29), Chase Elliott (19), William Byron (13) and Ryan Blaney (12).

Denny Hamlin currently has 54 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time wins list with 55 victories each.

Brad Keselowski currently has 36 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Bobby Isaac for 23rd on the all-time wins list with 37 victories each.

Driver Poles (10 or more)

Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in career poles with 44 poles, followed by Kyle Busch (34), Joey Logano (31), Martin Truex Jr. (23), Kyle Larson (21), Brad Keselowski (18), William Byron (13), Christopher Bell (13), Chase Elliott (12), and Ryan Blaney (10).

Denny Hamlin currently has 44 NASCAR Cup Series poles, if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker for 12th on the all-time pole winners list with 45 poles each.

Kyle Busch currently has 34 NASCAR Cup Series poles, if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett for 21st on the all-time pole winners list with 35 poles each.

Joey Logano currently has 31 NASCAR Cup Series poles (tied with Kevin Harvick), if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famers Fireball Roberts and Fred Lorenzen for 24th on the all-time pole winners list with 32 poles each.

Martin Truex Jr. currently has 23 NASCAR Cup Series poles (tied with Ken Schrader and Jack Smith), if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Alan Kulwicki for 33rd on the all-time pole winners list with 24 poles each.

Active Organization Wins

Hendrick Motorsports leads all active NASCAR Cup Series organizations in wins with 312, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing (214), Team Penske (145), RFK Racing (143), Richard Childress Racing (117), Wood Brothers Racing (100), Stewart-Haas Racing (70), 23XI Racing (8), Trackhouse Racing (8), Front Row Motorsports (4), JTG Daugherty Racing (3), Kaulig Racing (2), Spire Motorsports (1).

Manufacturer Wins

In total 16 different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Chevrolet with 865 victories, and followed by Ford (733), Dodge (213), Toyota (189), Plymouth (189), Pontiac (154), Oldsmobile (96), Mercury (93), Buick (65), Hudson (58), Chrysler (54), American Motor Company (5), Lincoln (3), Studebaker (2), Jaguar (1) and Nash Motor Company (1).

Crew Member Spotlight: Martinsville Speedway – This weekend at Martinsville Speedway we wanted to highlight several of the team’s crew members that are from the surrounding areas of the track in Virginia.

VIRGINIA
DRIVER	ORGANIZATION	TEAM	ROLE	HOMETOWN
Jefferson Hodges	Team Penske/Wood Brothers	2/12/21/22	Team Manager	New Kent, VA
Steve Price	RFK Racing	6	Rear Tire Changer	Lynchburg, VA
Jonathan Branzelle	RFK Racing	6	Engineer	Sutherland, VA
Jonathan Salmons	RFK Racing	6	Engine Tuner	Bassett, VA
Lamar Neal	Richard Childress Racing	8	Tire Carrier	Virginia Beach, VA
Mark Ziegler	Hendrick Motorsports	9	Primary Race Engineer	Glen Allen, VA
Nick Steger	Hendrick Motorsports	9	Aero Fab	Fairfax, VA
Chris Haymaker	Hendrick Motorsports	9	Front Mechanic	Moneta, VA
Ben Gitlin	Team Penske	12	Interior Mechanic	Stafford VA
Joe White	Kaulig Racing	16	Spotter	Norfolk, VA
David Markham	Team Penske	21	Race Engineer	Fredericksburg, VA
Justin Wilson	Kaulig Racing	31	Fueler	Saint Paul, VA
J.P. Kelley	Richard Childress Racing	33	Fueler	Luray, VA
Dan Mrak	Front Row Motorsports	38	Fueler	Woodbridge, VA
Joey Cohen	Legacy Motor Club	42/43	Vice President of Race Operations	Chesapeake, VA
Ernest Holden	Legacy Motor Club	42	Tire Carrier	Norfolk, VA
Eric Grove	JTG Daugherty Racing	47	Interior/Electrical Specialist	Front Royal, VA
George Spencer	Hendrick Motorsports	48	Race Engineer	Halifax, VA
Jarius Morehead	Spire Motorsports	77	Tire Carrier	Martinsville, VA

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: National Debt Relief 250

The Place: Martinsville Speedway

The Date: Saturday, November 2

The Time: 4 p.m. ET

The Purse: $1,441,088

TV: CW, 3 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 131.5 miles (250 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)

The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads back to the ‘Paperclip’ of short tracks

As the NASCAR Xfinity Series winds down the 2024 season, the drivers and teams will now be heading to Martinsville Speedway for the Playoffs’ penultimate race, the National Debt Relief 250, on Saturday, November 2 at 4 p.m. ET on the CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

This will be the 43rd NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway. The previous 42 races have produced 28 different race winners and 22 different pole winners. Only six races have been won from the pole or first starting position, but it’s been over 35 years since a driver was able to accomplish the feat – most recently by Jimmy Hensley in 1987.

A few drivers have been able to etch their names in the Martinsville Speedway record books in the Xfinity Series – Sam Ard (most wins – five), Brett Bodine (most poles – five), Dale Jarrett (most top fives – 11), Jimmy Hensley and Tommy Houston (tied for most top 10s – 17), and Tommy Ellis (most laps led – 713).

This season will be the fifth consecutive year that Martinsville Speedway serves as the penultimate, or sixth race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, the elimination race of the Round of 8 (2020 – 2024). The track was not on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule from 2007 to 2019.

Three drivers entered in this weekend’s National Debt Relief 250 have taken the checkered flag at Martinsville Speedway’s 0.526-mile track – Aric Almirola (2024), Playoff contender Justin Allgaier (2023) and Brandon Jones (2022).

Drivers will hit the track on Friday, November 1 for practice at 3:35 p.m. ET followed by qualifying at 4:10 p.m. ET on the NBC Sports App.

Time’s up: Xfinity Series clinch scenarios at Martinsville

There’s one race to go before the NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Phoenix Raceway for the season finale.

With only two drivers clinched into the Championship 4 Round, the other six Playoff drivers will be competing for the remaining two spots.

As the series heads to Martinsville, let’s take a look at what it’ll take for drivers to clinch their spot:

Already Clinched

The following two drivers have clinched a spot in the four-driver field of the next round: Austin Hill and A.J. Allmendinger.

Can Clinch Via Points

Justin Allgaier: Would clinch with 21 points
Cole Custer: Would clinch with 28 points
Chandler Smith: Could only clinch with help
Jesse Love: Could only clinch with help
Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help

If there is a new winner from Chandler Smith or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the second winless driver in the standings.

Justin Allgaier: Would clinch with 49 points
Cole Custer: Could only clinch with help
Chandler Smith: Could only clinch with help
Jesse Love: Could only clinch with help
Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, Jesse Love, Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith.

Playoff Bubble: Two spots are still open heading to Martinsville

With a win by Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill last weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway and a win by Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger two weeks ago at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, two spots in the Championship Four are clinched.

The other two drivers currently above the cutline are JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier (+35) and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer (+28).

Just outside the cutline and hoping to work their way into the top four are Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chandler Smith (-28), Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love (-35) and JR Motorsports teammates Sam Mayer (-47) and Sammy Smith (-95).

NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Playoff Projection Following Homestead-Miami Speedway – 10/26/2024
Rank	Driver	Vehicle	Points	Race Wins	Stage Wins	Playoff Pts	+/- Cutoff
1	Austin Hill (P)	21	3,116	4	6	26	In On Wins
2	AJ Allmendinger (P)	16	3,103	1	2	7	In On Wins
3	Justin Allgaier (P)	7	3,128	2	16	35	35
4	Cole Custer (P)	00	3,121	2	4	28	28
5	Chandler Smith (P)	81	3,093	2	7	25	-28
6	Jesse Love # (P)	2	3,086	1	4	13	-35
7	Sam Mayer (P)	1	3,074	3	2	17	-47
8	Sammy Smith (P)	8	3,026	1	0	6	-95

Unfortunately for the drivers below the Championship 4 Round cutline this season, the 28-point deficit is the largest in the Playoff Era (2016-2024) heading into Round of 8 elimination race. But don’t count any of the Round of 8 until the checkered flag falls on Saturday, because a Playoff driver has won the Round of elimination race in six of the last seven seasons.

Scouting the Playoff field: Martinsville edition

With one race to go before the series heads to Phoenix Raceway for the final race of the season, the playoff field will be sure to charge to the finish line.

Let’s take a look at how they have performed at Martinsville Speedway:

Austin Hill (Clinched):

Austin Hill has made five starts at Martinsville Speedway, posting one top-five, two top-10 finishes. He has also led 30 laps at the short track. Hill clinched his spot in this season’s Championship 4 Round with his win at Homestead-Miami last weekend. It will be his first Playoff appearance in the final round.

A.J. Allmendinger (Clinched):

A.J. Allmendinger heads to Martinsville with six starts, one top five, two top 10s and 68 laps led under his belt. The California native, with his win at Las Vegas, has already clinched his spot in the Championship 4 Round for the second-time in his career (2021, 2024).

Justin Allgaier (+35 Points):

Justin Allgaier is the only active Playoff driver with a victory at Martinsville Speedway (2023). The veteran has made a total of eight starts at the 0.526-mile track, posting five top fives and seven top 10s – all the most among the Playoff contenders this weekend. He has also led 47 laps. Allgaier leads the Xfinity Series in Championship 4 Round appearances with six (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023).

Cole Custer (+28 Points):

Defending series champion, Cole Custer, has made three starts at Martinsville Speedway, posting one top-five and two top-10 finishes. Custer has also led 33 laps. Custer has three previous Championship 4 Round appearances (2018, 2019, 2023).

Chandler Smith (-28 Points):

Chandler Smith has made three starts at Martinsville Speedway, posting one top five, two top 10s, and has led three laps. Smith is looking to make the Championship 4 Round for the first time in his Xfinity Series career.

Jesse Love (-35 Points):

Jesse Love made his series track debut at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season, he qualified 11th and posted a ninth-place finish. Love is also hoping to make the Championship 4 Round for the first time in his Xfinity Series career. If Love were to earn a spot in the Championship 4 Round, he would become the sixth different rookie to make an appearance in the final round; joining Erik Jones (2016), William Byron (2017), Daniel Hemric (2017), Christopher Bell (2018) and Tyler Reddick (2018).

Sam Mayer (-47 Points):

Sam Mayer has made six starts at Martinsville Speedway, posting three top fives and four top 10s. The Wisconsin native has also led 11 laps. Mayer is looking to make the Championship 4 Round for the second-time in his Xfinity Series career (2023).

Sammy Smith (-95 Points):

Sammy Smith has made four starts at Martinsville Speedway, collecting two top fives and three top 10s. He has also led 196 laps (most among Playoff drivers). Smith is looking to make the Championship 4 Round for the first time in his Xfinity Series career.

NASCAR Xfinity Series, Etc.

Hot Streak: 14 different winners in as many races at Martinsville – The NASCAR Xfinity Series is riding a different winners streak at Martinsville Speedway that has seen 14 different winners in the last 14 races, dating back to the 1992 event. Note: The NASCAR Cup Series didn’t race at Martinsville from 1995-2005 and 2007-2019.

Bubba Pollard to run at Martinsville – Sam Hunt Racing announced that Andrew “Bubba” Pollard will make his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series start on this weekend at the National Debt Relief 250 at Martinsville Speedway.

The 37-year-old Senoia, Georgia, native made his Xfinity Series debut earlier this season at Richmond Raceway where he finished sixth after starting at the tail of the field. Pollard has over 100 late model wins and has collected 15 championship trophies from various late model championships.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to race at Martinsville with SANY and SHR,” Pollard said. “I really enjoyed the experience racing at Richmond earlier this season. Thanks to SANY, I’m excited to be back in an Xfinity car and can’t wait to hit the track again.”

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Next Race: Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200

The Place: Martinsville Speedway

The Date: Friday, November 1

The Time: 6 p.m. ET

The Purse: $672,417

TV: FS1, 6 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 105.2 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 50),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 100), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)

CRAFTSMAN Truck Series to wrangle Martinsville Speedway in Playoffs’ penultimate race

For the first time since 2021, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returns to Martinsville Speedway for the Playoffs’ penultimate race – the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 – on Friday, November 1 at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio (Channel 90).

The historic 0.526-mile track has hosted 47 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races since its inaugural event on September 25, 1995 – a race won by Joe Ruttman piloting the No. 84 Irvan-Simo Racing Ford.

Notably, there have been 34 different race winners at Martinsville in the Truck Series. Johnny Sauter, who will be making his return to the series with ThorSport Racing this weekend, leads the Truck Series with four wins at Martinsville. In total, nine of the 34 races have been won from the pole, most recently by Chase Elliott in 2017.

Here’s a closer look at the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series veterans who have inscribed their name in the Martinsville Speedway record books:

Race record: Jimmy Hensley 74.282 mph (04/17/1999)
Qualifying record: Ty Majeski 97.523 mph (04/05/2024)
Most races: Matt Crafton (41)
Most poles: Jack Sprague (4)
Most wins: Johnny Sauter (4)
Most top fives: Matt Crafton and Johnny Sauter (11)
Most top 10s: Matt Crafton (23)
Laps led: Kyle Busch (627)

On-track activity for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway kicks off with practice at 1:30 p.m. on FS2 followed by Cometic Gasket Pole Qualifying at 2:05 p.m. EST on Friday, November 1.

Crunch Time: Clinch Scenarios for Martinsville Speedway

With one race left in the Round of 8 in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs, here are the clinch scenarios to decide this season’s Championship Four.

Already Clinched

The following driver has clinched a spot in the four-driver field of the next round: Grant Enfinger.

Can Clinch Via Points

If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the fourth winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Corey Heim, Christian Eckes or Ty Majeski.

Corey Heim: Would clinch with 7 points
Christian Eckes: Would clinch with 18 points
Ty Majeski: Would clinch with 34 points
Rajah Caruth: Could only clinch with help
Taylor Gray: Could only clinch with help
Tyler Ankrum: Could only clinch with help
Nicholas Sanchez: Could only clinch with help

If there is a new winner from Rajah Caruth or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the third winless driver in the standings.

Corey Heim: Would clinch with 29 points
Christian Eckes: Would clinch with 40 points
Ty Majeski: Could only clinch with help
Rajah Caruth: Could only clinch with help
Taylor Gray: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Corey Heim, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth, Taylor Gray, Tyler Ankrum, Nicholas Sanchez

Martinsville Speedway offers one last chance to advance

Martinsville Speedway has not participated in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs since 2021. Before that, it had been on the schedule since the inception of the Playoffs in 2016.

The 0.526-mile track, Martinsville Speedway, has occupied three different spots on the postseason schedule: the fourth race (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021), the fifth race (2019), and the sixth race (2020, 2024) – the same event as this year.

The previous six Playoff races hosted at Martinsville Speedway have produced five different winners, led by Johnny Sauter with two postseason victories (2016 and 2018).

In addition, two of the six previous Martinsville Speedway Truck Series Playoff races were won by non-Playoff drivers – Noah Gragson (2017) and Todd Gilliland (2019).

This weekend, the only one of the Round of 8 drivers has previously won a Martinsville Playoff race, and its CR7 Motorsports’ Grant Enfinger (2020).

Martinsville Speedway NCTS Playoff Race Winners
Date	Track	Race Winner	Season	Race No.
Saturday, October 29, 2016	Martinsville	Johnny Sauter	2016	20
Saturday, October 28, 2017	Martinsville	*Noah Gragson	2017	20
Saturday, October 27, 2018	Martinsville	Johnny Sauter	2018	20
Saturday, October 26, 2019	Martinsville	*Todd Gilliland	2019	21
Friday, October 30, 2020	Martinsville	Grant Enfinger	2020	22
Saturday, October 30, 2021	Martinsville	Zane Smith	2021	20

Martinsville, Phoenix and Homestead are the three tracks that have hosted the penultimate race in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs.

Notably, the Round of 8 finale has not been won by a non-playoff driver since Daniel Suarez at Phoenix in 2016 and the winner of the penultimate race has gone on to win the title that same season only once – Brett Moffitt in 2018.

NCTS Round of 8 Finale Race Winners (2016-2023)
Date	Track	Race Winner	Season	Race No.
Friday, November 11, 2016	Phoenix	*Daniel Suarez	2016	22
Friday, November 10, 2017	Phoenix	Johnny Sauter	2017	22
Friday, November 9, 2018	Phoenix	Brett Moffitt	2018	22
Friday, November 8, 2019	Phoenix	Stewart Friesen	2019	22
Friday, October 30, 2020	Martinsville	Grant Enfinger	2020	22
Saturday, October 30, 2021	Martinsville	Zane Smith	2021	20
Saturday, October 22, 2022	Homestead-Miami	Ty Majeski	2022	21
Saturday, October 21, 2023	Homestead-Miami	Carson Hocevar	2023	22

Below are the finishes in the sixth race of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs by the eventual champions of those seasons:

In 2016, second by Johnny Sauter at Phoenix.
In 2017, eighth by Christopher Bell at Phoenix.
In 2018, first by Brett Moffitt at Phoenix.
In 2019, sixth by Matt Crafton at Phoenix.
In 2020, eighth by Sheldon Creed at Martinsville.
In 2021, seventh by Ben Rhodes at Martinsville.
In 2022, second by Zane Smith at Homestead-Miami.
In 2023, second by Ben Rhodes at Homestead-Miami.

Make It or Break It: Playoffs Contender’s Career Performances at Martinsville

As the competitors head to Martinsville this weekend, the pressure to advance to the coveted Championship 4 Round is on. A win at the historic 0.526-mile track by a Playoff contender would ensure their spot.

All Playoff drivers have given Martinsville Speedway a go in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, making this weekend that much more intense.

Here’s a look at how our eighth Playoff drivers have performed there previously.

Rank	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish
1	Grant Enfinger	12	0	1	3	5	0	12.0
2	Corey Heim	3	0	1	1	2	0	7.3
3	Christian Eckes	6	1	1	2	3	0	9.7
4	Ty Majeski	3	1	0	2	2	0	5.7
5	Rajah Caruth	2	0	0	0	1	0	16.0
6	Taylor Gray	4	0	0	0	3	0	12.0
7	Tyler Ankrum	8	0	0	1	2	1	17.8
8	Nick Sanchez	2	0	0	1	1	0	7.5

Of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff field, Grant Enfinger, Corey Heim, and Christian Eckes are the only previous Martinsville Speedway winners.

Last Chance Race: Caruth, Gray, Ankrum, and Sanchez outside Championship 4 cutline

With one spot in the Championship 4 Round secured by Grant Enfinger, who has won both of the Round of 8’s first two races at Talladega and Homestead, the rest of the competitors are certainly starting to feel the heat as the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series heads to Martinsville Speedway, especially the drivers currently sitting below the cutline Rajah Caruth, Taylor Gray, Tyler Ankrum, and Nick Sanchez.

Spire Motorsport’s Rajah Caruth finished eighth at Homestead-Miami Speedway and left the 1.5-mile paved oval -22 points back from the Championship 4 cutline.

Below the cutline and in his first Playoffs appearance is TRICON Garage’s Taylor Gray. The 19-year-old finished 10th at Homestead and is -24 points back from the final transfer position.

McAnally-Hilgemann’s Tyler Ankrum heads to Martinsville ranked seventh in the Playoff stands. Although the 23-year-old had a decent day in South Florida and finished fifth, he is currently 41 points back from the fourth and final spot in the championship round.

Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez returned to his home track hoping to capture the checkered flag and secure his spot in the Championship Four for the first-time. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old did not have the day he planned, finishing 13th and now the driver of the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet sits -43 points back from the cutline.

Currently, ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski is in the fourth and final position to transfer to the Championship 4 Round. Just ahead of Majeski in third is McAnally-Hilgemann driver Christian Eckes, up +38 points on the Championship 4 cutline.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Outlook Following Homestead-Miami Speedway (October 26, 2024)

Rank	Driver	Points	Starts	Race Wins	Stage Wins	Playoff Pts	+/- Cutoff
1	Grant Enfinger	3,121	21	2	3	7	In On Wins
2	Corey Heim	3,130	21	6	9	48	49
3	Christian Eckes	3,119	21	3	9	39	38
4	Ty Majeski	3,103	21	2	6	24	22
5	Rajah Caruth	3,081	21	1	1	10	-22
6	Taylor Gray	3,079	21	0	0	3	-24
7	Tyler Ankrum	3,062	21	0	2	7	-41
8	Nick Sanchez	3,060	21	2	1	18	-43

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.

Hot streak: 11 different winners in last 11 races at Martinsville – Martinsville Speedway continues to uphold its race winner streak with 11 different NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series winners in the last 11 races at the historic track. The streak is currently second to Bristol Motor Speedway with 12 (8/20/2014 – 09/19/2024) for the longest active streak in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

The different winners streak began in 2017 when Chase Elliott took the checkered flag in the spring race, followed by Noah Gragson in the fall, John Hunter Nemechek (2018 spring), Johnny Sauter (2018 fall), Kyle Busch (2019 spring), Todd Gilliland (2019 fall), Grant Enfinger (2020), Zane Smith (2021), William Byron (2022), Corey Heim (2023), and most recently, Christian Eckes (2024 spring).

Three Playoff contenders, one of which is already locked into the Championship 4, are the only previous winners are entered in Friday night’s 200-lap tilt: Grant Enfinger, Corey Heim, and Christian Eckes.

As the series returns to the half-mile this weekend, all eyes will be on these three stars to see if Heim and Eckes can make the Championship 4 Round or if Enfinger sweeps the Round of 8.

Hettinger Racing Acquires Bret Holmes Racing – Chris Hettinger, a longtime and late model team owner from Dryden, Michigan, has purchased the assets of Bret Holmes Racing. The organization will complete the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series schedule with 2018 Truck Series champion Brett Moffitt under its new name, Hettinger Racing.

The team will debut on Friday at Martinsville and plans to run the season finale at Phoenix. 2018 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Brett Moffitt will pilot the No. 4 Hettinger Racing Chevrolet in both events.

“Between the investments I’ve made over the years in our late model program and the opportunity to purchase Bret Holmes Racing, the time was right to grow Hettinger Racing into a team that can further drivers’ development by seamlessly transitioning them from Late Models to ARCA to Trucks,” Hettinger said. “We’ll continue our late model program by running the zMAX CARS Tour, and we’ll run select ARCA and Truck Series races that fit best with our overall schedule.”

“I said earlier this year that when it came to racing, I wanted quality over quantity, and the equipment Chris Hettinger already had was second to none,” Moffitt said. “With his purchase of Bret Holmes Racing, Chris’ operation is scaled up and ready to tackle the Truck Series. I feel like the potential is there, and I’m really looking forward to driving their Chevy and getting Hettinger Racing prepared for next year.”