MARTINSVILLE, Va. — The ultimate two spots within the Championship 4 discipline will probably be set with as we speak’s Spherical of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway.
Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe have already got clinched spots within the title race. Christopher Bell (+37 factors to the cutline) and Kyle Larson (+36) are each in switch spots.
William Byron is in a must-win state of affairs to advance to subsequent weekend’s championship race at Phoenix.
These under the cutline are William Byron (-36), reigning champion Joey Logano (-38), Ryan Blaney (-47) and Chase Elliott (-62).
NBC and Peacock can have the protection from the historic half-mile observe in Southern Virginia. Countdown to Inexperienced begins at 1:30 p.m. ET. Race protection begins at 2 p.m. ET.
Here’s what to look at for in as we speak’s race:
Determined conditions can result in determined actions
Three years in the past, Ross Chastain rode the wall on the ultimate two corners of the final lap in a since-outlawed transfer to earn the ultimate switch spot to the title race and remove Hamlin.
Final yr, Bell was penalized for using the wall within the last nook of the final lap and that price him a spot within the title race. However questions emerged concerning the actions of some drivers to assist both Bell or Byron safe the ultimate switch spot. NASCAR suspended 9 individuals from three completely different groups and fined these organizations a complete of $600,000, amongst different penalties.
Chase Elliott, who should win to advance, stated: “I look ahead to no matter (Sunday) brings.”
NASCAR made it clear to crew chiefs two weeks in the past at Las Vegas that will probably be intently monitoring groups in what they are saying on the radio and their actions on observe.
“You may say something that helps your driver of their place and that’s it,” Brad Moran, NASCAR’s managing director of the Cup Collection, instructed NBC Sports activities after assembly with crew chiefs at Las Vegas.
Tires might make a distinction
Goodyear has introduced a brand new left-side tire that’s supposed to fall-off extra over a run than the earlier tire used at this observe.
Hamlin applauded Goodyear for bringing the tire after Saturday’s observe.
Kyle Larson holds the ultimate switch spot heading into Sunday’s Spherical of 8 finale on NBC and Peacock.
“I assumed the tire was good,” Hamlin stated. “The tire Goodyear introduced right here was a sensible choice and what they developed is a throwback to fifteen years in the past. You positively need to handle the automotive. All of the drivers are going to need to do their job to make it final, so we are going to see the way it goes.”
Mentioned Byron, who begins on the pole, concerning the tire: “That is extra of a administration facet. I don’t assume it’s going to do like what it did at Bristol, the place you simply need to pit on a regular basis. However I feel you’re simply going to endure, you recognize, when it comes to lap time and positions.”
Locked out?
Joe Gibbs Racing has secured two of the 4 spots within the title race. It’s potential that Group Penske — which has received the previous three Cup titles at Phoenix — or Hendrick Motorsports might be locked out of the following weekend’s championship race.
Blaney and Logano enter in must-win conditions for Group Penske. Blaney has received the previous two Martinsville playoff races however begins thirty first in as we speak’s race. Final yr, Blaney entered the race 38 factors under the cutline and received to safe a spot within the Championship 4.
The final time Group Penske didn’t have a driver within the Championship 4 was 2021.
The final time Hendrick Motorsports didn’t have a diver within the Championship 4 was 2019.
Subsequent-to-last probability
Whereas the main focus will probably be on the playoff drivers, there’s nonetheless a lot at stake for a number of different drivers within the next-to-last race of the season.
Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Alex Bowman, Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher are amongst those that have but to win this season.
