NASCAR stays within the commonwealth of Virginia this week as all three nationwide sequence head to Martinsville Speedway.
The half-mile paperclip is ready to host motion Thursday evening main into the Cup Collection’ first scheduled evening race of the yr on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET on Fox). The Cup race is scheduled for 400 laps across the 0.526-mile observe, the shortest scheduled distance at Martinsville since October 1956.
Take a look at the storylines, entry lists and extra forward of the tripleheader occasion:
Are the veterans again?
Denny Hamlin‘s victory last weekend at Richmond Raceway marked the first win for a driver over the age of 30 since the last time Hamlin won in September 2021. Does that mean the older guys are back to their winning ways?
The Next Gen era has proven nothing is definitive and trends are difficult to establish. But it certainly seems that the veteran drivers of the sport are figuring out their new rides. Hamlin (41 years old) was first to the stripe at Richmond, Kevin Harvick (46) was second and Martin Truex Jr. (41) was fourth after leading 80 laps. But at ages 24 and 28 respectively, William Byron (122 laps led) and Ryan Blaney (128 laps) were competitive at Richmond too.
The plus for the veterans is that 19 of the last 22 races at Martinsville have been won by drivers 30 or older, according to Racing Insights. Whether that experience translates to the new car will be answered Saturday.
Hendrick vs. Gibbs?
Hendrick Motorsports has won three of the last six short-track races dating back to the start of last year. Joe Gibbs Racing won the other three.
Which team will prevail at Martinsville? In JGR’s favor, Hamlin broke by means of at Richmond final week and completed runner-up there twice in 2021. Truex has been a short-track ace as of late, winning the spring Martinsville race a year ago and three of the final 5 there. Per Racing Insights, every of Truex’s final seven wins have come at tracks 1.366 miles or shorter. Kyle Busch leads all energetic drivers with 16 brief observe wins however none the previous three years.
Hendrick, in the meantime, has seen two wins from Alex Bowman on brief tracks over the previous 43 Cup races, claiming victories at Richmond and Martinsville, whereas Kyle Larson went to victory lane at Bristol. Chase Elliott additionally has a win at Martinsville that he earned within the fall of 2020, propelling him to the Championship 4 and eventual Cup title.
Toyota seems to be back based on how the manufacturer’s teams performed in Richmond. JGR could have the sting below the lights at Martinsville.
Sealing the deal
Ryan Blaney is tied for the sequence’ factors lead, leads the sequence in common working place (9.25), laps led (334), poles (three) and quickest laps runs (110). But the No. 12 has didn’t win by means of seven races.
Final yr marked a breakout season for Blaney, who nabbed three victories in his first multi-win season. The efficiency has been persistently glorious to start out this yr’s marketing campaign, however there has but to be a serious payoff.
The excellent news is that his 10.75 common end at Martinsville ranks second amongst all energetic drivers along with six straight finishes of eleventh or higher there, together with 4 prime fives. Perhaps that is the week Blaney breaks into victory lane.
Entry lists
The 36 chartered groups make up this week’s entry checklist for the NASCAR Cup Collection. Xfinity common AJ Allmendinger is again within the No. 16 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing, his third straight week within the automobile. Josh Bilicki returns into the No. 77 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, which marks his fifth race of the season.
Forty-three automobiles dot the Xfinity entry checklist, together with NASCAR Corridor of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., who returns to the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports as his lone nationwide sequence race of the yr.
Ryan Truex will get again into the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Natalie Decker will drive the No. 28 Ford for RSS Racing. Ryan Ellis pilots the No. 45 Chevrolet for Alpha Prime Racing. 5 automobiles will fail to qualify for the 38-car subject.
Within the Tenting World Truck Collection, 40 vehicles are entered for Thursday evening’s race. Kyle Busch is again within the No. 51 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Former Drive for Variety driver Blake Lothian makes his sequence debut within the No. 43 Chevrolet for Reaume Brothers Racing. 4 vehicles will fail to qualify.
NASCAR Cup Series Entry List — Martinsville Speedway
NASCAR Xfinity Series Entry List — Martinsville Speedway
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Entry List — Martinsville Speedway
This weekend’s schedule and forecast
(All occasions Japanese)
Thursday, April 7
Forecast: AM thunderstorms, then partly cloudy, excessive of 68 levels, low of 41 levels
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3 – 3:35 p.m. — Truck follow (Teams 1 and a pair of, FS1)
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3:35 – 4:30 p.m. — Truck qualifying (single-vehicle, two laps, FS1)
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5:30 – 6:05 p.m. — Xfinity follow (Teams 1 and a pair of, FS1)
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6:05 – 7 p.m. — Xfinity qualifying (single-car, two laps, FS1)
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8 p.m. — Truck race (200 laps, 105.2 miles; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Friday, April 8
Forecast: Sunny then principally cloudy, excessive of 61 levels, low of 36 levels
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4:30 – 5:15 p.m. — Cup follow (Teams A and B, FS1, MRN)
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5:15 – 6:30 p.m. — Cup qualifying (Teams A and B, single-car, two laps, two rounds, FS1, MRN)
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7:30 p.m. — Xfinity race (250 laps, 131.5 miles; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday, April 9
Forecast: Partly to principally cloudy, excessive of 56 levels, low of 35 levels
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7:30 p.m. — Cup race (400 laps, 210.4 miles; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
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NASCAR viewer’s guide: Martinsville Speedway initially appeared on NBCSports.com
