Alex Bowman triumphs at Martinsville, as Martin Truex Jr. gains Championship: Denny Hamlin provided the perfect capstone to a day of banged-up stock cars, hurt feelings and crushed dreams. Alex Bowman took the checkered flag in Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway after sliding up into Hamlin’s race-leading Toyota on Lap 494 of 501 and knocking Hamlin’s car up the track and into the outside wall. As Bowman tried to start a burnout to celebrate his fourth NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season and his first at the .526-mile short track, Hamlin drove to the frontstretch and expressed his displeasure by twice blocking the progress of Bowman’s No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.[Read More](10-31-2021)
#48-Alex Bowman won the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Raceway. The win is his 4th win of the year, 1st win at Martinsville and 6th career win.
#18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #2-Keselowski, #19-Truex, Jr., #24-Byron, #10-Almirola, #1-Busch, #43-Jones, #17-Buescher, and #22-Logano.
Pole sitter #5-Larson finished 14th.
Hamlin was leading the race with 6 laps to go when Bowman made contact with him, spinning Hamlin out. Hamlin fell to 24th. Bowman kept the lead on the restart and help off a late charge by Kyle Busch and Keselowski to get the win.
Eliminated from the Playoffs: #18-Kyle Busch, #2-Brad Keselowski, #12-Ryan Blaney, and #22-Joey Logano.
The four drivers that will compete next week for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Championship: #5-Kyle Larson, #9-Chase Elliott, #11-Denny Hamlin, and #19-Martin Truex, Jr.
Stage 1 and 2 were both won by #9-Elliott.
There were 15 lead changes among 7 drivers and 15 cautions for 91 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 70.968mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Driver Points Standings Before Reset, Owner Points Standings, Owner Points Standings Before Reset, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Race Fast Facts – Martinsville:
Alex Bowman won the 73rd Annual Xfinity 500, his sixth victory in 224 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his fourth victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2021.
This is his first victory and fourth top-10 finish in 12 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Kyle Busch (P) (second) posted his 20th top-10 finish in 33 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 21st top-10 finish in 2021.
Brad Keselowski (P) (third) posted his 17th top-10 finish in 24 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Anthony Alfredo (20th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. have all advanced to the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Championship 4 Round.
(NASCAR)(10-31-2021)
Where the 2021 Cup Series Playoff drivers finished at Martinsville:
#18-Kyle Busch, 2nd
#2-Brad Keselowski, 3rd
#19-Martin Truex, Jr., 4th
#22-Joey Logano, 10th
#12-Ryan Blaney, 11th
#5-Kyle Larson, 14th
#9-Chase Elliott, 16th
#11-Denny Hamlin, 24th
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Reset:
(Following Martinsville; Race 35 of 36 in the season)
#5-Kyle Larson, 5000
#9-Chase Elliott, 5000
#11-Denny Hamlin 5000
#19-Martin Truex, Jr., 5000
See the reseeded Driver Points Standings and Owners Point Standings.
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Martinsville:
(Race 35 of 36 in the season; End of the Round of 8)
1) #5-Kyle Larson [2 Wins in Round of 8], 4213
2) #9-Chase Elliott, 4148, +32
3) #11-Denny Hamlin, 4124, +8
4) #19-Martin Truex, Jr., 4119 +3 ahead of 5th
Eliminated from the Playoffs
5) #18-Kyle Busch, 4116, -3 behind 4th
6) #2-Brad Keselowski, 4111, -8
7) #12-Ryan Blaney, 4099, -20
8) #22-Joey Logano, 4077, -42
See the Driver Points Standings Before Reset and Owners Point Standings Before Reset.
Cars to the rear: #11-Hamlin (multiple inspection failures)
Paint schemes
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Raceway have been made.
Pole winner #5-Larson chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #9-Elliott took the 6th stall, with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on Pit Stall chart.(10-27-2021)
#5-Kyle Larson will start from the pole for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Raceway.
#9-Elliott will start second, followed by #11-Hamlin, #19-Truex, Jr., #22-Logano, #2-Keselowski, #18-Busch, #12-Blaney, #4-Harvick, and #1-Busch.
The lineup was set by the qualifying metrics, based on race finish, points position, and fastest race lap.
See the complete starting order on the Xfinity 500 Starting Lineup page.(10-27-2021)
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
The Entry List for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Raceway is posted, 38 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Smithley, #53-Gase, #66-Hill.
See the full entry list on the Xfinity 500 Entry List page.
There will not be practice or qualifying at Martinsville.
Cup Series TandemDraft Stats: Xfinity 500 at Martinsville
