Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace describe working with Michael Jordan at 23XI Racing
USA TODAY Sports’ Josh Peter speaks with NASCAR drivers Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace about partnerning with Michael Jordan at 23XI Racing.
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A week after one of the best NASCAR Cup Series drivers of all time to not win a title clinched a spot in the 2025 Championship 4 race, Chase Briscoe earned a spot in his first title race.
The Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver earned his third win of the season and second of the playoffs with a race to victory in the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Briscoe took the lead in the final lap of overtime and held off two non-playoff drivers, Todd Gilliland and Ty Gibbs, to get his second playoff in win in eight races.
This means two Joe Gibbs Racing drivers will be in the hunt for the title in Phoenix in the season finale, Briscoe and Denny Hamlin.
“I don’t know what’s more unbelievable – the fact that we’re going to the Championship 4 or that I won a superspeedway race,” Briscoe said. “What an amazing day.”
Two of four spots in the Championship 4 are now set. This week, NASCAR heads to one of the oldest tracks on the calendar – Martinsville Speedway – to potentially secure a third contender.
It’s the penultimate round of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Here’s everything you need to know to get ready for the Xfinity 500 on Sunday, Oct. 26:
Carson Hocevar spun from 25th position after contact with Daniel Suarez, bringing out the caution flag on Lap 216. All lead-lap cars came down pit road for fuel and tires. William Byron maintained the lead following pit stops and has now led 224 of 229 laps.
William Byron has continued to dominate the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, leading 170 of 175 laps so far. Reigning Series champion Joey Logano runs second, followed by Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney.
Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron led 127 of 130 laps at Martinsville Speedway to win the opening stage of the Xfinity 500 as he seeks to make the Championship 4.
Reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano made late passes on Hendrick drivers Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson to finish second, with Larson third and Elliott fourth. Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Todd Gilliland and Austin Cindric rounded out the top 10.
Hamlin has already clinched his spot in the Championship 4 – along with Chase Briscoe – while Bryon, Logano, Larson, Ellliott, Blaney and Bell remain in contention.
William Byron has led 96 laps in the opening stage of the Xfinity 500. His Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, run second and third, respectively. Joey Logano, Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell round out the top 7. All but Gibbs are playoff drivers.
According to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, if none of the four drivers currently below the cut line win, Christopher Bell can clinch a berth in the Championship 4 with 20 points, while Larson clinches with 21 points.
The caution flag waved on Lap 29 of the opening stage of the Xfinity 500 when Daniel Suarez spun after contact from Bubba Wallace at Zane Smith. Suarez was able to right his No. 99 car before any damage.
William Byron led the first 30 laps of the race as the field came down pit road for fuel and tires under the yellow flag. Michael McDowell took just two tires on the stop to leapfrog the field, and he will restart alongside Byron, who took four tires and kept his position.
Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron, seeking to make the Championship 4, leads the field as the green flag waves for the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Teammate Kyle Larson quickly siezed the second spot from Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs on the first lap.
What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
The Xfinity 500 is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 26 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia.
What TV channel is the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
The Xfinity 500 will be broadcast on NBC, the channel for the final three races of the Cup Series playoffs. Pre-race coverage will start at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
Yes, the Xfinity 500 will be streamed on Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville on Fubo
How many laps is the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
The Xfinity 500 is 500 laps around the 0.526-mile track for a total of 263 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 130 laps; Stage 2: 130 laps; Stage 3: 240 laps.
NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings
Here’s how things look with one race left in the Round of 8. The bottom four drivers will be eliminated after Martinsville ahead of the finale in Phoenix. Drivers who have secured a spot in the Championship 4 are marked with an asterisk.
Chase Briscoe*Christopher Bell (+9)Kyle Larson (+10)Denny Hamlin (+13)*William Byron (+46)Joey Logano (+48)Ryan Blaney (+57)Chase Elliott (+72)Who won the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville last year?
Ryan Blaney controlled the final 14 laps at Martinsville Speedway to earn victory in the 2024 Xfinity 500. Blaney bounced back from a near-victory the week prior to ensure he could fight to defend his Cup Series title. He took victory ahead of Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Austin Cindric and Hamlin.
The race wasn’t without controversy, though, as Christopher Bell’s late pass on Bubba Wallace was ruled illegal because of “wall-riding” and that kept Bell out of the Championship 4.
NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville starting lineupWilliam Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletTy Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaKyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJoey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske FordDenny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaCole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team FordKyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletChase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaAustin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske FordMichael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletChristopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRoss Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletTyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing ToyotaCarson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletTodd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletRyan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing FordBrad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordAustin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletBubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing ToyotaShane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletZane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club ToyotaRiley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing ToyotaTy Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletJosh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing FordErik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club ToyotaChris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordDaniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletRyan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske FordRicky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports ChevroletAJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletJustin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletNoah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports FordCody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing FordCasey Mears, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford