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Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Xfinity 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 29, 2024) – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia, going into the Xfinity 500 on Sunday, November 3 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings Outlook
Following Homestead-Miami Speedway – October 27, 2024
Round of 8 – Race No. 8 of 10
RankDriverVehiclePointsRace WinsStage WinsPlayoff Pts+/- Cutoff
1Tyler Reddick454,0983629In On Wins
2Joey Logano224,0703212
3Christopher Bell204,1323113229
4William Byron244,11032237
5Kyle Larson54,10361252-7
6Denny Hamlin114,0923715-18
7Ryan Blaney124,0722419-38
8Chase Elliott94,0671114-43
9Alex Bowman482,264110Eliminated From Playoffs
10Martin Truex Jr.192,213040
11Austin Cindric22,189140
12Daniel Suarez992,185110
13Ty Gibbs542,163020
14Brad Keselowski62,147100
15Chase Briscoe142,146100
16Harrison Burton212,100100

MARTINSVILLE-SPECIFIC LOOP DATA STATISTICS

(Driver stats in the below section are from 2005-Present)

1 – Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

  • Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.7, second-best

2024 Rundown

  • Three wins, 15 top fives, 23 top 10s, three poles
  • Led 1,003 laps
  • Average Finish of 12.5

Martinsville Speedway Outlook:

  • One win, one top five, three top 10s
  • Average Finish of 16.222, 12th-best
  • Average Running Position of 15.235, 11th-best
  • Driver Rating of 83.3, 12th-best
  • 2,397 Laps in the Top 15 (56.8%), 12th-most

2 – William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

  • Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.9, sixth-best

2024 Rundown

  • Three wins, 13 top fives, 20 top 10s, one pole
  • Led 287 laps
  • Average Finish of 13.1

Martinsville Speedway Outlook:

  • Two wins, five top fives, seven top 10s
  • Average Finish of 13.923, ninth-best
  • Average Running Position of 13.180, ninth-best
  • Driver Rating of 88.3, eighth-best
  • 3,780 Laps in the Top 15 (60.8%), ninth-most

3 – Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

  • Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.5, series-best

2024 Rundown

  • Seven wins, 14 top fives, 17 top 10s, five poles
  • Led 1,678 laps
  • Average Finish of 13.1

Martinsville Speedway Outlook:

  • One win, five top fives, seven top 10s, two poles
  • Average Finish of 16.737, 13th-best
  • Average Running Position of 14.133, 10th-best
  • Driver Rating of 85.3, 11th-best
  • 5,966 Laps in the Top 15 (64.7%), eighth-most

4 – Tyler Reddick (No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota)

  • Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.7, fifth-best

2024 Rundown

  • Three wins, 12 top fives, 20 top 10s, three poles
  • Led 603 laps
  • Average Finish of 12.7

Martinsville Speedway Outlook:

  • Two top 10s
  • Average Finish of 19.444, 19th-best
  • Average Running Position of 17.598, 16th-best
  • Driver Rating of 67.5, 20th-best
  • 1,544 Laps in the Top 15 (36.6%), 20th-most

5 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

  • Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.1, third-best

2024 Rundown

  • Three wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s, four poles
  • Led 943 laps
  • Average Finish of 14.2

Martinsville Speedway Outlook:

  • Five wins, 19 top fives, 25 top 10s, four poles
  • Average Finish of 10.189, third-best
  • Average Running Position of 9.252, series-best
  • Driver Rating of 105.8, second-best
  • 14,735 Laps in the Top 15 (80.7%), series-most

6 – Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford)

  • Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.2, seventh-best

2024 Rundown

  • Two wins, 10 top fives, 17 top 10s, one pole
  • Led 523 laps
  • Average Finish of 15.9

Martinsville Speedway Outlook:

  • One win, nine top fives, 11 top 10s
  • Average Finish of 8.765, series-best
  • Average Running Position of 9.342, second-best
  • Driver Rating of 100.9, third-best
  • 6,325 Laps in the Top 15 (76.9%), third-most

7 – Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford)

  • Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.2, ninth-best

2024 Rundown

  • Three wins, six top fives, 12 top 10s, three poles
  • Led 307 laps

Average Finish of 17.5

  • Martinsville Speedway Outlook:
  • One win, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s, five poles
  • Average Finish of 10.806, fourth-best
  • Average Running Position of 10.738, fourth-best
  • Driver Rating of 97.2, fifth-best
  • 11,328 Laps in the Top 15 (74.3%), fourth-most

8 – Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

  • Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.8, fourth-best

2024 Rundown

  • One win, 11 top fives, 18 top 10s
  • Led 295 laps
  • Average Finish of 11.9

Martinsville Speedway Outlook:

  • One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s, one pole
  • Average Finish of 12.722, seventh-best
  • Average Running Position of 10.782, fifth-best
  • Driver Rating of 100.9, fourth-best
  • 6,457 Laps in the Top 15 (74.0%), fifth-most

NASCAR Cup Series 2024 Top 8 in the Playoff Driver Standings at Martinsville Speedway

RankDriverRacesPolesWinsTop FivesTop 10sDNFsAverage FinishDriver Rating
1Christopher Bell90113016.283.3
2William Byron130257213.888.3
3Kyle Larson192157416.785.3
4Tyler Reddick90002119.367.5
5Denny Hamlin37451925210.2105.8
6Ryan Blaney170191108.8100.9
7Joey Logano31511119010.897.2
8Chase Elliott1811611012.7100.9

* – Based on last 37 races at Martinsville Speedway (2005 – 2024).

NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race No. 9 Fast Facts: Martinsville Speedway

  • The 2024 season marks the 21st year Martinsville Speedway has hosted a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race, and the fifth-time the track has hosted the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – the Round of 8 elimination race (Race No. 9 of 10).

  • Since the inception of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2004, Martinsville Speedway has occupied three different positions on the postseason schedule:

  1. From 2004 – 2010 (seven seasons): Martinsville Speedway hosted the sixth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

  1. From 2011 – 2019 (nine seasons): Martinsville Speedway hosted the seventh race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – From 2014-2019 (six seasons) in the elimination-style format the seventh race of the Playoffs is the Round of 8 opener.

  1. From 2020-2023 (four seasons): Martinsville Speedway has hosted the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – the Round of 8 elimination race.

  • A total of 12 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson with six Playoff victories (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2016) at Martinsville.

  • Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in postseason wins at Martinsville Speedway with two Playoff victories (2009, 2010).

  • This weekend, five of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 Playoff drivers are former Martinsville Speedway Playoff race winners, including Denny Hamlin (2009, 2010), Joey Logano (2018), Chase Elliott (2020), Christopher Bell (2022) and Ryan Blaney (2023).

NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race Winners at Martinsville Speedway
DateRace WinnerCrew ChiefOrganizationRace No.
10/24/2004Jimmie JohnsonChad KnausHendrick Motorsports32
10/23/2005Jeff GordonSteve LetarteHendrick Motorsports32
10/22/2006Jimmie JohnsonChad KnausHendrick Motorsports32
10/21/2007Jimmie JohnsonChad KnausHendrick Motorsports32
10/19/2008Jimmie JohnsonChad KnausHendrick Motorsports32
10/25/2009Denny HamlinMike FordJoe Gibbs Racing32
10/24/2010Denny HamlinMike FordJoe Gibbs Racing32
10/30/2011Tony StewartDarian GrubbStewart-Haas Racing33
10/28/2012Jimmie JohnsonChad KnausHendrick Motorsports33
10/27/2013Jeff GordonAlan GustafsonHendrick Motorsports33
10/26/2014Dale Earnhardt JrSteve LetarteHendrick Motorsports33
11/1/2015Jeff GordonAlan GustafsonHendrick Motorsports33
10/30/2016Jimmie JohnsonChad KnausHendrick Motorsports33
10/29/2017Kyle BuschAdam StevensJoe Gibbs Racing33
10/28/2018Joey LoganoTodd GordonTeam Penske33
10/27/2019Martin Truex JrCole PearnJoe Gibbs Racing33
11/1/2020Chase ElliottAlan GustafsonHendrick Motorsports35
10/31/2021Alex BowmanGreg IvesHendrick Motorsports35
10/30/2022Christopher BellAdam StevensJoe Gibbs Racing35
10/29/2023Ryan BlaneyJonathan HasslerTeam Penske35

  • A total of 10 different crew chiefs have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway, led by Chad Knaus with six victories (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2016 all with driver Jimmie Johnson).

  • A total of four different organizations have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway, led by Hendrick Motorsports with 12 victories (2004-2008, 2012-2016, 2020, 2021).

  • All three official OEMs have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway, led by Chevrolet with 13 wins, followed by Toyota with five and Ford with two.

  • Eight times the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway has gone on to win the title that same season (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2023).

  1. In 2006, Jimmie Johnson won from the ninth starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first of seven NASCAR Cup Series championships. It was his only win during the 2006 Playoffs.

  1. In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won from the fourth starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship that same season. The Playoff victory was the first of a record setting four straight postseason wins during the 2007 Playoffs (Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas and Phoenix).

  1. In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won from the first starting position at Martinsville Speedway (Qualifying was cancelled), then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of three victories during the 2008 Playoffs.

  1. In 2011, Tony Stewart won from the fourth starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the seventh race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his third NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was one of a single season record setting five Playoff victories for Stewart during the 2011 postseason.

  1. In 2016, Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the seventh race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his record tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of three Playoff victories during the 2016 postseason.

  1. In 2018, Joey Logano won from the 10th starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the seventh race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his first of two Playoff victories during the 2018 postseason.

  1. In 2020, Chase Elliott won from the eighth starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the ninth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of three victories during the 2020 postseason.

  1. In 2023, Ryan Blaney won from the 11th starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the ninth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of two victories during the 2023 postseason.

  • The worst finish in a Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway by a driver that went on to win the title that same season was 33rd by Kevin Harvick in 2014 – that season Martinsville Speedway was the seventh race in the Playoffs.

  • Three times non-Playoff drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway: (2005, 2014, 2021).

  1. In 2005, Jeff Gordon was ranked 15th in the points at the time of his Playoff win at Martinsville.

  1. In 2014, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was 11th in points at the time of the win. Earnhardt Jr. had made the Playoffs in 2014 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

  1. In 2021, Alex Bowman was 14th in points at the time of the win at Martinsville Speedway, the ninth race of the postseason. Bowman had made the Playoffs in 2021 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

  • Martinsville Speedway is the third different track to host the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; joining Darlington Raceway (one race: 2004) and Phoenix Raceway (15 races: 2005-2019).

  • A total of 13 different drivers have won the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (Race 35 of 36), led by Jimmie Johnson (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009) and Kevin Harvick (2006, 2012, 2013, 2014) with four victories each.

  • Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in win in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ ninth race with two victories (both at Phoenix 2005, 2018).

  • This weekend, five of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 Playoff drivers are former winners in the ninth race of the Playoff, including Joey Logano (2016 Phoenix), Denny Hamlin (2019 Phoenix), Chase Elliott (2020 Martinsville), Christopher Bell (2022 Martinsville) and Ryan Blaney (2023 Martinsville).

NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race No. 9 – Race Winners
DateTrackRace WinnerCrew ChiefOrganization
11/14/2004DarlingtonJimmie JohnsonChad KnausHendrick Motorsports
11/13/2005PhoenixKyle BuschAlan GustafsonHendrick Motorsports
11/12/2006PhoenixKevin HarvickTodd BerrierRichard Childress Racing
11/11/2007PhoenixJimmie JohnsonChad KnausHendrick Motorsports
11/9/2008PhoenixJimmie JohnsonChad KnausHendrick Motorsports
11/15/2009PhoenixJimmie JohnsonChad KnausHendrick Motorsports
11/14/2010PhoenixCarl EdwardsBob OsborneRoush Fenway Racing
11/13/2011PhoenixKasey KahneKenny FrancisRed Bull Racing
11/11/2012PhoenixKevin HarvickGil MartinRichard Childress Racing
11/10/2013PhoenixKevin HarvickGil MartinRichard Childress Racing
11/9/2014PhoenixKevin HarvickRodney ChildersStewart-Haas Racing
11/15/2015PhoenixDale Earnhardt JrGreg IvesHendrick Motorsports
11/13/2016PhoenixJoey LoganoTodd GordonTeam Penske
11/12/2017PhoenixMatt KensethJason RatcliffJoe Gibbs Racing
11/11/2018PhoenixKyle BuschAdam StevensJoe Gibbs Racing
11/10/2019PhoenixDenny HamlinChristopher GabehartJoe Gibbs Racing
11/1/2020MartinsvilleChase ElliottAlan GustafsonHendrick Motorsports
10/31/2021MartinsvilleAlex BowmanGreg IvesHendrick Motorsports
10/30/2022MartinsvilleChristopher BellAdam StevensJoe Gibbs Racing
10/29/2023MartinsvilleRyan BlaneyJonathan HasslerTeam Penske

  • A total of 13 different crew chiefs have won the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by Chad Knaus with four victories (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 all with driver Jimmie Johnson).

  • A total of seven different organizations have won the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by Hendrick Motorsports with eight victories (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2020, 2021).

  • All three official OEMs have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway, led by Chevrolet with 12 wins, followed by Toyota with five and Ford with three.

  • Six times the winner of the ninth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has gone on to win the title that same season: (2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2020, 2023).

  1. In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won from the sixth starting position at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race of the postseason, and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. The Playoff victory was the fourth of a record setting four straight postseason wins during the 2007 Playoffs (Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas and Phoenix).

  1. In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won from the pole at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race of the postseason, and went on to win his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his third of three victories during the 2008 Playoffs.

  1. In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race of the postseason, and went on to win his fourth consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. The victory was his fourth of four wins during the 2009 postseason.

  1. In 2014, Kevin Harvick won from the third starting position at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race of the postseason, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. Harvick faced elimination from the Playoffs heading into this race and become the first to clinch his spot in the Championship 4 by winning the Round of 8 elimination race. The win was also his second of three Playoff victories during the 2014 postseason.

  1. In 2020, Chase Elliott won from the eighth starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the ninth race of the postseason, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of three Playoff victories during the 2020 postseason.

  1. In 2023, Ryan Blaney won from the 11th starting position at Martinsville Speedway, then the ninth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was his second of two victories during the 2023 postseason.

  • The worst finish in the ninth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs by a driver that went on to win the title that same season:

o   At Phoenix, 38th by Jimmie Johnson in 2016.

o   At Darlington, sixth by Kurt Busch in 2004.

o   At Martinsville, 14th by Kyle Larson in 2021.

  • Five times non-Playoff drivers have won the ninth Playoff race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason: (2005, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2021).

  1. In 2005, Kyle Busch was ranked 19th in the points at the time of the win at Phoenix.

  1. In 2011, Kasey Kahne was ranked 14th in the points at the time of the win at Phoenix.

  1. In 2015, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was seventh in points at the time of the win at Phoenix. Earnhardt Jr. had made the Playoffs in 2015 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

  1. In 2017, Matt Kenseth was seventh in points at the time of the win at Phoenix. Kenseth had made the Playoffs in 2017 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

  1. In 2021, Alex Bowman was 14th in points at the time of the win at Martinsville Speedway, the ninth race of the postseason. Bowman had made the Playoffs in 2021 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

Martinsville Speedway Track Data:

Season Race #: 35 of 36 (November 3, 2024)

The Purse: $8,991,338

Track Size/Type: 0.526 Mile Asphalt Oval

Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 12 degrees

Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 12 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 0 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 0 degrees

Frontstretch Length:  800 feet

Backstretch Length:  800 feet

Race Length: 500 laps / 263 miles

Stage 1 & 2 Length: 130 laps (each)

Final Stage Length: 240 laps

MARTINSVILLE QUALIFYING / RACE DATA

Track Qualifying Record:

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, 100.201 mph, 18.898 secs., March 28, 2014

Track Race Record:

Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 82.223 mph, (3:11:55), September 22, 2006

 

2023 Playoff Race Pole Winner:

Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 94.153 mph, 20.112 secs., October 28, 2023

 

2023 Playoff Race Winner:

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, 75.244 mph, (03:29:43), October 29, 2023

 

HISTORY

  • Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville Speedway, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States.
  • The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville Speedway was on July 4, 1948.
  • The first NASCAR Cup Series race was on September 25, 1949 and the race was won by Red Byron in Raymond Park’s 1949 Oldsmobile.
  • The track was paved in 1955 and the first 500-lap event at Martinsville Speedway was in 1956.
  • Concrete corners were added atop the asphalt in 1976.
  • The track added LED lighting during the 2016-2017 off season.
  • There have been 151 NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one race in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.

 

STARTS

  • A total of 655 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway; 427 have competed in more than one.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Martinsville Speedway with 67; followed by Dave Marcis and Ricky Rudd with 55 each.
  • Kyle Busch leads the series in starts among active drivers at Martinsville Speedway with 38; followed by Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. with 37 starts each.
  • Fonty Flock (nine starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Martinsville Speedway with a 3.125.
  • Joey Logano (31 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Martinsville Speedway with an 8.323.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time & Active)

RankAll-Time DriversAvg StartRacesRankActive DriversAvg StartRaces
1Fonty Flock3.12591Joey Logano8.32331
2Fred Lorenzen4.294172Denny Hamlin8.78437
3Frankie Schneider5.00033Chase Elliott9.22218
4Tim Flock5.889114Ryan Blaney9.41217
5Cale Yarborough5.935315Kyle Larson10.89519
6Johnny Patterson6.00036Chase Briscoe11.4297
7Bobby Isaac6.067157Brad Keselowski11.44829
8Dick Hutcherson6.20058Kyle Busch11.65838
9Joe Millikan6.20059Martin Truex Jr12.78437
10David Pearson6.5712810Ty Gibbs13.7504
 

 

 

       

  • In total, 62 drivers have made their first career NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Chase Elliott (03/29/2015) and Michael McDowell (3/30/2008) are the only active drivers who have made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Of the 62 drivers that made their first career NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway, Clyde Minter posted the best finish in his series debut with a fourth-place finish in 1949.

 

POLES

  • In total 63 different drivers have won at least one pole at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, and 31 of the 63 have won multiple poles.
  • This weekend, seven of the 63 NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway pole winners are active.
Active Martinsville Pole WinnersPolesSeasons
Joey Logano52019, ’17, ’16, ’15 sweep
Denny Hamlin42019, ’13, ’10, ’07
Kyle Larson22024, ’22
Martin Truex Jr22023, ’16
Kyle Busch22018, ’14
Ryan Preece12023
Chase Elliott12022

  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Martinsville Speedway with eight poles (1979, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1992).
  • Joey Logano leads the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers with the most poles at Martinsville Speedway with five (2015 sweep, spring 2016, fall 2017, spring 2019).
  • Curtis Turner won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Martinsville Speedway in 1949 driving an Oldsmobile for car owner Frank Christian.
  • A total of 13 different drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Martinsville Speedway; most recently it was Ryan Preece on April 16, 2023.
First-Time Pole Winners (13)Date
Curtis TurnerSunday, September 25, 1949
Buck BakerSunday, May 21, 1950
Fonty FlockSunday, October 15, 1950
Perk BrownSunday, October 19, 1952
Glen WoodSunday, October 12, 1958
Bobby JohnsSunday, May 3, 1959
Lennie PondSunday, April 23, 1978
Ricky RuddSunday, April 26, 1981
Ricky CravenSunday, April 21, 1996
Kenny WallaceSunday, April 20, 1997
Tony StewartSunday, April 18, 1999
Scott RiggsSunday, April 10, 2005
Ryan PreeceSunday, April 16, 2023

  • Youngest Cup Series Martinsville pole winner: Ricky Rudd (April 26, 1981 – 24 years, 7 months, 14 days).
  • Oldest Cup Series Martinsville pole winner: Morgan Shepherd (April 26, 1987 – 45 years, 6 months, 14 days).
  • A total of 13 different drivers have won two or more consecutive poles at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was Joey Logano who won three consecutive poles at Martinsville from 2015-2016.
  • Five drivers have won three or more consecutive poles at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series: Glen Wood (fall of 1959 and 1960 sweep), Darrell Waltrip (1979 sweep and spring 1980), Mark Martin (fall of 1990 and 1991 sweep), Jeff Gordon (2003 sweep and spring 2004), Joey Logano (2015 sweep, 2016 spring).
  • Six active organizations have won a pole at the Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Hendrick Motorsports with 20 poles among seven drivers: Geoff Bodine (1984, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’89), Tim Richmond (1986), Jeff Gordon (2001, ’02, ’03 sweep, ’04, ’07, ’08), Jimmie Johnson (2006, ’12, ’13), Kasey Kahne (2012), Chase Elliott (2022) and Kyle Larson (2022, ‘24).
OrganizationsPolesSeasons
Hendrick Motorsports202024, ‘22 sweep, ’13, ’12, ’08, ’07, ’06, ’04, ’03 sweep, ’02, ’01, ’89, ’87, ’86 sweep, ’85, ’84
Joe Gibbs Racing112023, ‘19, ’18, ’14, ’13, ’10, ’07, ’05, ’00, ’99, ’95
Team Penske102019, ’17, ’16, ’15 sweep, ’06, ’04, ’02, ’00, ’94
RFK Racing41994, ’91 sweep, ’90
Richard Childress Racing31989, ’83, ’82
Stewart-Haas Racing22023, ’09

  • A total of 11 different manufacturers have won at least one NASCAR Cup Series pole at Martinsville Speedway; led by Chevrolet with 56 poles and followed by Ford (36), Dodge (10), Pontiac (9), Toyota (7), Buick (4), Hudson (4), Oldsmobile (4), Mercury (3), Chrysler (2), Plymouth (2).

WINS

  • A total of 59 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Martinsville Speedway, and 28 of the 59 different NASCAR Cup Series winners at Martinsville Speedway have won multiple times.
  • This weekend, 11 of the 59 NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway race winners are active.
Active Martinsville WinnersWinsSeasons
Denny Hamlin52015, ’10 sweep, ’09, ’08
Martin Truex Jr32021, ’20, ’19
William Byron22024, ’22
Brad Keselowski22019, ’17
Kyle Busch22017, ’16
Ryan Blaney12023
Kyle Larson12023
Christopher Bell12022
Alex Bowman12021
Chase Elliott12020
Joey Logano12018

  • 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).
  • Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins among active drivers at Martinsville Speedway with five victories (2008, 2009, 2010 sweep, 2015).
  • The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway was on Sept. 25, 1949 – the race was won by Red Byron in Raymond Park’s 1949 Oldsmobile.
  • A total of 12 NASCAR Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Fred Lorenzen won four straight NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville from the fall of 1963 through the spring of 1965 – the series-most consecutive wins at Martinsville.
  • Martin Truex Jr. is the most recent driver to win consecutive races at Martinsville (2019 Playoff race / spring of 2020).
  • A total of 12 different drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was Ricky Craven (10/15/2001).
First-Time Race WinnersDateStarting Position
Ricky CravenMonday, October 15, 20016
Geoff BodineSunday, April 29, 19846
Harry GantSunday, April 25, 19823
Morgan ShepherdSunday, April 26, 198112
Dave MarcisSunday, September 28, 19757
Earl RossSunday, September 29, 197411
Fred LorenzenSunday, April 9, 19612
Bob WelbornSunday, October 6, 19572
Jack SmithSunday, October 28, 195623
Jim PaschalSunday, October 18, 1953N/A
Dick RathmannSunday, April 6, 19529
Herb ThomasSunday, October 15, 195019

  • Youngest series Martinsville winner: Richard Petty (April 10, 1960 – 22 years, 9 months, 8 days).
  • Oldest series Martinsville winner: Harry Gant (September 22, 1991 – 51 years, 8 months, 12 days).

Note: In four of the early races at Martinsville Speedway (1950, Spring 1953, Fall 1953 and Spring 1954), the starting positions were not provided on the official race reports, the below starting position win stats do not take into account those four races.

  • A total of 25 different starting positions on the grid in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway have resulted in victories.
  • A total of 21 of the 147 NASCAR Cup Series races (14.2%) at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the pole or first starting position. The most recent driver to win from the pole or first starting position was Jimmie Johnson in 2013.
  • The first starting position is the most proficient starting spot in the field at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, producing more wins than any other starting position (21 victories – a winning percentage of 14.2%).
  • A total of 36 of the 147 (24.49%) NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the front row: 21 from the first starting position and 15 from the second starting position.
  • The deepest in the field that a race winner has started in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is 36th, by Kurt Busch in the fall of 2002.
  • The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is 20th, by Christoher Bell in 2022.

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Martinsville Speedway

Note: In four of the early races at Martinsville Speedway (1950, Spring 1953, Fall 1953 and Spring 1954), the starting positions were not provided on the official race reports; therefore, the below chart only takes into account the 147 races we have starting positions for.

 

Starting PositionWinsWinning %Starting PositionWinsWinning %
12114.29%1464.08%
21510.20%1542.72%
31711.56%1610.68%
4149.52%1742.72%
596.12%1821.36%
685.44%1932.04%
796.12%2042.72%
832.04%2121.36%
964.08%2210.68%
1053.40%2321.36%
1132.04%2410.68%
1232.04%3610.68%
1332.04% 
StatsWinning %Wins
Winning from the First Starting Position:14.29%21
Winning from the Front Row:24.49%36
Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position:51.70%76
Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position:72.79%107
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20:4.76%7

  • In total 39 different car owners have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway (1949-2024).

Active NASCAR Cup Series organizations with wins at Martinsville Speedway

RankActive OrganizationsWins
1Hendrick Motorsports29
2Joe Gibbs Racing14
3Team Penske10
4Richard Childress Racing7
5RFK Racing4
6Stewart-Haas Racing4
7Wood Brothers Racing2

  • Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 29 victories among nine drivers – Jeff Gordon (nine: 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003 sweep, 2005 sweep, 2013, 2015), Jimmie Johnson (nine: 2004, 2006, 2007 sweep, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016), Darrell Waltrip (four: 1987, 1988, 1989 sweep), William Byron (two: 2022, 2024), Geoffrey Bodine (one: 1984), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (one: 2014), Chase Elliott (one: 2020), Alex Bowman (one: 2021), Kyle Larson (one: 2023).
  • A total of 11 manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway; led by Chevrolet with 61 victories, followed by Ford (31), Plymouth (12), Toyota (11), Dodge (10), Oldsmobile (8), Pontiac (8), Buick (3), Chrysler (3), Hudson (2) and Mercury (2).

 

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

  • A total of 71 NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Martinsville Speedway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series with seven runner-up finishes at Martinsville Speedway, followed by Bobby Allison and Lee Petty with six each.
  • Kyle Busch leads all active series drivers with four runner-up finishes at Martinsville; followed by Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano with three each.

Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time & Active)

RankAll-Time DriversRunner-UpsRankActive DriversRunner-Ups
1Dale Earnhardt71Kyle Busch4
2Bobby Allison62Denny Hamlin3
Lee Petty6 Joey Logano3
4Cale Yarborough54Brad Keselowski2
Jeff Gordon5 Chase Elliott2
Richard Petty5 Kyle Larson2

Top-Five Finishes

  • A total of 158 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-five at Martinsville Speedway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 30; followed by Jeff Gordon with 29.
  • Denny Hamlin leads all active Cup drivers in top fives with 19 top-five finishes at Martinsville Speedway.

Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time & Active)

RankAll-Time DriversTop FivesRankActive DriversTop Fives
1Richard Petty301Denny Hamlin19
2Jeff Gordon292Kyle Busch17
3Darrell Waltrip273Brad Keselowski12
4Denny Hamlin194Joey Logano11
Jimmie Johnson195Martin Truex Jr10

Top-10 Finishes

  • A total of 272 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-10 at Martinsville Speedway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 38 top 10s; followed by Richard Petty with 37 and Darrell Waltrip with 31.
  • Denny Hamlin leads all active Cup drivers in top 10s at Martinsville with 25; followed by Kyle Busch with 21 and Joey Logano with 19.

Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time & Active)

RankAll-Time DriversTop 10sRankActive DriversTop 10s
1Jeff Gordon381Denny Hamlin25
2Richard Petty372Kyle Busch21
3Darrell Waltrip313Joey Logano19
4Bobby Allison284Brad Keselowski17
5Terry Labonte275Martin Truex Jr16

Average Finish:

  • Dick Hutcherson (five starts) leads the series in average finishing position at Martinsville Speedway with a 3.8 average finish.
  • Ryan Blaney (17 starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers in average finishing positions at Martinsville Speedway with an 8.765; followed by Denny Hamlin with a 10.162 (37 starts).

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time & Active)

RankAll-Time DriverAvg FinishRacesRankActive DriverAvg FinishRaces
1Dick Hutcherson3.80051Ryan Blaney8.76517
2Frank Mundy4.00032Denny Hamlin10.16237
3Bill Amick4.50023Joey Logano10.77431
4Bill Snowden5.00024Chase Briscoe12.2867
5Bud Moore5.00025Chase Elliott12.66718
6Lee Petty6.474196Kyle Busch12.89538
7Swede Savage6.50027Brad Keselowski13.58629
8Jeff Gordon6.745478William Byron13.84613
9Clyde Minter8.00049Martin Truex Jr15.94637
10Herb Thomas8.000710Christopher Bell16.2229

 

TRACK EVENT STATS

  • Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is the April 1, 2007 race won by Jimmie Johnson with a margin of victory of 0.065 second over second-place Jeff Gordon.

Top Five Closest NASCAR Cup Series Margins of Victory at Martinsville Speedway

Margin of VictoryDateRace WinnerRunner-Up
0.065Sunday, April 1, 2007Jimmie JohnsonJeff Gordon
0.107Sunday, October 28, 2018Joey LoganoDenny Hamlin
0.141Sunday, October 29, 2017Kyle BuschMartin Truex Jr
0.141Monday, October 15, 2001Ricky CravenDale Jarrett
0.170Sunday, October 30, 2011Tony StewartJimmie Johnson

  • Qualifying has been cancelled due to 14 times in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway:
No.Date of RaceDrivers That Started FirstReason
1Sunday, May 17, 1953Joe EubanksWeather
2Sunday, May 16, 1954Ralph LiguoriWeather
3Sunday, October 16, 1955Gwyn StaleyWeather
4Sunday, September 24, 1995Jeff GordonWeather
5Sunday, October 19, 2008Jimmie JohnsonWeather
6Sunday, March 29, 2009Jeff GordonWeather
7Monday, March 29, 2010Kevin HarvickWeather
8Sunday, October 30, 2011Carl EdwardsWeather
9Sunday, April 2, 2017Kyle LarsonWeather
10Monday, March 26, 2018Martin Truex JrWeather
11Wednesday, June 10, 2020Ryan BlaneyPandemic
12Sunday, November 1, 2020Brad KeselowskiPandemic
13Saturday, April 10, 2021Joey LoganoPandemic
14Sunday, October 31, 2021Kyle LarsonPandemic

 

  • Eight NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been shortened due to weather:
DateScheduled LapsActual LapsFewer LapsRace WinnerRunner-up
4/23/1995500356144Rusty WallaceTed Musgrave
4/24/1977500384116Cale YarboroughBenny Parsons
9/26/1976500340160Cale YarboroughDarrell Waltrip
9/30/197350048020Richard PettyCale Yarborough
5/31/1970500377123Bobby IsaacBobby Allison
4/9/1961500149351Fred LorenzenRex White
10/12/1958500350150Fireball RobertsSpeedy Thompson
10/17/195420016535Lee PettyHershel McGriff

  • Nine NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway races have ended in NASCAR Overtime:
DateScheduledActualOvertimeRace WinnerRunner-up
Sunday, April 7, 202440041515William ByronKyle Larson
Saturday, April 9, 20224004033William ByronJoey Logano
Sunday, October 31, 20215005011Alex BowmanKyle Busch
Sunday, October 29, 20175005055Kyle BuschMartin Truex Jr.
Sunday, April 1, 201250051515Ryan NewmanAJ Allmendinger
Monday, March 29, 20105005088Denny HamlinJoey Logano
Sunday, October 25, 20095005011Denny HamlinJimmie Johnson
Sunday, October 19, 20085005044Jimmie JohnsonDale Earnhardt Jr
Sunday, October 21, 20075005066Jimmie JohnsonRyan Newman

LAP LEADERS

  • A total of 160 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have led at least one lap at Martinsville Speedway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Martinsville Speedway with 3,851 laps led in 31 starts (28.8% of his laps completed at the track).
  • Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Martinsville Speedway with 2,448 laps led in 37 starts (14% of his laps completed at the track).

Top 10 Lap Leaders at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time & Active)

RankAll-Time Lap LeadersLedCompleted% LedRankActive Lap LeadersLedCompleted% Led
1Cale Yarborough3,85113,39229%1Denny Hamlin2,44817,73914%
2Jeff Gordon3,77923,26916%2Kyle Busch1,42918,3988%
3Rusty Wallace3,63219,82918%3Joey Logano1,20715,1958%
4Darrell Waltrip3,61723,72715%4Chase Elliott1,1048,59213%
5Richard Petty2,96427,89111%5Martin Truex Jr1,06317,7066%
6Jimmie Johnson2,93218,76516%6Brad Keselowski89813,8666%
7Fred Lorenzen2,7316,63841%7Ryan Blaney5228,2206%
8Denny Hamlin2,44817,73914%8William Byron3096,0175%
9Bobby Allison1,98618,27111%9Kyle Larson2968,5553%
10Dale Earnhardt1,94718,90710%10Christopher Bell1594,2084%

  • The most laps led all-time by a NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Martinsville Speedway was 493 of the scheduled 500 laps (98.6%) by NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen on September 27, 1964 – he started from the pole.
  • The most laps led by an active NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Martinsville Speedway was 464 of the scheduled 500 laps (92.8%) by Martin Truex Jr. in the 2019 Playoff race (Oct. 27, 2019) – he started from third.
  • The most laps led all-time by a NASCAR Cup Series driver at Martinsville Speedway that did not win was 432 of the scheduled 500 laps (86.4%) by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison on September 24, 1972 – he started from the pole but finished runner-up to Richard Petty.
  • The most laps led by an active NASCAR Cup Series driver at Martinsville Speedway that did not win was 296 of the scheduled 500 laps (59.2%) by Denny Hamlin on March 29, 2009 – he started from the eighth starting position but finished runner-up to Jimmie Johnson.
  • The fewest laps led by a NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Martinsville Speedway was four laps of the scheduled 500 (0.8%) by John Andretti on his way to victory on April 18, 1999.

 

FEMALE COMPETITORS

  • Danica Patrick is the only female driver to compete at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series. Below are Patrick’s stats at Martinsville.
DriverStarting PositionFinishing PositionDateDriver Rating
Danica Patrick231710/29/201761.7
Danica Patrick29234/2/201754.2
Danica Patrick242410/30/201653.2
Danica Patrick28164/3/201669.2
Danica Patrick164011/1/201549.8
Danica Patrick1673/29/201586.9
Danica Patrick303410/26/201461.3
Danica Patrick10323/30/201452.4
Danica Patrick411710/27/201364.7
Danica Patrick32124/7/201372.6
Averages24.922.2 62.6

 

 

NASCAR IN VIRGINIA

  • There have been 563 NASCAR national series races among 10 tracks in the state of Virginia.
  • Martinsville Speedway hosted the very first NASCAR national series race in the state of Virginia on Sept. 25, 1949 – the NASCAR Cup Series event was won by Red Byron (Oldsmobile).

NASCAR Tracks in Virginia

NASCAR Tracks in VirginiaCityCupXfinityTruckCombinedFirst Year
Martinsville SpeedwayMartinsville15142472401949
Richmond RacewayRichmond13678162301953
Langley Field SpeedwayHampton9140231964
New River Valley SpeedwayDublin04041989
Norfolk SpeedwayNorfolk20021956
Old Dominion SpeedwayManassas70071958
Princess Anne SpeedwayNorfolk10011953
South Boston SpeedwaySouth Boston10353481960
Southside SpeedwayRichmond40041961
Starkey SpeedwayRoanoke40041958
Totals32417366563

 

VIRGINIA IN NASCAR

  • A total of 190 different drivers that have made at least one start in a NASCAR national series race have their home state recorded as Virginia.
  • 20 drivers from Virginia have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series totaling 276 victories.

Virginia Drivers With NASCAR Wins

NASCAR Winners From VirginiaCup WinsXfinity WinsTruck WinsCombined
Denny Hamlin5418274
Joe Weatherly250025
Ricky Rudd231024
Jeff Burton2127048
Curtis Turner170017
Ward Burton5409
Glen Wood4004
Elliott Sadler313117
Emanuel Zervakis2002
Lennie Pond1001
Wendell Scott1001
Tommy Ellis022022
Jimmy Hensley09211
Rick Mast0909
Jeb Burton0213
Hermie Sadler0202
Elton Sawyer0202
Brandon Brown0101
Stacy Compton0022
Jon Wood0022
Totals15611010276
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