Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace describe working with Michael Jordan at 23XI Racing
USA TODAY Sports’ Josh Peter speaks with NASCAR drivers Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace about partnerning with Michael Jordan at 23XI Racing.
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A week after one of the best NASCAR Cup Series drivers of all time to not win a title clinched a spot in the 2025 Championship 4 race, Chase Briscoe earned a spot in his first title race.
The Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver earned his third win of the season and second of the playoffs with a race to victory in the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Briscoe took the lead in the final lap of overtime and held off two non-playoff drivers, Todd Gilliland and Ty Gibbs, to get his second playoff in win in eight races.
This means two Joe Gibbs Racing drivers will be in the hunt for the title in Phoenix in the season finale, Briscoe and Denny Hamlin.
“I don’t know what’s more unbelievable – the fact that we’re going to the Championship 4 or that I won a superspeedway race,” Briscoe said. “What an amazing day.”
Two of four spots in the Championship 4 are now set. This week, NASCAR heads to one of the oldest tracks on the calendar – Martinsville Speedway – to potentially secure a third contender.
It’s the penultimate round of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Here’s everything you need to know to get ready for the Xfinity 500 on Sunday, Oct. 26:
What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
The Xfinity 500 is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 26 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia.
What TV channel is the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
The Xfinity 500 will be broadcast on NBC, the channel for the final three races of the Cup Series playoffs. Pre-race coverage will start at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
Yes, the Xfinity 500 will be streamed on Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville on Fubo
How many laps is the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
The Xfinity 500 is 500 laps around the 0.526-mile track for a total of 263 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 130 laps; Stage 2: 130 laps; Stage 3: 240 laps.
NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings
Here’s how things look with one race left in the Round of 8. The bottom four drivers will be eliminated after Martinsville ahead of the finale in Phoenix. Drivers who have secured a spot in the Championship 4 are marked with an asterisk.
- Chase Briscoe*
- Christopher Bell (+9)
- Kyle Larson (+10)
- Denny Hamlin (+13)*
- William Byron (+46)
- Joey Logano (+48)
- Ryan Blaney (+57)
- Chase Elliott (+72)
Who won the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville last year?
Ryan Blaney controlled the final 14 laps at Martinsville Speedway to earn victory in the 2024 Xfinity 500. Blaney bounced back from a near-victory the week prior to ensure he could fight to defend his Cup Series title. He took victory ahead of Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Austin Cindric and Hamlin.
The race wasn’t without controversy, though, as Christopher Bell’s late pass on Bubba Wallace was ruled illegal because of “wall-riding” and that kept Bell out of the Championship 4.
NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville starting lineup
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
- William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
- Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
- Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
- Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
- Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
- Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
