The penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs hits Martinsville Speedway this afternoon, with two Championship 4 spots still up for grabs. Every lap around this historic half-mile has the potential to decide who gets a shot at the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series title, and who goes home empty-handed.

It all comes down to one of the most pressure-packed weekends of the year. The paperclip-shaped Martinsville Speedway, known for its tight corners, brake smoke, and short-track chaos, hosts the final race before the Championship 4 finale.

Two Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, have already punched their tickets to Phoenix with wins earlier in the round. So who does that leave fighting for the remaining spots?

Who’s Racing at Martinsville Today for a Spot in the Championship 4?

With Hamlin and Briscoe having already clinched Championship 4 berths through earlier wins. That leaves six contenders battling for the final two spots: Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Chase Elliott.

Bell and Larson hold slim advantages over the elimination line, but with just one point separating them, a win from any of the other four could shake up the standings.

Also, today’s 500-lap elimination race will witness a full field of 37 entries lining up at Martinsville Speedway, including a one-off appearance from Casey Mears in the Garage 66 Ford. Mears will reach a milestone, his 600th career start across NASCAR’s top three divisions, after competing in Friday’s Truck Series race.

Full Cup Race Schedule

According to veteran NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass’ report on X, the green flag is set for 2:17 p.m. ET on NBC, following prerace coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET. The National Weather Service forecasts a crisp morning in the 40s, warming to around 58–61°F by race time with only a 5% chance of rain, making it ideal conditions for racing.

1:30 p.m. ET – Prerace coverage (NBC)
2:00 p.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series Race (500 laps)
Stages: 130 / 130 / 240
Tire allotment: 10 sets
Fuel window: 170 – 190 laps

How to Watch the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville?

Fans can catch all the action live on NBC in the U.S. and TSN in Canada, with in-car cmaera live streams available on HBO Max for an immersive viewing experience. Radio coverage will be provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

The race takes place later today (Sunday, October 26), with the green flag set to wave at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Today’s Martinsville 500 sets the stage for next week’s finale. With tensions high, fans can expect tempers to flare and bumpers to fly on ‘The Paperclip’. The tight turns, heavy braking, and unforgiving walls make it a test of composure and control.