The NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series head to Martinsville Speedway this weekend. The Craftsman Truck Series kicks off the weekend in the Black’s Tire 200 Presented by Down East Heating & Air Conditioning on Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET on FS1. On Saturday, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series National Debt Relief 250 begins at 4:00 p.m. ET on the CW Network. Then the Cup Series wraps up the weekend Sunday with the Xfinity 500 at 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC.
NASCAR Cup Series Notes for Martinsville Speedway:
Kyle Larson’s Talladega win and 71-point day expanded his points lead from 5 to 73, and if he earns 59 points at Martinsville, he is the 2026 Cup Series Champion regardless of what any other driver does. Any driver at least 77 points behind the points leader after Martinsville will be eliminated from Championship contention.
If Larson wins, this will be his third Cup Championship in his 12th full-time season (prior: Championships in 2021 and 2025).
The winner of the Martinsville Chase race, has gone on to win the Championship in four of the last 10 seasons.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Notes for Martinsville Speedway:
This is the 47th NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Martinsville since the inaugural race in 1982, and the 13th race since the series returned in 2020. Five drivers on the entry list have won at Martinsville: Justin Allgaier (2), Harrison Burton (1), Brandon Jones (1), Austin Hill (1), and Taylor Gray (1).
Four of the last nine races have had a last-lap pass for the win, and the driver who led the most laps won 52% of the 46 races. Seven of the last ten races went to overtime, and the race has averaged 13 cautions per race.
Two races remain in the Chase, and the drivers 1st-7th are still eligible to win the championship. Drivers 8th-12th have been mathematically eliminated from championship contention. Any driver who leaves Martinsville 77 or more points behind the leader is mathematically eliminated.
To clinch the championship at Martinsville, Jesse Love would have to outscore Justin Allgaier by 57 points. But the only way for Love to score enough points to clinch at Martinsville is to win the race, and he would need help from the other drivers.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Notes for Martinsville Speedway:
Any driver more than 77 points behind the points leader following Martinsville will be eliminated from Championship contention.
After Talladega, Kaden Honeycutt extended his points lead over Layne Riggs from 39 to 43.
Seven of the last nine Martinsville races had 10 or more cautions, and the driver who led the most laps won five of the last six races.
The Weekend Schedule for Martinsville Speedway:
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30
12:30 PM – 1:20 PM: NCTS PRACTICE
1:35 PM – 2:30 PM: NCTS QUALIFYING (IMPOUND)
3:00 PM – 3:50 PM: NOAPS PRACTICE
4:05 PM – 5:00 PM: NOAPS QUALIFYING (IMPOUND)
5:40 PM: NCTS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
6:00 PM: NCTS RACE (STAGES 50/100/200 LAPS = 105.2 MILES ) ON FS1
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM: NCS PRACTICE (IMPOUND) (ALL ENTRIES)
2:05 PM – 3:00 PM: NCS QUALIFYING (IMPOUND)
3:45 PM: NOAPS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
4:00 PM: NOAPS RACE (STAGES 60/120/250 LAPS = 131.5 MILES) ON THE CW NETWORK
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1
1:15 PM: NCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
2:00 PM: NCS RACE (STAGES 130/260/500 LAPS = 263 MILES) ON NBC
*All times are Eastern. NASCAR Cup Series (NCS), NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS), NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS), ARCA Series (AMS)
