Venue & Race Info
Track: Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, VA
Length: 0.526 miles (shortest track on the Cup calendar)
Race Distance: 500 laps / 263 miles
Date/Time: Sunday, October 26, 2025 – 2:00 PM ET
Broadcast: NBC (TV), Peacock (streaming)
Weather & Track Conditions
Forecast: Sunny, highs in the mid-60s, cooling into the 50s by evening.
Track Surface: Flat asphalt with concrete corners, 12° banking in turns.
Impact: Cooler temps = more grip, but Martinsville’s tight corners mean heavy braking, tire wear, and constant contact.
Driver Matchups
Ryan Blaney (+400): Two-time defending winner of this race (2023, 2024). Needs a win to advance, and Martinsville is his best track.
Kyle Larson (+500): Eight Top-10s in last 10 Martinsville starts, including a win in 2023. Short-track ace.
Christopher Bell (+650): Won here in 2022; seven straight Top-8 finishes entering this weekend.
Denny Hamlin (+500): Already locked into the Championship 4, but Martinsville is one of his best tracks.
Chase Elliott (+700): Former Martinsville winner, but enters below the cutline. Must contend for a win.
William Byron & Joey Logano (+850 each): Both below the cutline, both with past Martinsville success.
Race History
First Held: 1949 (one of NASCAR’s original tracks).
Recent Winners:
2024 – Ryan Blaney
2023 – Ryan Blaney
2022 – Christopher Bell
2021 – Alex Bowman
2020 – Chase Elliott
Notable: Four of the last five Martinsville playoff races were won by drivers below the cutline.
Recent Driver Form
Ryan Blaney: 10 Top-5s in last 15 Martinsville starts; thrives under pressure.
Kyle Larson: Consistent Top-6 finishes at short tracks this season.
Christopher Bell: Three Top-3 finishes in last four weeks, plus Bristol Night Race win.
Chase Briscoe: Already locked into Phoenix after Talladega win; six Top-10s in last seven Martinsville starts.
Bubba Wallace: Two Top-5s in last four weeks; strong Martinsville qualifying record.
Race Prediction
Projected Winner: Ryan Blaney – three-peat at Martinsville to punch his Phoenix ticket.
Podium Projection: 1. Blaney, 2. Larson, 3. Bell.
Why: Blaney’s Martinsville dominance and desperation make him the driver to beat, but Larson and Bell’s consistency keep them in the mix. Expect a bruising, caution-filled short-track classic.
