All articles tagged with #martinsville
Joey Logano's attempt to defend his NASCAR Cup Series title ended with an eighth-place finish at Martinsville, eliminating him from the playoffs and ending Team Penske's streak of championships. Despite a strong performance, strategic errors and tire issues contributed to his exit, marking the first time since 2021 that no Team Penske cars are in the Championship 4.
William Byron won at Martinsville, celebrating resilience and teamwork, while other drivers like Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott reflected on their performances and missed championship opportunities. Kyle Larson praised Byron's win, and various drivers discussed race strategies and mechanical issues.
The NASCAR series are concluding their playoff rounds at Martinsville Speedway with races in the Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck Series, featuring detailed schedules, results, and essential links for fans to follow the action.
Kaden Honeycutt secured the final spot in the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship 4 after a tiebreaker at Martinsville, edging out Layne Riggs, who was disappointed after a challenging race. Honeycutt's journey to this point was unexpected, having switched teams mid-season, and he now has a chance to compete for the title at Phoenix. Riggs, despite his efforts, faced mechanical issues and aggressive racing, which prevented him from advancing.
The NASCAR Cup Series is set for the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, with qualifying beginning Saturday at 5:40 p.m. ET, featuring a one-round, two-lap session based on a metric combining previous race results and current points. The race will take place on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, concluding the Round of 8 in the 2025 playoffs.
The article discusses NASCAR Cup Series playoff contenders, focusing on Ryan Blaney's potential to secure a third consecutive Martinsville victory and advance to the Championship 4, while analyzing other drivers' chances and recent performances at Martinsville and Talladega.
NASCAR has suspended nine team members from Trackhouse Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and 23XI Racing for manipulating the race finish at Martinsville Speedway. The penalties include suspensions, a 50-point deduction, and a $100,000 fine for each team and driver. The actions involved blocking maneuvers to benefit certain drivers, affecting the Championship 4 lineup. All three teams plan to appeal the penalties. Additionally, two Richard Childress Racing crew members were suspended for a separate incident involving a loose wheel.
NASCAR has issued significant penalties to the Nos. 1, 3, and 23 Cup Series teams for race manipulation and conduct violations during the Martinsville race. Drivers Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon, and Bubba Wallace each received a 50-point deduction and a $100,000 fine, with their teams also fined and docked points. Crew chiefs and spotters were suspended for the 2024 season finale, and team executives were also penalized. The penalties followed controversial on-track actions that affected playoff standings, with all penalized teams planning to appeal.
In a controversial NASCAR race at Martinsville, radio communications revealed manufacturer loyalty influencing the outcome as Chevy and Toyota teams maneuvered to secure a Championship 4 spot. Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain, both in Chevrolets, acted to protect William Byron's position, while Bubba Wallace's Toyota slowed to aid Christopher Bell. Despite Bell's last-lap wall ride, NASCAR disqualified him for a safety violation, reinstating Byron. NASCAR plans to review the radio chatter, potentially leading to penalties for involved teams.
NASCAR heads to Martinsville for the Cook Out 400, with Denny Hamlin's short track dominance making him the heavy favorite, but contenders like Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr. could challenge. Stewart-Haas Racing drivers, including Ryan Preece and Chase Briscoe, are potential dark horse candidates. Teammates Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. have resolved their recent on-track incident, while young driver Rajah Caruth's exceptional work ethic and dedication to improvement have garnered attention in the NASCAR garage.
Ryan Blaney secured his spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race by winning the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Blaney led 145 laps, won Stage 2, and finished ahead of Aric Almirola and Denny Hamlin. William Byron claimed the final spot based on points. Blaney and Byron will join Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell in the Championship Race in Phoenix.
Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, discusses the team's outlook for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and the significance of the upcoming race at Martinsville. He praises driver Kyle Larson's recent success and the team's potential to have multiple drivers in the Championship 4. Gordon reflects on his own career and the importance of Martinsville in the team's history. He also talks about the intensity of the playoffs and his role in supporting the team. Additionally, he shares his thoughts on the evolution of the playoffs format and the challenges of the upcoming race at Martinsville.
A Martinsville man, Jonathan Easter, has been charged with felony elude and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after an officer-involved shooting. Easter, who had outstanding warrants, exited a vehicle with an AR-15 style rifle during a traffic stop and fled on foot before stealing a truck. He collided head-on with a pursuing officer's vehicle, causing minor injuries, and the officer fired shots through his windshield, but Easter was not hit. Easter was subsequently taken into custody and is being held without bond. The incident is under investigation by the Virginia State Police with assistance from the Henry County Sheriff's Office.
Kyle Larson won his first NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville after a two-tire pit stop during the final caution of the race. Larson passed Joey Logano with 30 laps remaining and drove away from the field to win by over three seconds. The win is Larson's 21st career Cup Series win. Logano finished second, while Martin Truex Jr. finished third. Ryan Preece led the first 135 laps of the race but was penalized for speeding on pit road and finished 15th. Kevin Harvick had a fast car but was forced to pit for a loose wheel and finished 20th.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series is set to take place at Martinsville this weekend, and RotoBaller has provided some DFS lineup picks for the Call811.com Before You Dig 250 on DraftKings. Josh Berry, Cole Custer, Brandon Jones, Anthony Alfredo, Alex Labbe, and Jeb Burton are among the top picks for the race. Berry has had top 10 finishes in half of his short track starts, while Custer has an average finish of 19.7 in six Cup Series races at Martinsville. Jones won the spring race at Martinsville last year, and Alfredo and Labbe offer place differential upside. Burton is a solid driver in a solid car and has finished 11th or better in three of his five Xfinity starts at Martinsville.