Virginia’s Denny Hamlin Leads a High-Performing Joe Gibbs Racing to Martinsville

Fresh off his second win of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season last weekend at Richmond Raceway, Chesterfield, Virginia’s Denny Hamlin leads a very-high performing Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) organization to Martinsville Speedway for the Cook Out 400 on Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, the eighth race of this year’s schedule.

Two of the four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have won already this season – Christopher Bell (Phoenix) and Denny Hamlin (Bristol and Richmond).

All four JGR drivers are inside the top-six in the NASCAR Cup Series driver point standings, with Martin Truex Jr. holding the standings lead, followed by Hamlin in third, Ty Gibbs in fourth and Bell in sixth – the only four car team with all four drivers inside the top-10.

Also, through seven races this season four drivers are tied for the most top-five finishes with five each, and three of them are Joe Gibbs Racing drivers – Bell, Gibbs and Truex. The only other driver with five top fives this season is Chris Buescher with RFK Racing.

Plus, through seven races this season five drivers have led 100 laps or more, and four of them are from the Joe Gibbs Racing contingent – Truex (352 laps led), Hamlin (292), Gibbs (195) and Bell (119). The fifth is Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson, who has the most laps led this season with 368.

Joe Gibbs Racing has racked-up 14 NASCAR Cup Series victories at Martinsville Speedway, third-most all-time behind Hendrick Motorsports (28 wins) and Petty Enterprises (19 wins). Christopher Bell is the most recent JGR driver to win at Martinsville with his victory in the 2022 Playoff race. Hamlin leads all active drivers this weekend in wins at Martinsville with five victories (2008, 2009, 2010 sweep, 2015).

NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Cook Out 400

The Place: Martinsville Speedway

The Date: Sunday, April 7

The Time: 3 p.m. ET

The Purse: $7,669,028

TV: FS1, 2 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 210.4 miles (400 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 80),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 180), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 400)

Hendrick Motorsports to celebrate organization’s 40th anniversary at Martinsville

Founded by NASCAR Hall of Fame owner Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history with all-time records of 304 points-paying race victories and 14 championships. The organization holds almost every major statistical record at NASCAR’s top level, including pole positions, top-10 finishes, top fives and laps led.

“When I think back on our story, I have a hard time believing it myself,” Hendrick said. “In 1984, we had five employees, 5,000 square feet of rented space and a lot of desire to make it work. I dreamed of one day winning a race, but I never imagined it would grow into what it is now. Every bit of success we’ve had is due to the contributions of our people and the incredible support we’ve received over 40 years. We’re here because of the commitment, the passion and the sacrifices made by so many. It’s been an incredible ride, and we’re just getting started.”

In the eighth race of the 1984 season at Martinsville Speedway, driver Geoff Bodine recorded Hendrick Motorsports’ first Cup Series win, which kept owner Hendrick from shutting down the fledgling team. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of that key victory, this week Hendrick Motorsports will run four ruby red paint schemes in the Cook Out 400 on April 7 (3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Martinsville – the eighth race of 2024:

• Kyle Larson’s No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
• Chase Elliott’s No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
• William Byron’s No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
• Alex Bowman’s No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

In addition, the celebration will also include Rick Hendrick serving as the honorary pace car driver for the Cup race, and Geoff Bodine and nine-time Martinsville Speedway winner Jeff Gordon as the event’s Grand Marshals.

Hendrick Motorsports has fielded only Chevrolet race cars in the Cup Series since it was established and has 28 Cup-level victories among nine drivers at Martinsville – Jeff Gordon (nine), Jimmie Johnson (nine), Darrell Waltrip (four), Geoff Bodine (one), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (one), Chase Elliott (one), Alex Bowman (one), William Byron (one) and Kyle Larson (one), which is the all-time record for team wins at a single track.

Been a decade since a driver has won from the pole at Martinsville

Despite being considered the most proficient starting position in the NASCAR Cup Series field at Martinsville Speedway, a driver has not won from the pole or first starting position in over a decade, the last competitor to accomplish the feat was NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson on April 7, 2013.

The pole or first starting position has accounted for 21 wins (14.38%) at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series. And a total of 16 different drivers have won a Cup race from the pole or first starting at Martinsville Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with three victories (2008, 2012, 2013).

Joe Gibs Racing’s Denny Hamlin is the only active driver to win a race at Martinsville from the pole (2010).

In total, 63 drivers have won the pole at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series. This weekend, seven of the 63 will be entered in the Cook Out 400.

All the NASCAR Cup Series on-track action will begin with practice at 4:35 p.m. ET, followed by Busch Light Pole Qualifying at 5:20 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 6 – both events will be broadcast on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Perfectors of the ‘Paper Clip’ to pay attention to

In the NASCAR Cup Series, a total of 59 different drivers have won at Martinsville Speedway. This weekend, 11 of the 59 different NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway winners will be active, led by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin with five victories (2008, 2009, 2010 sweep, 2015).

NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 15 victories (1960, 1962, 1963, 1967 sweep, 1968, 1969 sweep, 1970, 1971, 1972 sweep, 1973, 1975, 1979) – tied with North Wilkesboro (R. Petty, 15 wins) for the most wins by a driver at a single track in the series.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson is the defending winner of the Martinsville Spring race, and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney is the most recent winner at Martinsville Speedway, grabbing the win last Fall.

Earning the Grandfather Clock as your first Cup trophy

Heading into Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway, 13 of the 37 drivers entered (35.1%) in the race are looking for their first career win in the NASCAR Cup Series, a feat not accomplished since Ricky Craven earned his first career win at the 0.526-mile track in 2001 – more than 20 years ago.

The baker’s dozen of drivers looking for their first win this weekend at Martinsville are Josh Berry, Harrison Burton, Ty Gibbs, Todd Gilliland, Noah Gragson, Kaz Grala, Daniel Hemric, Carson Hocevar, Corey Lajoie, John H. Nemechek, Ryan Preece, Zane Smith and Josh Williams.

In total, 12 drivers have won their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Martinsville Speedway.

Looking to this weekend at Martinsville, of those aspiring 13 drivers looking for their first Cup win, seven are former NASCAR Xfinity and/or NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series winners at the track – NASCAR Xfinity Series Martinsville winners include John H. Nemechek (2023), Ty Gibbs (2022), Noah Gragson (2021), Josh Berry (2021) and Harrison Burton (2020), and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Martinsville winners include Zane Smith (2021), Todd Gilliland (2019), John H. Nemechek (2018) and  Noah Gragson (2017).

“I think it should be another good opportunity for us to build on the success we’ve have had at the short tracks this year,” said Josh Berry about this weekend’s venue. “Martinsville has been a good place for me in the past. I feel like if we can continue to carry the momentum we have had at some of the other short tracks this year, there’s no reason we can’t go contend for a win.”

NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.

Hamlin looking for third win this season on a track less than a mile in length – Since 1997 the NASCAR Cup Series has run six races each season on tracks that measure less than a mile in length (two races at each track) – Richmond (0.75-mile), Bristol (0.533-mile), and this weekend’s facility Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile). The only season since 1997 to not have six total races on tracks less than a mile was the 2020 season, due to Covid restrictions the series only ran five races that season.

This year, Hamlin has won the first two of the six races on tracks less than a mile and will be looking for his third this weekend.

Since 1997, the most wins by a driver on tracks measuring less than a mile in a single season is four by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson in 2007.

Three other drivers have been able to win three of the six races measuring less than a mile in a single season since 1997 – Denny Hamlin (2010), Kyle Busch (2009, 2018) and Martin Truex Jr. (2019).

Stat Watch: Upcoming Milestones in the NASCAR Cup Series – This weekend the NASCAR Cup Series will be at Martinsville Speedway, and below are a few of the possible milestones that can be achieved this Sunday and over the next few weeks.

Starts

William Byron will make his 225th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Texas Motor Speedway.

John H. Nemechek will make his 50th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Texas Motor Speedway.

Michael McDowell will make his 475th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Talladega Superspeedway.

Alex Bowman is expected to make his 300th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Dover Motor Speedway.

Noah Gragson is expected to make his 50th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Dover Motor Speedway.

Ross Chastain is expected to make his 200th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Darlington Raceway.

Chase Elliott is expected to make his 300th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Corey Lajoie is expected to make his 250th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Wins

Denny Hamlin currently has 53 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Lee Petty for 12th on the all-time wins list with 54 victories each.

Martin Truex Jr. currently has 34 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Brad Keselowski for 24th on the all-time wins list with 35 victories each.

Joey Logano currently has 32 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Fireball Roberts for 27th on the all-time wins list with 33 victories each.

Kyle Larson currently has 24 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Jim Paschal and Joe Weatherly for 34th on the all-time wins list with 25 victories each.

Sunoco Rookie Update: Berry takes rookie standings lead following Richmond – Stewart-Haas Racing’s Josh Berry has jumped to the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings lead by nine points over Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar in second with his season’s best 11th-place finish. Prior to Richmond, Hocevar held the rookie points lead following four races (longest streak this season) – Las Vegas, Phoenix, Bristol and COTA.

Looking to this weekend, Berry is a former NASCAR Xfinity Series winner at Martinsville Speedway, but will be making his Cup Series track debut at 0.526-mile track this weekend. His closest competitor, Hocevar made his series track debut at Martinsville last season, but started 32nd and finished 31st.

“We had some back luck in my past races at Martinsville, so I feel hopeful about this weekend to put that behind me,” said Carson Hocevar. “I feel confident in myself, and the team feels confident in our program that we can just keep building our notebook.”

Rounding out the rookie standings is Rick Ware Racing’s Kaz Grala, currently ranked third in the Sunoco rookie standings, -30 points back from the lead, and Hocevar’s Spire Motorsports teammate, Zane Smith, who ranks fourth in the rookie points, -36 markers behind Berry.