Venue Location: Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Virginia (historic short track owned by NASCAR, located in Henry County just south of Martinsville)
Green Flag: 3:30 p.m. ET (250 laps / 131.5 miles; live on The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) Track Details
Length: 0.526-mile (0.847 km) paperclip-shaped short oval
Type: Flat, tight short track with two approximately 800-foot straightaways connected by four tight, almost flat turns
Banking: 12° in all four turns; 0° on the straights
Surface: Asphalt on the straights and upper grooves of the turns; concrete in the lower grooves of the turns (creating multiple racing lines)
Key Features: Extremely narrow and technical layout rewards precise car handling, tire management, throttle control, and aggressive but smart short-track racing. Known for “bump-and-run” passing, multi-groove action, and high attrition due to close-quarters contact. Pit strategy and caution management are often decisive. No major backstretch drafting—pure skill and setup win here.
Weather Conditions
Cool early-spring conditions with highs around 55–57°F (13–14°C) during the afternoon race window. Partly cloudy to mostly clear skies, light winds (6–8 mph), and very low precipitation chance (3–8%). Dry track expected with cooler temperatures increasing tire fall-off and making grip management critical. Ideal for classic short-track racing without weather interruptions.
Current Standings & Recent Driver Forms (after Race 6 at Darlington)
1. Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports, No. 7) – 306 pts, 2 wins, 4 top-5s (points leader and hottest driver)
2. Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing, No. 2) – 254 pts, 3 top-5s
3. Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports, No. 1) – 222 pts
4. Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team, No. 00) – 218 pts, 1 win
Notable others: Sammy Smith (192 pts), Corey Day, Brandon Jones, and rising talents like Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing) showing strong recent speed.
Form Highlights: Allgaier has dominated early 2026 with multiple wins and consistent stage points. JR Motorsports cars have been exceptionally strong on short tracks. Creed and Love provide the biggest threats with speed and aggression. Taylor Gray and part-time/Cup invaders add extra intrigue.
Race History at Martinsville Speedway (O’Reilly Auto Parts Series)
Martinsville is NASCAR’s oldest operating track and produces some of the most physical, exciting short-track racing in the sport. In the national series (formerly Xfinity), it has a reputation for lead changes, multi-car battles, and strategy battles that reward experience. JR Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing have historically excelled here. The “paperclip” layout has seen dramatic finishes and is a favorite among drivers and fans alike. This is the sixth running of the NFPA 250 specifically.
Key Driver Matchups
Justin Allgaier vs. the Field: Pole sitter (via mathematical lineup after qualifying cancellation) and short-track master; his experience and JR Motorsports setup make him the driver to beat.
JR Motorsports Duo (Allgaier & Kvapil): Team cars expected to run up front and battle for stage wins.
Sheldon Creed, Jesse Love & Taylor Gray: High-speed challengers who excel in tight traffic and can capitalize on any mistakes.
Sammy Smith, Ross Chastain & Brandon Jones: Consistent threats in the mid-pack who thrive on attrition and late-race restarts.
Tactical edge goes to drivers with strong short-track history, clean air management, and patience in the tight turns.
Driver Odds
Justin Allgaier + 400
Taylor Gray + 450
Carson Kvapil + 800
Brandon Jones + 800
Sammy Smith + 900
Sheldon Creed + 1000
Austin Hill + 1100
Ross Chastain + 1300
Sam Mayer + 1600
Jesse Love + 1800
Corey Day + 2200
Lee Pulliam + 2500
Rajah Caruth + 2800
William Sawalich + 4000
Ryan Sieg + 5000
Parker Retzlaff + 5000
Harrison Burton + 7000
Andrew Patterson + 10000
Nicholas Sanchez + 10000
Jeb Burton + 12000
Dean Thompson + 20000
Patrick Staropoli + 20000
Austin Green + 30000
Anthony Alfredo + 30000
Luke Baldwin + 30000
Jeremy Clements + 50000
Brennan Poole + 50000
Blaine Perkins + 50000
Josh Williams + 50000
Brad Perez + 70000
Kyle Sieg + 70000
Garrett Smithley + 100000
Dawson Cram + 100000
Ryan Ellis + 100000
Myatt Snider + 100000
Lavar Scott + 100000
Justin Carroll + 100000
Josh Bilicki + 100000
Joey Gase + 100000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, March 27, 2026
