Ryan Blaney claims Championship 4 spot with emphatic victory at Martinsville: Ryan Blaney did what Denny Hamlin couldn’t do in Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. As a result, Blaney will race for the NASCAR Cup Series championship next Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, and Hamlin exits the Playoffs after a hard-luck Round of 8.[Read More](10-29-2023)
#12-Ryan Blaney won the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. The win is his 3rd win of the year, 1st at Martinsville and 10th career win.
#10-Aric Almirola finished 2nd followed by #11-Denny Hamlin, #14-Chase Briscoe, #22-Joey Logano, #5-Kyle Larson, #20-Christopher Bell #17-Chris Buescher, #2-Austin Cindric, and #38-Todd Gilliland.
Blaney was strong all day, leading 145 total laps. He passed Almirola with 22 laps remaining and was never challenged for the lead again.
Pole winner #19-Martin Truex, Jr was caught speeding on pit road just before the end of stage 2. He was never able to work back through the field and finished 12th.
Drivers advancing to the Championship race: #5-Kyle Larson, #12-Ryan Blaney, #20-Christopher Bell, #24-William Byron
Eliminated from the Playoffs: #11-Denny Hamlin, #17-Chris Buescher, #19-Martin Truex, Jr, #45-Tyler Reddick
Stage 1 was won by #11-Denny Hamlin. Stage 2 was won by #12-Ryan Blaney
There were 12 lead changes among 6 drivers and 7 cautions for 61 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 75.244mph.
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.
Where the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers finished at Martinsville:
#12-Ryan Blaney, 1st
#11-Denny Hamlin, 3rd
#5-Kyle Larson, 6th
#20-Christopher Bell, 7th
#17-Chris Buescher, 8th
#19-Martin Truex, Jr, 12th
#24-William Byron, 13th
#45-Tyler Reddick, 26th
Race Fast Facts – Martinsville:
Ryan Blaney (P) won the Xfinity 500, his 10th victory in 305 Cup Series races.
This is his third victory and 17th top-10 finish in 2023.
This is his first victory and 10th top-10 finish in 16 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Aric Almirola (second) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 30 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2023.
Denny Hamlin (P) (third) posted his 25th top-10 finish in 36 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Ty Gibbs (18th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Ryan Blaney earns a spot in the Championship 4 joining Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell and William Byron.
(NASCAR)
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Martinsville:
Competing for the 2023 Championship at Phoenix
#5-Kyle Larson, 5000
#12-Ryan Blaney, 5000
#20-Christopher Bell, 5000
#24-William Byron, 5000
See the Driver Points Standings and Owner Points Standings.
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Martinsville [Before Points Reset]:
End of Round of 8
Race 35 of 36 for the year; 9 of 10 in the Playoffs; 3 of 3 in the Round of 8
1) #12-Ryan Blaney [3 wins, 1 win in Round of 8], 4165
2) #20-Christopher Bell [2 wins, 1 win in Round of 8], 4146
3) #5-Kyle Larson [4 wins, 1 win in Round of 8], 4136
4) #24-William Byron [6 wins], 4150, +8 ahead of 5th
Eliminated from the Playoffs:
5) #11-Denny Hamlin [3 wins], 4142, -8 behind 4th
6) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. [3 wins], 4122, -28
7) #45-Tyler Reddick [2 wins], 4107, -43
8) #17-Chris Buescher [3 wins], 4092, -58
See the Driver Points Standings Before Reset and Owner Points Standings Before Reset.
Paint Schemes
Cars to the rear: none
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway have been made.
Pole winner #19-Martin Truex chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #54-Ty Gibbs took the 22nd stall.
See all pit choices on the Martinsville Pit Stall page.
#19-Martin Truex, Jr. won the Busch pole for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway with speed of 94.153mph for his third pole of the year, second at Martinsville and 23rd of his career.
#54-Ty Gibbs will start second followed by #14-Chase Briscoe, #11-Denny Hamlin, #5-Kyle Larson, #23-Bubba Wallace, #20-Christopher Bell, #4-Kevin Harvick, #41-Ryan Preece, #6-Brad Keselowski.
See the complete qualifying results and the Xfinity 500 Starting Lineup.
Where the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers start at Martinsville:
#19-Martin Truex, Jr, 1st
#11-Denny Hamlin, 4th
#5-Kyle Larson, 5th
#20-Christopher Bell, 7th
#12-Ryan Blaney, 11th
#24-William Byron, 16th
#17-Chris Buescher, 18th
#45-Tyler Reddick, 19th
Martinsville Speedway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Martin Truex Jr. (P) won the Pole Award for the Xfinity 500 with a lap of 20.112 seconds, 94.153 mph.
This is his 23rd pole in 656 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his third pole and 16th top-10 start in 2023.
This is his second pole in 36 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Ty Gibbs # (second) posted his 15th top-10 start of 2023 and his first in three races at Martinsville Speedway.
Chase Briscoe (third) posted his third top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his eighth in 35 races this season.
Ty Gibbs (second) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR)
Qualifying Order
Practice for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is complete:
#11-Hamlin 93.929
#7-LaJoie 93.747
#24-Byron 93.696
#54-Gibbs 93.617
#2-Cindric 93.599
Slowest: #78-McLeod 91.060
Most laps run: #23-Wallace, 55
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 31 drivers): #7-LaJoie 93.232
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run, and more on the Xfinity 500 Practice speeds page.
Crew Rosters
The entry list for the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted, 36 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-J.J. Yeley, #42-Carson Hocevar, #51-Ryan Newman, #78-B.J. McLeod.
See the full entry list on the Xfinity 500 Entry List page.
Clinch Scenarios
Already Clinched
The following 2 drivers have clinched a spot in the 4-driver field of the next round: Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 3rd winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among William Byron or Ryan Blaney.
- William Byron: Would clinch with 26 points
- Ryan Blaney: Would clinch with 46 points
- Tyler Reddick: Could only clinch with help
- Martin Truex Jr.: Could only clinch with help
- Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help
- Chris Buescher: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Tyler Reddick or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 2nd winless driver in the standings.
- William Byron: Would clinch with 36 points
- Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help
- Tyler Reddick: Could only clinch with help
- Martin Truex Jr.: Could only clinch with help
- Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Chris Buescher
Goodyear Fast Facts — Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway Track Data:
Season Race #: 35 of 36 (10-29-23)
The Purse: $8,587,800
Track Size: 0.526-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 12 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 12 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 0 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 0 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 800 feet
Backstretch Length: 800 feet
Race Length: 500 laps / 263 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 130 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 240 laps
TandemDraft Stats – Martinsville
Weekend Event Schedule
