NASCAR Preview: Fall Martinsville Race Weekend

DIVEBOMB Motorsport
1 hour ago
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Written by Gabriel Tsui, Bailey Defoor & Sean McKean

Credit: Alejandro Alvarez / NASCAR Digital Media

For an all-important penultimate round, all three series travel to Martinsville for the Round of 8 cut-off race.

Martinsville is a 0.526-mile (0.847-kilometre) short track with banking of 12 degrees in the turns and zero degrees on the straights.

Below are the start times for each race plus lap count:

Trucks: Friday, 24 October, 18:00 local (23:00 UK) - 200 laps
Xfinity: Saturday, 25 October, 19:30 local (00:30 UK) - 250 laps
Cup: Sunday, 26 October, 14:00 local (19:00 UK) - 500 laps

Below are the defending winners of each race:

Trucks: No. 19 - Christian Eckes (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing)
Xfinity: No. 20 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Cup: No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

Cup Series: Xfinity 500 Preview

Written by Gabriel Tsui

Credit: Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images for NASCAR

Following one of the more exciting finishes of the season in Talladega, we head to Virginia for the penultimate race of the season. With the playoff cut-line splitting the top four drivers and the bottom four drivers like Moses parting the red sea, most drivers under the cut line are in a must-win situation. Will we see an improbable comeback drive from one of the four drivers below the cut line, or would the standings remain the same as we see three Toyota/Joe Gibbs drivers face off against Kyle Larson for the championship?

The drivers will be racing around the half-mile oval for 500 laps, with 130 laps each in the initial stages, then closing off the round of eight with a 240-lap gauntlet, totalling a distance run of 263 miles (423 kilometres) around the track.

The weather report indicates that sunlight will be absent throughout the weekend, with temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit). The race will commence on the Sunday of October 26th, at 14:00 Eastern (11:00 Pacific, 19:00 British).

Race Predictions

As mentioned, all four of the drivers below the cut line are in a virtually must-win situation, as they sit over 35 points below the cut-line. It would be easy to predict certain drivers, such as Ryan Blaney, to complete a third consecutive Martinsville miracle in the penultimate race of the season.

While it would be fun to predict a possible comeback from one of these drivers, their machinery and recent run of form are unconvincing. A trend in short tracks this season, however, might give us more insight into the race this weekend.

For the most part, Toyota and Kyle Larson have been the dominating factor in short tracks. Obviously, Toyota have the short track maestros Denny Hamlin, whereas Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell can hold their own in the short track scene as well. The same can be said for Kyle Larson, who has secured top-five finishes in three prior visits to Martinsville.

For this race, however, we will be giving the edge to Christopher Bell instead. With both of his teammates going through to the championship round already via victories, he will have all the support he needs to go through to the championship round. Add his strong resume around Martinsville, we predict he will make his return to the championship round with a win in Martinsville.

Credit: Stacy Revere / Getty Images for NASCAR

Three things to look out for

Go big or go home

If there was ever one race designed for drivers to go big or go home, this is it. In past years, there has never been such a huge divide between the drivers below the cut-line and those who are above it entering Martinsville. It is crunch time for Byron, Logano, Blaney and Elliott. Like that one Max Kellerman quote: “Fate of the universe on the line, Martians have the death beam pointed at earth.”

Go big, or go home.

Heartbreak for Larson

Kyle Larson was this close to securing his first superspeedway win, but another strategic problem set that back until at least the 2026 Daytona 500. Despite being in front with one to go, Larson ran out of fuel on the back straight and was cycled out of the lead, sending him to a 26th-placed finish while also losing out on securing a spot in the championship round. He might not sweat it much, but it was a missed opportunity for the veteran nonetheless.

Briscoe continues a historic run

Despite coming into the season as one of the underdogs, Briscoe has cemented himself as a perennial contender. With his win in Talladega, he has already secured three wins and his first ever championship round appearance, surpassing most expectations for him. Knock on wood, but this is shaping up to be a Martin Truex Jr. 2017 championship run, an underdog tale for the ages.

Xfinity Series: IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250 Preview

Written by Bailey Defoor

Credit: Ethan Smith / NASCAR Digital Media

Last week, Austin Hill dominated in Talladega, making him the second non-playoff driver to win in the Round of 8. This week, the Xfinity Series heads to Martinsville Speedway for the penultimate race of the season.

Aric Almirola swept both Martinsville races last season and sits as the only repeat winner at Martinsville in the last 16 races. He will be back in the No. 19 for the rest of the season as he fights for the owners' championship with Joe Gibbs Racing. Speaking of Joe Gibbs Racing, they have won five of the last seven races at Martinsville.

Race Weekend Guide

The Xfinity Series will race on Saturday, October 25. Practice will start at 13:00 EST (18:00 UK), qualifying is at 14:05 EST (20:05 UK) and the green flag drops at 16:30 EST (21:30 UK)

The drivers will go for 250 laps, rounding out to 131.5 miles (211.6 kilometres), with 60 laps making up Stages 1 and 2, and 130 laps making up Stage 3.

Playoff Picture

Last week, Connor Zilisch and Justin Allgaier locked themselves into the Championship 4 by points. That leaves only two spots up for grabs.

Jesse Love currently sits 40 points above the cut-line and only needs 28 points to clinch a spot.

Carson Kvapil and Sammy Smith split the cut-line, +/- 11, while Brandon Jones, Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed have a bit more climbing before going for a chance at a championship: Jones is down 20, Mayer is down 22 and Creed is down 41 to Kvapil.

Three playoff drivers currently have top-ten streaks at Martinsville: Allgaier, Smith and Creed. Allgaier has been in the top-ten for nine of the last ten races in Martinsville, while Creed has had three runner-up finishes at Martinsville, including during the March race.

If a playoff driver does not win this weekend, it will be the first time since 2016 that a playoff driver has not won in the Round of 8.

Six of the last eight Martinsville races went to overtime, and no one is mathematically out of it, so be sure to tune in for the action.

Truck Series: Slim Jim 200 Preview

Written by Sean McKean

Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images for NASCAR

For the penultimate race of the season, the Truck Series travels to Martinsville, Virginia for high-stakes short track racing on Friday night.

Last weekend in Talladega, Gio Ruggiero took his first career win with help from teammate Corey Heim behind. Will Heim continue his run of form this weekend, as the only NASCAR driver this year to not record a DNF?

Race Predictions

The last two races at Martinsville have been won by McAnally-Hilgemann Racing's flagship No. 19 truck, with Christian Eckes taking victory last fall and Daniel Hemric taking victory in the spring. However, despite their dominance in this event recently, Corey Heim cannot be overlooked, having led 74% of the spring race before late-race mayhem. Therefore, we predict that Corey Heim will take a record-extending 11th win.

Two storylines to look out for

Martinsville mayhem

This race is well known for its beating and banging for the lead, as Christian Eckes took a final round-clinching win after bumping Taylor Gray out of the way with four laps remaining. When stakes are high, anticipate the bumpers to be utilised, especially from the playoff drivers remaining.