2023 NASCAR Martinsville Odds, Picks and Predictions for Xfinity 500 Cup Series Playoff Race

Six drivers will compete for the two open Final Four spots when the green flag drops along the 0.526-mile Virginia Short Track, which is one of the oldest continuously used tracks in American racing history.

Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson have already clinched their spots in the championship race, which will be held next week in Phoenix, with victories in the Round of 16 – Bell last week at Homestead-Miami and Larson the week before in Las Vegas.

The other six will have to compete on Sunday, in the style of short track races.

And there are a few scenarios to watch out for.

Obviously, win and you’re there. So if any of the six remaining drivers in the playoffs — William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin or Chris Buescher — took the checkered flag, they would automatically advance.

But if anyone else wins at Martinsville, it will come down to points – which limits the field immensely.

Byron and Blaney are the only two drivers who could score points in the event of a playoff repeat or non-playoff winner. Byron only needs 26 points to clinch, while Blaney needs 46.

If Reddick wins, Byron would need just 36 points to become the fourth and final Championship 4 driver.

Everyone could use a lot of help.

So it’s a ‘win or go home’ mentality when the green flag drops at Martinsville, like Paris FrontPage takes a look at the drivers to watch in the Xfinity 500 on Sunday afternoon (2 p.m.; NBC).

(All ratings courtesy of FanDuel and are subject to change)

Hamlin, who sits seventh in points and almost needs a win to advance to the championship, will take the green flag at Martinsville with five career Cup victories already under his belt.

The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota leads the field of active drivers for the most wins at the Virginia short track by two ahead of Martin Truex Jr.

Hamlin, a native of Chesterfield, Virginia, considers Martinsville another of his local tracks, along with Richmond.

Not only does he have five wins there, but Hamlin has also accumulated 18 top-5s and 24 top-10s in 35 career starts. His average score at Martinsville is 10.3. He finished fourth in the regular season race in April.

Larson won the April race at Martinsville as one of his four victories in 2023.

Driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Larson has already clinched his spot in next week’s championship race at Phoenix after winning two weeks ago at Vegas.

In 17 career starts at the .526-mile Martinsville Speedway, Larson was a late bloomer, totaling just one top-10 finish in his first 11 Cup races there. However, in his last six games, Larson has four top-10 finishes, including April’s victory.

He finished second in last year’s playoffs.

Truex has won three times during his career at Martinsville, the most recent coming in 2021.

The regular season points leader comes into the penultimate race sixth in points. That means the driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota most likely needs a win to enter.

In 35 career starts at Martinsville, Truex has a 16.0 ERA. He has 10 top 5s and 16 top 10s to go with these three victories, occurring in four races from 2019 to 2021.

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