After 500 laps of racing at Martinsville, William Byron bested Ryan Blaney and claimed victory in a detailed battle for the win. Byron received his method into the ultimate 4, ousting Christopher Bell and becoming a member of Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson.
Byron led 304 of 500 laps en path to his third win of the 12 months, which was additionally the sixteenth of his profession. The victory additionally places an finish to Staff Penske’s hopes of profitable 4 consecutive Cup Sequence titles.
Here is a have a look at the most important winners and losers from the penultimate race of the 2025 season:
WINNER: William Byron runs an ideal race at Martinsville
Watch: Byron wins Martinsville: ‘Issues have a method of understanding’
It could not have gone significantly better for the driving force of the No. 24. Byron received the pole, each levels, and led 304 of 500 laps on his option to punching his ticket to the Championship 4 with a press release win at Martinsville. He even bested Ryan Blaney in each short-run and long-run pace, holding him off on a late restart and initially taking the lead in the course of a prolonged green-flag stint. Blaney was unstoppable within the Martinsville fall race in each 2023 and 2024, in order that was fairly the spectacular feat. Byron now heads to Phoenix with an opportunity on the crown for the third consecutive 12 months.
LOSER: Penske is not going to have a title shot at Phoenix, ending spectacular run
Watch: Blaney after contact with Byron: ‘I’d’ve finished the identical factor’
The hopes of profitable 4 consecutive Cup titles at the moment are over for Staff Penske. Each Blaney and Logano made all of it the way in which into the Spherical of 8, however they did not capitalize on the alternatives offered to them. Logano began up entrance at Martinsville, however pale to the backend of the highest ten. Blaney was an actual risk, main nearly 200 laps and driving from thirty first on the grid to the lead. Nevertheless, he couldn’t stand up to Byron and needed to accept second. Now, there’s nonetheless an opportunity for them to play spoiler and win at Phoenix, however it can certainly be bittersweet after how shut they got here to the Championship 4 with nothing to point out for it.
WINNER: A quiet day for Kyle Larson and that was precisely what he wanted
Watch: Larson after advancing to Champ 4: ‘Completely satisfied for Hendrick Motorsports’
Larson did not make headlines on Sunday, however he did not have to. Coming into the race on the new seat, he wanted to verify he wasn’t the driving force sitting on the bubble ought to one of many 4 drivers from beneath the cutline win the race. He did a wonderful job avoiding that destiny, out-scoring Christopher Bell in each levels and working contained in the top-five for a big portion of the race. Larson was the one driver to level their method into the ultimate 4, advancing by seven factors.
LOSER: Carson Hocevar goes spinning…usuallyÂ
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs
Hocevar was in the course of some issues on Sunday in a day he probably needs to overlook. Hocevar went spinning 3 times through the 500-lap occasion, and had run-ins with each present teammate Michael McDowell and future teammate Daniel Suarez. He completed thirty first, a number of laps down. Each Larson and Jeff Gordon joked concerning the No. 77 being concerned in ‘each warning’ after the race, which actually does not assist the rising star both.
WINNER: Chastain parlays well-timed warning into first high 5 in months
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: David Jensen / Getty Photographs
Ross Chastain determined to run longer than most through the remaining green-flag pit cease cycle of the race, and that proved to be an excellent thought. Erik Jones spun, triggering a warning whereas Chastain was main the race. He restarted third after pitting, and remained round there for the remainder of the day, ending fourth. That result’s Chastain’s first high 5 end since his last-to-first win within the Coca-Cola 600 on the finish of Might, and it additionally offers him an actual shot at breaking into the highest ten within the championship standings subsequent weekend.
LOSER: Consistency does not pay for eradicated Christopher Bell
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Picture by: David Jensen / Getty Photographs
Bell has been one of the crucial constant drivers this 12 months, and regardless of no finishes worse than eighth in eight of the 9 playoff races, he has been eradicated. He scored the second-most factors of anybody within the Spherical of 8, however wins by Hamlin, Briscoe, and Byron knocked him beneath the cutline and ended his title hopes as soon as once more. Bell at present holds the most effective common end of any full-time Cup driver and essentially the most high tens, however with out a Spherical of 8 win, he should wait at the least one other 12 months for that first championship.
WINNER: Ryan Preece reveals profitable pace on lengthy runs
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Picture by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photographs
Preece continues to impress within the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford, and whereas all eyes had been on the battle for the win, he was lurking only a few seconds behind. Preece drove as much as third earlier than the ultimate warning, and was working sooner than the leaders. Sadly, a gradual cease value him a number of spots, however he nonetheless fought again to complete sixth in a stellar exhibiting. Preece has three high tens within the final 4 races, constructing some nice momentum for 2026.
LOSER: JGR enters finale with questions after double engine failure
Denny Hamlin engine failure, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Picture by: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs
The excellent news is that Joe Gibbs Racing has two photographs on the title with Hamlin and Briscoe. The unhealthy information is that each suffered sudden engine failures in the course of Sunday’s Cup race, persevering with a development of mechanical gremlins plaguing the JGR camp. It is not one thing you need to have to fret about whereas dealing with the may of Hendrick Motorsports in subsequent weekend’s title race. After the race, Hamlin mentioned: I’m clearly involved, however there’s clearly nothing I can do about it.”
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