What’s Happening?

This weekend, all three NASCAR National Series head to Martinsville Speedway for the first short-track triple header of the year. Martinsville signals a turning point in the season, kicking off an exciting stretch of the spring race at diverse tracks.

• The “Paperclip” shaped Martinsville Speedway opened in 1947. The first NASCAR Cup Series race, in 1949, would feature just 15 cars and won by Red Byron. This race was a part of the first season of NASCAR’s “Strictly Stock” division, now known as the Cup Series.
• In 1950, the Cup Series added a second date. The Xfinity Series debuted at the track in 1982 before leaving in 1994 and returning in 2006, leaving and returning in 2020. However, the track has been a staple of the Craftsman Truck Series since its 1995 debut season.
• Martinsville is a track unlike any else on the NASCAR schedule. Fiery tempers and brake rotors will be a sight beholden this weekend. However, the track also serves as a key cut-off race for the playoffs, making this weekend all the more important.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times EST)

Friday, March 28: Truck Series Practice and Qualifying | Xfinity Series Practice and Qualifying – TRUCK SERIES RACE

• 2:05 PM — 3:00 PM — Truck Series Practice on FS2
• 3:10 PM — 4:00 PM — Truck Series Qualifying on FS2
• 4:30 PM — 5:25 PM — Xfinity Series Practice on the CW App
• 5:35 PM — 6:30 PM — Xfinity Series Qualifying on the CW App
• 7:30 PM — Truck Series Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200 on FS1 [TV] & NASCAR Radio Network [Radio]

Saturday, March 29: Xfinity Series Practice and Qualifying – Cup Series Practice and Qualifying – XFINITY SERIES RACE

• 2:05 PM — 3:00 PM — Cup Series Practice on Prime Video
• 3:10 PM — 4:00 PM — Cup Series Qualifying on Prime Video
• 5:00 PM — Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250 on the CW [TV] & MRN [Radio]

Sunday, March 30: CUP SERIES RACE

• 3:00 PM — Cook Out 400 on FS1 [TV] & MRN [Radio]

2025 Guide to Watching the NASCAR Xfinity Series on the CW: Practice, Qualifying, Races, and In-Car Cameras

2025 Guide to Watching the NASCAR Xfinity Series on the CW: Practice, Qualifying, Races, and In-Car Cameras

What’s Happening? The NASCAR Xfinity Series will be exclusively on the CW in 2025. This deal brings the Xfinity Series to…

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Race Facts

Track Facts: Martinsville Speedway

• Year Opened: 1947
• Length: .526-mile
• Banking: Turns 1 & 2: 12 Degrees – Turns 3 & 4: 12 Degrees
• Surface: Asphalt
• Rain Tires: Yes
• Lights: Yes

Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200 on the FS1:

• Race Length: 200 Laps (105.2 Miles)
• Stages: 50 Lap Stage 1, 50 Lap Stage 2, 100 Lap Final Stage
• Most-Recent Race Winner: Christian Eckes

US Marine Corps 250 on the CW:

• Race Length: 250 Laps (131.5 Miles)
• Stages: 60 Lap Stage 1, 60 Lap Stage 2, 130 Lap Final Stage
• Most-Recent Race Winner: Aric Almirola

Cook Out 400 on FS1:

• Race Length: 400 Laps (210.4 Miles)
• Stages: 80 Lap Stage 1, 100 Lap Stage 2, 220 Lap Final Stage

2024 Cook Out 400 Results:

• First: William Byron — No. 24
• Second: Kyle Larson — No. 5
• Third: Chase Elliott — No. 9
• Fourth: Bubba Wallace — No. 23
• Fifth: Ryan Blaney — No. 12

Top Storylines of the Weekend

• Since 2020, Hendrick Motorsports has won four of the five spring races at Martinsville and the past three consecutive spring races at the Paperclip. Of the last ten races, HMS has also won five, with all four of the team’s current drivers walking away a winner. If trends say anything, look out for HMS to compete for a win this weekend.
• The other team on a hot stretch at Martinsville is Team Penske, specifically Ryan Blaney. Blaney has won the past two fall races at the track; however, this has not translated into the spring race. The No. 12 is on a three-race streak of DNFs; perhaps Blaney can turn this around at a track where he averages an 8.3 finish.
• Last fall, NASCAR and Goodyear introduced a supersoft tire at Martinsville. While the on-track competition wasn’t the key storyline after the race, rather playoff drama was, the tire was deemed mostly a success. It will be interesting to see how the tire will act during a day race at Martinsville.

Entry Lists

Cup Series

Notable Entires:

• No. 50 – Burt Myers
• No. 66 – Casey Mears

Xfinity Series

Notable Entires:

• No. 07 – Patrick Emerling
• No. 17 – Corey Day
• No. 24 – Patrick Staropoli
• No. 35 – Greg Van Alst
• No. 45 – Brad Perez
• No. 53 – Mason Maggio
• No. 66 – Tyler Tomassi
• No. 70 – Thomas Annunziata
• No. 74 – Dawson Cram
• No. 91 – Myatt Snider

Craftsman Truck Series

Notable Entires:

• No. 1 – Lawless Alan
• No. 2 – TBA
• No. 07 – William Byron
• No. 7 – Corey Day
• No. 22 – Alan Waller
• No. 44 – Matthew Gould
• No. 66 Luke Baldwin
• No. 67 – Ryan Roulette
• No. 84 – Patrick Staropoli

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