Martinsville Speedway has been the perfect playground to decide the Championship Four. That will be no different this season, as two of the four spots are already booked. That leaves the other six drivers hungry to take their car to victory lane in the Xfinity 500. The six drivers fighting for those final two spots are among the best the sport has to offer, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott all in the fight of their lives.
The pressure has never been greater, especially for the three drivers of those six who are former Cup Champions. It will likely take a win at Martinsville to reach the Championship Four. The three former champs know exactly what that means, including Blaney who won this race just a season ago en route to his Crowning moment in Phoenix. Elliott won at Martinsville in 2020, in a must-win situation. He’ll have to do that again if he wants a crack at Championship number two.
Martinsville is Truly a Win and You’re In Race
Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick have nothing to worry about at the famed “paperclip”. Everyone else has 500 laps and plenty of other hungry drivers to outfox. The famous moments that this race has put on are limitless. 2015 was very memorable, as Matt Kenseth took out Logano, to make way for Jeff Gordon to win his 93rd and final Cup series victory. Or flash forward to 2017, when Hamlin wrecked Elliott, in a moment that completely turned the crowd against the Virginia native. Who can forget Ross Chastain’s famous wall-ride in 2021? It will be interesting to see what the 2024 Xfinity 500 will present.
Drivers are more desperate than ever. What would you do to book your ticket? Martinsville is truly a Win and you’re in a race this year.
Can Hendrick Get the Job Done?
Hendrick Motorsports had the high of highs earlier this season at this very track. While celebrating their 40th anniversary, William Byron won in a 1-2-3 finish for the team earlier this year. He sits seven points above the cutline, going in and might be the team’s best hope. Despite that Larson and Elliott are both hungry and within striking distance of a win at Martinsville.
Hamlin has a bumpy road, but he’s been here before
Hamlin finds himself once again below the cutline before the Championship Four. That has been the case for the last several seasons. For a guy who’s still eyeing his first championship, things seem to be getting harder and harder. The Chesterfield, Virginia native knows how to win at Martinsville he’s done it five times. However none since 2015. He’s got another huge mountain to climb as he crashed in practice, and will be starting at the back of the field.
Denny Hamlin will not turn a qualifying lap after crashing in practice.
He'll face an uphill battle in the elimination race at Martinsville. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4hN85BH6dS
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 2, 2024
A stock throttle is not the way to go. He has the biggest mountain to climb especially when Elliott, who is the last of the eight drivers alive for the championship going into the penultimate race starts second in Martinsville. Good luck drivers, the last two spots are there for the taking may the best two move on. One of those spots just feels like it has to go to the winner of the race, no questions about it.
