NASCAR and Martinsville go means again. Current playoff historical past with Chase Elliott, others

Martinsville Speedway and NASCAR have been each birthed in 1947 and haven’t strayed from one another within the 77 years since.

The half-mile monitor (.526 to be precise, roughly 45 yards longer than a half-mile) is situated a stone’s-throw north of the North Carolina-Virginia line, about an hour north of Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

That looks as if fairly an outpost for a sport that seemingly outgrew such locales with the passing many years, however Martinsville survived. It helped that there was all the time some possession curiosity with NASCAR administration, and the group has been sole proprietor since 2004.

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After of modified racing in 1948, NASCAR ran its first “strictly inventory” collection in 1949 — it’s often known as the Cup Sequence right this moment. It was a humble, eight-race schedule, and Martinsville was the sixth cease.

The historical past pages say 10,000 followers watched win by three laps over runner-up Lee Petty. It was the second of Byron’s two wins in his transient profession, and he made them depend — he was NASCAR’s unique champ in ’49.

When NASCAR’s high division expanded to 19 races in 1950, Martinsville acquired two race dates and it’s been that means ever since. The second race has nearly all the time been close to the tip of the season, and 4 years in the past it changed Phoenix because the next-to-last date on the schedule — Phoenix was moved to the championship finale, changing Homestead-Miami.

Because it’s carried out these previous 4 years, Martinsville’s checkered flag will set the championship discipline for Phoenix. For those who’re in search of traits to assist handicap the ultimate cease on the Spherical of 8, don’t look right here.

Thrice, the Martinsville winner was a Spherical of 8 participant, as soon as he wasn’t. Two races have been pretty clear, one sort of clear, and the opposite was an actual mess. Twice, the Martinsville winner went on to win the championship the next week, which implies twice he didn’t.

Thrice the profitable margin was lower than a second, however as soon as it was 6.5 seconds, which is a few third of a lap across the paperclip-shaped format.

Let’s recap the previous 4 years with Martinsville serving as Race 35 for NASCAR’s Cup Sequence.

2020 winner: Chase Elliott Chase Elliott left everyone in the dust while winning Martinsville in 2020.