All articles tagged with #martinsville
Chase Elliott won the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season, riding a late two-stop gamble to defeat Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano as Hendrick Motorsports celebrated. Hamlin finished runner-up, Logano third, with Ty Gibbs fourth and William Byron fifth, setting the stage for an Easter break and a strong early push for Elliott and his team.
Denny Hamlin dominated the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville, leading a race-high 292 laps, but late cautions shuffled the field and Chase Elliott sprinted away to win his first race of 2026, with Hamlin finishing second after signaling rear-end trouble late in the race; the result underscores NASCAR’s new format where a single dominant day doesn’t guarantee a win.
Martinsville Speedway hosts the Cook Out 400, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series' first short-track race, with Denny Hamlin earning pole and William Byron on the front row; the event is the first of two Martinsville races in 2026, with the second coming during the playoffs in November. After Easter off, the next race on the calendar is the Food City 500 at Bristol on April 12 at 3:00 p.m. ET on FS1.
Post-practice rankings spotlight Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron as top fantasy contenders for the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville, with speed metrics and past results used to project finish ranges and dominator potential, plus notes on practice sessions and DraftKings/FanDuel pricing.
Stephen Kopcik earned his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win at Martinsville, passing leaders on a late restart after starting 12th and holding off Ron Silk. The Wanick Motorsports driver became the 82nd modern-tour winner since 1985, celebrating at the historic Martinsville bullring as the tour heads to Thompson Speedway on April 12.
Fantasy Fastlane previews Martinsville's Cook Out 400, naming Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Kyle Larson and Joey Logano as must-starts, with Ryan Preece and Josh Berry as sleepers, and Tyler Reddick and Brad Keselowski as drivers to avoid; the piece frames 36-for-36 lineup play and offers matchup guidance ahead of the short-track race.
Joey Logano's attempt to defend his NASCAR Cup Series title ended with an eighth-place finish at Martinsville, eliminating him from the playoffs and ending Team Penske's streak of championships. Despite a strong performance, strategic errors and tire issues contributed to his exit, marking the first time since 2021 that no Team Penske cars are in the Championship 4.
William Byron won at Martinsville, celebrating resilience and teamwork, while other drivers like Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott reflected on their performances and missed championship opportunities. Kyle Larson praised Byron's win, and various drivers discussed race strategies and mechanical issues.
The NASCAR series are concluding their playoff rounds at Martinsville Speedway with races in the Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck Series, featuring detailed schedules, results, and essential links for fans to follow the action.
Kaden Honeycutt secured the final spot in the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship 4 after a tiebreaker at Martinsville, edging out Layne Riggs, who was disappointed after a challenging race. Honeycutt's journey to this point was unexpected, having switched teams mid-season, and he now has a chance to compete for the title at Phoenix. Riggs, despite his efforts, faced mechanical issues and aggressive racing, which prevented him from advancing.
The NASCAR Cup Series is set for the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, with qualifying beginning Saturday at 5:40 p.m. ET, featuring a one-round, two-lap session based on a metric combining previous race results and current points. The race will take place on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, concluding the Round of 8 in the 2025 playoffs.
The article discusses NASCAR Cup Series playoff contenders, focusing on Ryan Blaney's potential to secure a third consecutive Martinsville victory and advance to the Championship 4, while analyzing other drivers' chances and recent performances at Martinsville and Talladega.
NASCAR has suspended nine team members from Trackhouse Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and 23XI Racing for manipulating the race finish at Martinsville Speedway. The penalties include suspensions, a 50-point deduction, and a $100,000 fine for each team and driver. The actions involved blocking maneuvers to benefit certain drivers, affecting the Championship 4 lineup. All three teams plan to appeal the penalties. Additionally, two Richard Childress Racing crew members were suspended for a separate incident involving a loose wheel.
NASCAR has issued significant penalties to the Nos. 1, 3, and 23 Cup Series teams for race manipulation and conduct violations during the Martinsville race. Drivers Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon, and Bubba Wallace each received a 50-point deduction and a $100,000 fine, with their teams also fined and docked points. Crew chiefs and spotters were suspended for the 2024 season finale, and team executives were also penalized. The penalties followed controversial on-track actions that affected playoff standings, with all penalized teams planning to appeal.
In a controversial NASCAR race at Martinsville, radio communications revealed manufacturer loyalty influencing the outcome as Chevy and Toyota teams maneuvered to secure a Championship 4 spot. Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain, both in Chevrolets, acted to protect William Byron's position, while Bubba Wallace's Toyota slowed to aid Christopher Bell. Despite Bell's last-lap wall ride, NASCAR disqualified him for a safety violation, reinstating Byron. NASCAR plans to review the radio chatter, potentially leading to penalties for involved teams.