Martinsville Playoff Race Groovy Gauge Presented by Lectric eBikes

What’s Happening?

Martinsville may be ‘losing its spot as the cutoff race’, but it went out with a bang. William Byron took down “Long Run Ryan Blaney” at his own game, snapping Team Penske’s championship streak and punching his ticket to Phoenix. It was the kind of race Eric loves most – no playoff manipulation, no controversy, just two of the best going head-to-head for a Championship 4 spot. Byron delivered a near-perfect weekend and a statement win, reminding everyone that the 24 car still knows how to shine under pressure. Check out Eric Estepp’s full analysis and see where he put this race on the Groovy Gauge powered by Lectric eBikes.

Groovy Gauge Score: 82%

• Eric said Martinsville finally delivered the kind of playoff race fans have been waiting for. No controversy, no chaos overshadowing the on-track product, just pure, hard racing. He thought the Xfinity 500 was a really, really good race – maybe not an all-time great, but exactly the kind of high-stakes short-track showdown the postseason should bring.
• He loved that all six playoff contenders raced like it mattered, showing up with speed and executing under pressure. At one point, they made up nearly the entire top ten, and Eric praised the mix of teams and manufacturers, all bringing their best stuff. It was, in his words, “great drama, great sport, great television.”
• Even setting aside the playoff implications, he said it stood tall as a genuinely strong Martinsville race, one of the best of the Next Gen era. Eric gave major credit to Goodyear for continuing to push the limits with tire compounds, as the softer, more aggressive setup created real tire wear, rewarded strategy, and allowed drivers to showcase their skills.
• He also pointed to tire management playing a defining role, with comers and goers throughout the day, proving that smart driving mattered as much as speed. Cooler temps helped, too, keeping the track racy from green to checkered.
• Eric’s Groovy Gauge landed at 82%, calling it one of the better Martinsville races in years, a perfect mix of tension, tire strategy, and championship stakes done right.

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