Next Race: Xfinity 500
The Place: Martinsville Speedway
The Date: Sunday, November 1
The Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: NBC, 1:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 263 (500 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 130),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 260), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 500)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Draft Top 250
The Place: Martinsville Speedway
The Date: Saturday, October 31
The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC, 3:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 131.5 miles (250 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series
Next Race: NASCAR Hall of Fame 200
The Place: Martinsville Speedway
The Date: Friday, October 30
The Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 105.2 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 50),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 100), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)
NASCAR Cup Series
Martinsville Speedway to set the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs have come down to this Sunday’s Playoff Round of 8 elimination race, the Xfinity 500, at Martinsville Speedway at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The 2020 season marks the first time Martinsville Speedway has hosted the penultimate race (Race No. 9) in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Since the inception of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2004, Martinsville Speedway has occupied three different positions on the postseason schedule. From 2004 – 2010 (seven seasons) Martinsville hosted the sixth race in the Playoffs and from 2011 – 2019 (nine seasons) Martinsville hosted the seventh race in the Playoffs. Martinsville Speedway is the third different track to host the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; joining Darlington Raceway (2004) and Phoenix Raceway (2005-2019).
| Martinsville Playoff Race Winners | |||||
| Seasons | Race Winners | Track | |||
| 2019 | Martin Truex Jr | Martinsville | |||
| 2018 | Joey Logano | Martinsville | |||
| 2017 | Kyle Busch | Martinsville | |||
| 2016 | Jimmie Johnson | Martinsville | |||
| 2015 | Jeff Gordon | Martinsville | |||
| 2014 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | Martinsville | |||
| 2013 | Jeff Gordon | Martinsville | |||
| 2012 | Jimmie Johnson | Martinsville | |||
| 2011 | Tony Stewart | Martinsville | |||
| 2010 | Denny Hamlin | Martinsville | |||
| 2009 | Denny Hamlin | Martinsville | |||
| 2008 | Jimmie Johnson | Martinsville | |||
| 2007 | Jimmie Johnson | Martinsville | |||
| 2006 | Jimmie Johnson | Martinsville | |||
| 2005 | Jeff Gordon | Martinsville | |||
| 2004 | Jimmie Johnson | Martinsville |
A total of eight different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with six Playoff victories (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2016) on the 0.526-mile track.
Six times the winner of the Martinsville Speedway Playoff race has gone on to win the title later that same season – the most of any track on the Playoff schedule. In 2006, Jimmie Johnson won from the ninth starting position at Martinsville Speedway, 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, and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. 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) 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, and went on to win his third NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was one of a record setting five Playoff victories for Stewart during the 2011 postseason. In 2016, Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Martinsville Speedway, 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 Loganowon from the 10th starting position at Martinsville Speedway, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his first of two Playoff victories during his 2018 championship run. Team Penske’s Logano is currently the only driver locked into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 due to his win at Kansas Speedway to open the Round of 8.
The worst finish in a Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway by a driver that went on to win the title later the same year was 33rd by Kevin Harvickin 2014.
Just like Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch stole the show at Texas Motor Speedway on Wednesday, twice a non-Playoff driver has won the Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway. In 2005, Jeff Gordon was ranked 15th in the points at the time of his win at Martinsville, and in 2014, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was 11th in points at the time of his win. Earnhardt Jr. had made the Playoffs in 2014 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.
| Playoff Race No. 9 – Race Winners | |||||
| Seasons | Race Winners | Track | |||
| 2019 | Denny Hamlin | Phoenix | |||
| 2018 | Kyle Busch | Phoenix | |||
| 2017 | Matt Kenseth | Phoenix | |||
| 2016 | Joey Logano | Phoenix | |||
| 2015 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | Phoenix | |||
| 2014 | Kevin Harvick | Phoenix | |||
| 2013 | Kevin Harvick | Phoenix | |||
| 2012 | Kevin Harvick | Phoenix | |||
| 2011 | Kasey Kahne | Phoenix | |||
| 2010 | Carl Edwards | Phoenix | |||
| 2009 | Jimmie Johnson | Phoenix | |||
| 2008 | Jimmie Johnson | Phoenix | |||
| 2007 | Jimmie Johnson | Phoenix | |||
| 2006 | Kevin Harvick | Phoenix | |||
| 2005 | Kyle Busch | Phoenix | |||
| 2004 | Jimmie Johnson | Darlington |
A total of nine different drivers have won the penultimate (ninth) race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by Jimmie Johnson(2004, 2007, 2008, 2009) and Kevin Harvick(2006, 2012, 2013, 2014) with four Playoff victories each.
Four times the winner of the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has gone on to win the title that same season. In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won from the sixth starting position at Phoenix Raceway 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 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 and went on to win his fourth consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. The victory was his fourth during the 2009 postseason. Then in 2014, Kevin Harvickwon from the third starting position at Phoenix Raceway and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of three Playoff victories during the 2014 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 Raceway was 38th by Jimmie Johnson in 2016 and at Darlington Raceway in 2004 it was sixth by Kurt Busch.
Four non-Playoff drivers have won the ninth Playoff race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason. In 2005, Kyle Busch was ranked 19th in the points at the time of his win at Phoenix Raceway. In 2011, Kasey Kahne was ranked 14th in the points at the time of the win at Phoenix Raceway. 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. And 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 total Martinsville Speedway has hosted 143 NASCAR Cup Series races dating back to the inaugural event on Sept. 25, 1949 – the race was won by Red Byron in Raymond Park’s1949 Oldsmobile. Originally 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 143 Cup races at Martinsville have produced 61 different pole winners and 53 different race winners. 10 of the 53 winners are active this weekend. NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip leads the series in poles at Martinsville with eight (1979, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1992). NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in wins at Martinsville with 15 victories (1960, 1962, 1963, 1967 sweep, 1968, 1969 sweep, 1970, 1971, 1972 sweep, 1973, 1975, 1979) – the most wins by a driver at a single track in the series – he also accomplished the feat at North Wilkesboro (15 wins). Jimmie Johnsonleads the series in wins among active drivers at Martinsville Speedway with nine victories (2004, 2006, 2007 sweep, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016). Six of the eight Playoff drivers this weekend have won at Martinsville, led by Denny Hamlin with five victories. The Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott, are the two postseason drivers still looking for the first career win at 0.526-mile short track.
Cup Clinch Scenarios for Martinsville Speedway
Just three spots remain open in this season’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 round and this Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway is the last chance for the seven drivers not locked-in to vie for those final spots and secure their chance at the 2021 Bill France Cup next week in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
Team Penske’s Joey Logano is the only driver of the Round of 8 field that has locked himself into the Championship 4 round.
Can Clinch via Points
If there is a new winner, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the third winless driver in the standings.
- Kevin Harvick: Would clinch with 37 points
- Denny Hamlin: Would clinch with 53 points
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch with 55 points
- Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, and Martin Truex Jr.: Could only clinch with help
If there is a repeat winner, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the fourth winless driver in the standings. They would also clinch if there was a new winner among Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin or Brad Keselowski and being ahead of the third winless driver in the standings.
- Kevin Harvick: Would clinch with 14 points
- Denny Hamlin: Would clinch with 29 points
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch with 31 points
- Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, and Martin Truex Jr.: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Kurt Busch
| NASCAR Cup Series Driver Playoff Outlook Following Race No. 34 | |||||||||||||||
| Rank | Driver | Points | Starts | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | Pts from Cutoff | ||||||||
| 1 | Joey Logano | 4094 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 22 | In On Wins | ||||||||
| 2 | Kevin Harvick | 4137 | 34 | 9 | 7 | 67 | 42 | ||||||||
| 3 | Denny Hamlin | 4122 | 34 | 7 | 10 | 54 | 27 | ||||||||
| 4 | Brad Keselowski | 4120 | 34 | 4 | 7 | 35 | 25 | ||||||||
| 5 | Alex Bowman | 4095 | 34 | 1 | 4 | 9 | -25 | ||||||||
| 6 | Chase Elliott | 4095 | 34 | 3 | 9 | 27 | -25 | ||||||||
| 7 | Martin Truex Jr. | 4084 | 34 | 1 | 5 | 17 | -36 | ||||||||
| 8 | Kurt Busch | 4039 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -81 |
Fighting For A Spot: Previous drivers that raced their way into the Championship 4
Since the introduction of the ‘elimination style’ format of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2014, racing your way into the Championship 4 round in the ninth and final cutoff race of the Round of 8 has proven to be much more difficult than one might expect with only two drivers accomplishing the feat.
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 (-7 points from cutoff), Brad Keselowski (-19), Kurt Busch (-28) and Joey Logano (-63) – all failed to advance to the Championship 4 and were eliminated from the Playoffs following the Phoenix race. At Phoenix, Logano finished third, Kurt Busch finished seventh, Keselowski finished ninth and Carl Edwards finished 12th.
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 (-1 point from cutoff), Denny Hamlin (-2), Kevin Harvick (-18) and Kurt Busch (-34) – all failed to advance to the Championship 4 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.
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 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.
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 (-3 points from cutoff), Chase Elliott (-17), Aric Almirola (-35) and Clint Bowyer (-51) – all failed to advance to the Championship 4 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.
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. Denny Hamlin won the race at Phoenix and automatically advanced to the final round. Joey Logano finished ninth, but it wasn’t enough and was tossed out of the Playoffs. Hamlin would go on to finish the season fourth in the championship standings.
Playoff’s Elite Eight at the Martinsville ‘Paperclip’
Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway sets the stage for the seven drivers hunting for the final three spots in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Championship 4 round. Team Penske’s Joey Logano is the only driver currently locked into the Championship 4 by virtue of his victory at Kansas two weeks ago. Below is a look at the elite eight Playoff drivers heading into Martinsville this weekend.
Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford) is currently locked into the Championship 4 round thanks to his win at Kansas to open the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff’s Round of 8. Looking to Martinsville, Logano has made 23 starts putting up five poles, one win (2018 Playoff race), seven top fives and 11 top 10s. He finished fourth at Martinsville earlier this season.
Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford) currently holds a 42-point edge on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff’s Championship 4 round cutoff. The Californian, Harvick, heads to Martinsville weekend having made 38 series starts at 0.526-mile short track posting one win (2011), five top five and 19 top 10s. He finished 15th at Martinsville back in June.
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) is grasping to a 27-point lead over the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff’s Championship 4 round cutoff. Hamlin’s resume at Martinsville is the most promising among the eight remaining Playoff drivers. The Virginia native has made 29 series starts at the ‘Paperclip’ posting four poles, five wins (2008 spring, 2009 Playoffs, 2010 sweep, 2015 spring), 15 top fives and 21 top 10s. But he finished 24th at Martinsville earlier this season.
Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford) is clinging to the fourth and final transfer spot into the Championship 4 round by a mere 25 points over Hendrick Motorsport’s driver Alex Bowman in the first position outside the cutoff. Keselowski will start on the pole this weekend at Martinsville, a speedway where track position is key. Keselowski has made 21 series starts at Martinsville collecting two wins (2017 spring, 2019 spring), 10 top fives and 15 top 10s. He finished third in the Martinsville race earlier this season.
Alex Bowman (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) hangs onto the fifth spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings, 25 points back from Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski in the final transfer position to the Championship 4. Bowman has made nine series starts at Martinsville posting two top-10 finishes; including his career-best finish of sixth that he posted earlier this season at 0.526-mile track.
Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) is currently tied with his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman in points and sits sixth in the standings 25 points behind the Championship 4 cutoff. Elliott looks to Martinsville to the catapult he needs to make the final round. Elliott has made 10 season starts at Martinsville posting three top fives and five top 10s. He finished fifth in the Martinsville event back in June.
Martin Truex Jr. (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) finished second at Texas Motor Speedway on Wednesday but still finds himself 36 points behind the Championship 4 cutoff. Truex is optimistic about this weekend at Martinsville Speedway though. The New Jersey native has made 29 series starts at the Virginia half-mile winning the last two consecutive races and putting up a total of seven top fives and 13 top 10s.
Kurt Busch (No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet) finds himself in the eighth final position in the Round of 8, 81 points behind the Championship 4 cutoff. Busch is in a must-win situation heading into this weekend at Martinsville. Busch has made 40 series starts at Martinsville posting two wins (2006 Playoffs, 2017 Playoffs), three top fives and eight top 10s. He finished ninth in the Martinsville race earlier this season.
NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.
Kyle Larson is tapped by Hendrick Motorsports in 2021 – This week Hendrick Motorsports signed driver Kyle Larson to a multi-year contract that will see him join the 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champions beginning with the 2021 racing season. He will pilot the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, which the organization will field for the first time since 2017. Larson will be paired with crew chief Cliff Daniels, 32, who currently leads the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team with seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.
“Kyle is unquestionably one of the most talented race car drivers in the world,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “He has championship-level ability and will be a significant addition to our on-track program. More importantly, I have full confidence that he understands our expectations and will be a tremendous ambassador for our team, our partners and NASCAR. Kyle and I have had many, many conversations leading up to today’s announcement. I’m confident about what’s in his heart and his desire to be a champion in all aspects of his life and career. Kyle has done important work over the past six months, and Hendrick Motorsports is going to support those continued efforts.”
Rudy Fugle named crew chief to No. 24 team in 2021 – Hendrick Motorsports has named Rudy Fugle as the crew chief for William Byron and the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE team for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. He will join the organization in mid-November. The 36-year-old Fugle is one of the most successful crew chiefs at the NASCAR national series level. Fugle will replace current No. 24 crew chief Chad Knaus, who was recently named Hendrick Motorsports’ vice president of competition effective at the completion of the 2020 racing season.
“We’re pleased to welcome Rudy,” said Jeff Andrews, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. “His teams have consistently performed at a championship level for many years. We believe he’s an excellent fit for our culture and will mesh extremely well with our other crew chiefs and competition personnel. In addition, Rudy and William have proven to be a successful combination with a high level of communication and trust in one another.”
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Martinsville Speedway to set the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4
The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Martinsville Speedway this weekend to set the Championship 4 contenders and close out the Round of 8. This Saturday’s race, the Draft Top 250, will be at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Last weekend, the series went to Texas Motor Speedway where the racing was intense, and the excitement was second to none.
Playoff driver Noah Gragson, who is in a must-win situation if he wants to compete for the championship at Phoenix Raceway, looked like he was going to take home the trophy (and cowboy hat).
However, Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender and now three-time winner, Harrison Burton, passed him on the final corner to steal the victory. Burton recovered from a spin that brought out the sixth caution of the day and then went on to pass Anthony Alfredo for the second position with only two laps to go.
Saturday’s race at Texas was a tough one for the current Playoff drivers. Austin Cindric was able to finish in fourth and Justin Haley finished in seventh. The remaining five postseason challengers finished outside the top-15 – Ross Chastain finished 16th, Chase Briscoe finished 24th, Brandon Jones finished 25th, Justin Allgaier finished 26th and Ryan Sieg finished 31st.
With his win two weeks ago, Briscoe is still the only driver with a Championship 4 spot, meaning that this weekend’s race at Martinsville will be the final chance for the seven other Playoff drivers to clinch their position.
The Draft Top 250 will also bring a new sense of excitement as the NASCAR Xfinity Series hasn’t raced at the short track since 2006. Kevin Harvick won that race from the sixth position. There have been 34 total Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway, with the inaugural race being in 1982 and won by Sam Ard.
So, Martinsville Speedway is new territory for all the drivers in the field and the series is bound to put on a good show.
Cindric will lead the field to green on Saturday with Gragson joining him on the front row. Haley will start third and Chastain will start fourth. Briscoe and Allgaier will start fifth and sixth.
