Late pass gives Martin Truex Jr. third NASCAR Cup victory at Martinsville: Martin Truex Jr. passed Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin on Lap 485 of Sunday’s rain-delayed Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway and pulled away to win for the third time in his last four starts at the .526-mile short track. The victory was Truex’s second this season, ending a streak of seven straight different winners to start the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. The driver of the No. 19 Toyota triumphed for the 29th time in his career and for the fifth time in his last 11-short track starts.[Read More](4-11-2021)
#19-Martin Truex, Jr. won the rain delayed Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. The win is his 2nd of the year, 2nd win at Martinsville and 29th career win.
#9-Elliott finished 2nd followed by #11-Hamlin, #24-Byron, #5-Larson, pole sitter #22-Logano, #20-Bell, #8-Reddick, #4-Harvick, and #18-Busch.
The race concluded on Sunday after being postponed with 42 laps complete Saturday night because of rain.
Truex took the lead under pit stops during the final caution of the race. He was the leader as the race went back to green with 42 laps remaining. Hamlin passed him on the next lap and held the lead until 15 to go. Truex grabbed the lead back and pulled away for a nearly 2 second margin of victory.
Stage 1 & 2 were won by #12-Blaney.
There were 18 lead changes among 7 drivers and 15 cautions for 102 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 67.316mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Drivers Points Standings, Owners Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Race Fast Facts – Martinsville:
Martin Truex Jr. won the 72nd Annual Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500, his 29th victory in 558 Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2021.
This is his third victory and 14th top-10 finish in 32 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Chase Elliott (second) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 13 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his fourth top-10 finish in 2021.
Denny Hamlin (third) posted his 22nd top-10 finish in 32 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Anthony Alfredo (26th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Denny Hamlin leads the point standings by 76 points over Martin Truex Jr.
(NASCAR)(4-11-2021)
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Martinsville:
(race 8 of 26 in the regular season)
1) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. [2 wins], 303
2) #22-Joey Logano [1 win], 302
3) #5-Kyle Larson [1 win], 280
4) #12-Ryan Blaney [1 win], 272
5) #24-William Byron [1 win], 270
6) #20-Christopher Bell [1 win], 217
7) #34-Michael McDowell [1 win], 189
8) #11-Denny Hamlin, 379 [point leader]
9) #9-Chase Elliott, 260
10) #4-Kevin Harvick, 253
11) #2-Brad Keselowski, 244
12) #18-Kyle Busch, 212
13) #3-Austin Dillon, 209
14) #47-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., 202
15) #17-Chris Buescher, 190
16) #1-Kurt Busch, 190
See the Driver Points Standings and Owners Point Standings.
Paint Schemes
Due to inclement weather, the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway has been postponed until Sunday, April 11 at 4:00pm/et. TV: FS1.
Cars to the rear: #99-Suarez (failed pre-race inspection), #8-Reddick (unapproved adjustments), #7-LaJoie (multiple inspection failures), #77-Haley (multiple inspection failures), #15-Davison (multiple inspection failures)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway have been made.
Pole winner #22-Logano chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #11-Hamlin took the 23rd stall, with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on Pit Stall chart.(4-7-2021)
#22-Joey Logano will start from the pole for the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway.
#11-Hamlin will start second, followed by #24-Byron, #12-Blaney, #9-Elliott, #47-Stenhouse, Jr., #19-Truex, Jr., #6-Newman, #4-Harvick, and #2-Keselowski.
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 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 Starting Lineup page.(4-7-2021)
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
The Entry List for the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted, 37 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Davison, #53-Yeley, #77-Haley.
Not currently listed: #66 of MBM Motorsports.
See the full entry list on the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 Entry List page.
There will not be practice or qualifying at Martinsville.
2021 CUP Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway TandemDraft Stats
