Tension high for title qualifier
Joey Logano is in an enviable place. As the only driver who has already secured a spot in the championship finale of NASCAR’S Cup Series next weekend, he’ll enter Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway with a head start on preparations for the finale at Phoenix Raceway.
Seven others, however, will duel for the last three spots on the oldest and shortest circuit in the premier series, a 0.526-mile oval. Passing was difficult in the spring and contact is a given, and likely moreso with the highest of stakes on the line.
“It’s a super tight battle for everybody, so when it comes down to the end of the race we’ve seen it so many times, whether it’s for the win or it’s for that one point that they need coming off turn four, we’ve seen some big moments here where desperate people do desperate things and this is a track where the desperate people have an opportunity to do a desperate thing,” Logano, the 2018 champion, said. “I’m glad I’m not a part of that.”
Chase Elliott is the only other former champion still in the mix for this year’s title. He’s third in points, eight behind Ross Chastain and six ahead of Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron, who won at Martinsville in the spring. Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell and Chase Brisco complete the field of contenders, with Hamlin possibly having an advantage.
He’s won five times at Martinsville, but not since 2015, while Logano, Elliott and Byron have all won more recently at the track. Byron will be trying to become the first driver to win both races in a season at Martinsville since Hamlin in 2010.
Qualifying
Kyle Larson will start on the pole in Sunday’s race.
Larson turned a fast lap at 96.078 miles per hour, edging Elliott for the top spot. Elliott’s lap came at 96.019 mph, putting the last two NASCAR Cup Series champions on the front row for the last race before the four-driver field is set for the championship.
Larson has been eliminated from title
contention.
Larson, who won the championship last season after winning 10 races, posted his third victory of the season last weekend at Homestead-miami Speedway. He was eliminated from the championship in the second round at the road course in Charlotte.
Larson still could help Chevrolet win an owner’s championship.
“Yeah, three more points would be good, but I honestly don’t lose any sleep about it. I’ve got one championship under my belt and going for another one these next couple of weeks. I feel like going for an owner’s title is really what’s important,” Larson said.
Chasing the win
Briscoe is last among the eight contenders for the championship, 63 points behind leader Logano. He pretty much needs to win at Martinsville to make the title round. He’s not quite sure how that will affect his driving until the race is underway.
“I think it’s hard to say what you’re willing to do sitting here versus when you’re in the moment,” Briscoe said in the media center on Saturday. “The emotions and adrenaline, everything is totally different than when you’re sitting here. … I don’t know what you’re willing to do. I think it’s different for everybody
and until you’re in that moment it’s hard to say. We’ve just got to go try to get a win.”
75 and counting
Martinsville is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and track president Clay Campbell couldn’t be happier to be the last stop on the race to the championship final. Like Richmond, which hosted its second weekend under delightful weather conditions, rather than sweltering heat typical of Virginia in midaugust the forecasts for Sunday suggest it will be a good day to sit in the stands and celebrate the anniversary.