NASCAR heads to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the first time this season as all three NASCAR National Series head to Martinsville for a triple-header weekend. NASCAR is on a long stretch of good weather, but will this continue this weekend?
Martinsville has been a part of the NASCAR Schedule since the first season of the NASCAR Cup Series, then known as the Strictly Stock Division. The .526-mile track, known as the Paperclip, opened in 1947 and welcomed the series in 1949.
Since 1950, the Cup Series has raced at Martinsville twice a year. The Truck Series, which has raced at the track uninterrupted since 1995, began racing at Martinsville twice a year, first from 2003 to 2019 and again in 2024. The Xfinity Series first raced multiple times a year from 1982 to 1994 and did not do so again until 2021.
Martinsville is one of the most important tracks on the schedule. For all three series, it serves as the cutoff race for the Championship four at Phoenix. Winning now, however, is just as important as winning in October.
Friday, March 28: Truck Series Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200 on FS1 – 7:30 PM
Before the Race (2:00 PM – 7:30PM)
Temperature: High of 71°F at 5:00 PM
Precipitation: 6% Throughout the Afternoon
Wind: 7 to 9 mph
During the Race (7:30 PM – 10:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 66°F at 7:30 PM
Precipitation: 6% till 7:00 PM; Dropping to 2% at 8:00 PM
Wind: 6 to 9 mph
Saturday, March 29: Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250 on the CW – 5:00 PM
Before the Race (12:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 77°F at 4:00 PM
Precipitation: 5% Chance Starting at 2:00 PM
Wind: 8 to 10 mph
During the Race (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 77°F at 5:00 PM
Precipitation: 5% Chance From 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM; Up to 6% at 8:00 PM
Wind: 7 to 10 mph
After the Race (8:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 71°F at 8:00 PM
Precipitation: 6% Chance Throughout the Evening
Wind: 7 mph
Sunday, March 30: Cup Series Cook Out 400 on FS1 – 3:00 PM
Before the Race (11:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 76°F at 3:00 PM
Precipitation: 16% Chance Rising to 30% From 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Wind: 10 to 14 mph, Gusts from 21 to 23 mph
During the Race (3:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 77°F at 5:00 PM
Precipitation: 30% Chance Throughout the Afternoon
Wind: 11 to 14 mph, Gusts from 21 to 23 mph
After the Race (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
Temperature: High of 74°F at 7:00 PM
Precipitation: 37% Chance Throughout the Evening
Wind: 9 mph, Gusts of 20 mph
Recent Weather Events at Martinsville Speedway: 2023 Long John Silver’s 200
The 2023 Long John Silver’s 200 Truck Series race at Martinsville served as a proving ground for the future of wet-weather racing in NASCAR. After showers in the area prior to the race, the teams would start the race on wet-weather tires and prove to be a success.
The run ultimately returned with 76 laps to go, with Corey Heim leading the field. NASCAR ultimately opted to call the race, handing Heim the win. This kicked off the current era of Truck Series dominance Heim is on, as this was his first win with Tricon Garage.
Note: This article will be updated with a more accurate and detailed forecast as the race weekend nears.
