NASCAR Martinsville Playoff Race: TV Schedule, Entry Lists, Race Info, and More

What’s Happening?

One more race remains in the Round of Eight for all three NASCAR National Series Playoffs. Some favorites are locked in, while some underdogs are riding high. Who will be the 12 lucky drivers to leave Martinsville with their hopes alive?

• Martinsville Speedway, also known as The Paperclip, made its NASCAR debut in 1949. It has a history of exciting moments and wrecks. Since the inception of the modern Playoff format, the track’s close quarters have generated many memorable Playoff moments.
• The Craftsman Truck Series first raced at Martinsville Speedway in 1995, the Series inaugural season. Martinsville is one of the few races to stay on the truck series schedule since then.
• The Xfinity Series first raced at Martinsville Speedway in 1982. At first, the Series raced three times a year until moving to twice a year in 1983. The Series stopped racing at Martinsville in 1994, returned once in 2006, and officially returned in 2020, moving to twice yearly in 2021.
• The Cup Series has raced at Martinsville Speedway twice yearly since its opening in 1949. Since the start of the 21st Century, Chevrolet has dominated the Cup Series races at Martinsville, winning 25 of 48 races since 2000.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times ET)

Friday, October 25th: Xfinity and Truck Series Practice/Qualifying – Truck Series RACE

• 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Truck Series Practice and Qualifying
• 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM – Xfinity Series Practice and Qualifying on NBC Sports App
• 6:00 PM – Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 on FS1

Saturday, October 26th: Cup Series Practice/Qualifying – Xfinity Series RACE

• 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Cup Series Practice and Qualifying
• 4:00 PM – National Debt Relief 250 on the CW

Sunday, October 20th: Cup Series RACE

• 2:00 PM – Xfinity 500 on NBC

Race Facts

Martinsville Speedway – Track Facts

• Opened: 1947
• Length: .526-mile
• Shape: Oval; “Paperclip”
• Banking: 12° in turns
• Surface: Asphalt
• Lights: Yes
• Rain Tires: Yes

Truck Series

• Race Length: 200 Laps (105.2 Miles)
• Stages: 50 Laps (Stages 1 & 2), 100 Laps (Stage 3)
• Most-Recent Winner: N/A

Xfinity Series

• Race Length: 250 Laps (131.5 Miles)
• Stages: 60 Laps (Stages 1 & 2), 130 Laps (Stage 3)
• Most-Recent Winner: Justin Allgaier (Fall 2023)

Cup Series

• Race Length: 500 Laps (263 Miles)
• Stages: 130 Laps (Stages 1 & 2), 240 Laps (Stage 3)
• Most-Recent Winner: Ryan Blaney (Fall 2023)

Entry Lists

Truck Series

For the Truck Series, there are 37 entries for 36 spots, meaning one team will be sent home.

Notable entries include:

• William Sawalich – No. 1 – Tricon Garage
• Dylan Lupton – No. 02 – Young’s Motorsports
• Brett Moffitt – No. 4 – Hettinger Racing
• Norm Benning – No. 6 – Norm Benning Racing
• Connor Zilisch – No. 7 – Spire Motorsports
• Jake Garcia – No. 13 – ThorSport Racing
• Landen Lewis** – No. 16 – Hattori Racing Enterprises
• Clayton Greenfield – No. 22 – Reaume Brothers Racing
• Matthew Gould – No. 44 – Niece Motorsports
• Kaden Honeycutt – No. 45 – Niece Motorsports
• Johnny Sauter** – No. 66 – ThorSport Racing
• Corey Day – No. 81 – McAnally Hilgemann Racing
• Jack Wood – No. 91 – McAnally Hilgemann Racing

Former Winners in The Field:

• Christian Eckes – Spring 2024
• Corey Heim – 2023
• Grant Enfinger – Fall 2020
• Johnny Sauter – Spring 2011, 2013, Fall 2016, 2018
• Matt Crafton – Spring 2014, Fall 2015

* *With Conner Jones’ Suspension, Sauter moved from the No. 16 to the No. 66, and Landen Lewis is taking over the No. 16.

Xfinity Series

There are 38 entries for 38 spots in the Xfinity Series, meaning no team teams will be sent home.

Notable entries include:

• Patrick Emerling – No. 07 – SS-Green Light Racing
• Greg Van Alst – No. 14 – SS-Green Light Racing
• William Sawalich – No. 19 – Joe Gibbs Racing – Xfinity Series Debut
• Aric Almirola – No. 20 – Joe Gibbs Racing
• Bubba Pollard – No. 26 – Sam Hunt Racing
• Carson Ware – No. 35 – Joey Gase Motorsports
• Garrett Smithley – No. 45 – Alpha Prime Racing
• Mason Maggio – No. 53 – Joey Gase Motorsports
• TBA – No. 74 – Mike Harmon Racing
• Myatt Snider – No. 91 – DGM Racing
• Dawson Cram – No. 92 – DGM Racing

Former Winners in The Field:

• Aric Almirola – Spring 2024
• Brandon Jones – Spring 2022
• Justin Allgaier – Fall 2023

Cup Series

For the Cup Series, there are 37 entries for 40 spots, meaning no teams will be sent home.

Notable entries include:

• Kaz Grala – No. 15 – Rick Ware Racing
• Shane Van Gisbergen – No. 16 – Kaulig Racing
• Josh Bilicki – No. 66 – MBM Motorsports

Former Winners in The Field:

• Alex Bowman – Fall 2021
• Brad Keselowski – Spring 2017, 2019
• Chase Elliott – Fall 2020
• Christopher Bell – Fall 2022
• Denny Hamlin – Spring 2008, 2010, 2016, Fall 2009, 2010
• Joey Logano – Fall 2018
• Kyle Busch – Spring 2016, Fall 2017
• Kyle Larson – Spring 2023
• Martin Truex Jr. – Spring 2020, 2021, Fall 2019
• Ryan Blaney – Fall 2023
• William Byron – Spring 2022, 2024

Qualifying Order

Truck Series

Xfinity Series

Cup Series

What To Watch For

Truck Series

• The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has an underdog leading the way in its playoffs. Grant Enfinger and team CR7 Motorsports have dominated the first two races of the Round of Eight. Now, notable drivers Rajah Caruth and Nick Sanchez face elimination heading into the final race before the Championship Four.
• This spring, a late caution did not prevent Christian Eckes from winning the race. Eckes is a favorite this weekend. However, fellow championship favorite Corey Heim is also comfortable at the track. For those four drivers below the cut line, it will be an uphill climb battling these two top-tier drivers.

Xfinity Series

• Chandler Smith, the former favorite to win the Xfinity Series Championship, is now 28 points below the cutline. While Smith isn’t out yet, he needs to perform well in order to advance to the Championship Four. However, with two slots remaining, he will have to battle former Martinsville winner Justin Allgaier for that automatic win and in.
• The Martinsville Xfinity Series Playoff race usually involves some form of drama in the finish. Usually its two teamates, Brandon Jones and Ty Gibbs in 2022, and Austin Hill and Sheldon Creed in 2023. The series is at its best on a short track, and this weekend will be no exception.

Cup Series

• With one race left in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, the 2023 Champion, Ryan Blaney, the championship favorite to start the year, Denny Hamlin, the mid-season championship favorite, Kyle Larson, and the most popular driver, Chase Elliott, are all below the cutline. Only a maximum of two drivers can advance from this round, and some think five-time Martinsville winner Denny Hamlin could be one of those.
• This weekend will tell the story of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. While so many drivers are deserving of the championship, only four get the right to compete for it at Phoenix. All season long, Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson have looked like the favorites. Now, late in the season, Team Penske looks to have their usual Playoff magic. Can Ryan Blaney go back-to-back at the fall Martinsville race and as Champion? However, it should be noted that NASCAR and Goodyear are bringing their most aggressive short-track tire combo yet this weekend.

Note: This article will be updated as more information about the weekend comes out.