William Byron clinched a spot among the Championship 4 on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, and he did so in a very impressive way. Byron seized the lead from Ryan Blaney with 43 laps to go and held on to win with both drivers facing must-win situations.
Ryan Blaney knew he had his work cut out for him heading into Sunday’s Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway. Blaney qualified 31st and being in a position where he needed to win to clinch a spot in the Championship 4, that was less than ideal at a track like Martinsville.
Without a win at Martinsville in 2018, Joey Logano likely wouldn't have gone on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that same year. But on Sunday at Martinsville, when he needed another clutch win, the three-time Cup Series champion didn't have enough.
William Byron beat Ryan Blaney in an 11-lap dash and won the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, putting him in the field with teammate Kyle Larson for next weekend's championship race after Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 finale in Martinsville, Va.
For the second year in a row, a podium effort from Chase Elliott in the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series season wasn't enough for NASCAR's most popular driver to make the Championship 4.
Ryan Blaney, needing a win to advance to the Championship 4 for the third consecutive year, had won the previous two Martinsville fall races and appeared to be on his way to doing so again.
Through the entire season, Tyler Reddick has been recognized by his incredible mullet and beard. His flowing mane of hair has made several drivers and fans jealous of him and his aura on the racetrack.
Entering last year’s Round of 8 elimination race at Martinsville Speedway with a 29-point cushion above the cutline, the highest among all the drivers eyeing the Championship 4 spot, Christopher Bell appeared ready to lock down his third straight Championship 4 berth.
Taylor Gray, who has suffered heartbreak after heartbreak at Martinsville Speedway, finally captured his first career NASCAR National Series win on Saturday night at Martinsville as he held off rival Sammy Smith by a margin of 0.344 seconds.
Corey LaJoie started it all on his Oct. 15 Stacking Pennies podcast when he revealed some NASCAR Cup Series breaking news. “Yeah, I mean, the 7 car gets another victim,” LaJoie said.