Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx One Rate Toyota, and Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Discount Tire Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on November 03, 2024 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images for NASCAR)
IndyCar NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR News: Blaney wins Xfinity 500 Cup race at Martinsville

Posted by AR1 staff

Defending NASCAR Cup champion Ryan Blaney drove his Penske Ford to victory in the Xfinity 500 Cup race at the Martinsville Speedway short track to punch his ticket to the final four championship race in Phoenix next weekend.

Hendrick Chevy drivers Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson were 2nd and 3rd and both missed making the Final Four playoff because they needed to win to advance and they both were passed by Blaney’s superior Penske Ford.

Blaney returns to the title bout to defend his 2023 title against Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick and William Byron. Ousted from contention were Elliott, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin.

Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, and Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Discount Tire Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on November 03, 2024 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR)

“I’m worn out. It’s hard,” Blaney said after the race. “The last 70 or so laps, I tried to save my rears the best I could because that’s where I started struggling later in the runs. I hated I had to lay the bumper to some guys, but I had to do it. It was nice to pass the 9 clean. I laid the bumper to a couple guys that I wish I didn’t have to, but I needed to get going, so it was a long night. I appreciate everybody for getting better through the night. Thank goodness. I think that’s the most tired I’ve been after a race in a long time.”

At the checkered flag, Bell appeared to provisionally lock into the Championship 4 — he was tied with Byron for the final spot and owned the Round of 8 tiebreaker. But after a lengthy review of the final lap, NASCAR issued a safety violation penalty to Bell, who rode the Turn 4 wall after sliding high on entry to Turn 3. Bell was penalized for a safety violation and subsequently finished 22nd, the last car one lap down. He fell four points short of advancing.

The 2024 Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway will take place next Sunday.

Ryan Blaney

Ryan Blaney, after the disappointment of last week, how did you put it all behind you and have such a determined last run?

RYAN BLANEY: Yeah, I don’t know, man. I tried to save my rear tires early. I was struggling with my rears, traffic the run before. I think it kind of paid off for us.

So proud of the effort by everyone at the 12 group never giving up. To have another shot at the championship is really special. Appreciate Discount Tires and Menards Ford, appreciate all they do.

You were three seconds behind and not happy with how the restart came off. How in the world did you make that happen? Was that one of the more determined drives of your career?

RYAN BLANEY: Yeah, more than that. I got nothing left. Oh, my God, I’m tired.

Good battle. Yeah, the car hung on longer than most. Could really make some ground. Yeah, they just worked on the car all night. I really appreciate them. Everybody to makes this possible, Roush-Yates engine, 12 boys are awesome. Let’s go.

Second at Miami last year, won Martinsville, went on to win a championship. What about next week in Phoenix?

RYAN BLANEY: Try to do the same thing.

Christopher Bell

Christopher, how do you feel the final lap went for you, all the moves you made?

CHRISTOPHER BELL: All the moves I made? Is that what you said?

Yes.

CHRISTOPHER BELL: I mean, I don’t know. I knew I had to get past the 23, and got really loose, got really loose getting into turn 3. Once I got in the marbles, I was in the wall.

I had no intention of riding the wall. That’s unfortunately where I ended up trying to get all I could get.

Yeah, I don’t know. This is weird. This is weird. Everyone is standing around. Nobody knows what’s going on. I don’t know if this is the last interview I’m going to have of the day.

Regardless, I’m super proud of this 20 group. No matter what happens, if we make it, don’t make it, it’s been so much fun this year, contending for wins, lead more laps. We set out a goal this year to lead more laps, finish stages, we did that. We came in, didn’t have the prettiest day, but we tied the points. I guess it’s going to be a decision outside of us that’s going to let us know if we made it or not.

William Byron

William, you saw what Christopher Bell did with the 20. What do you think about his move? Do you think it was fair?

WILLIAM BYRON: He rode the wall. There’s a clear rule against riding the wall. In my ride, that’s what counts. The 23 stuff is what it is. There was a lot going on there, so…

Just see what they say here in a sec. We had damage ever since the 12 shipped the 16 car out of the way, screwed up our tow. We were terrible in the long run for the final stage after that. Sucks.

But proud of my team. We’ll see what happens here.

Just to confirm, you consider that a wall ride? You think it should not be his spot in the championship based on the move he made?

WILLIAM BYRON: Yeah, there’s a rule against it. We all sat in meetings and talked about whether there should be a rule against it. Front tires are off the ground coming off four there against the fence. Yeah, it happened in the past, and it was fair game. Now the rule’s against it.

I don’t see how you can call it any different.

Xfinity 500 Cup Race Results

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