Xfinity 500
Martinsville, Virginia – November 1, 2026
AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 MENARDS/DELTA FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 4TH STAGE 1: 7TH STAGE 2: 36TH FINISH: 36TH POINTS: 11TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Menards/Delta Ford Mustang Dark Horse team saw a promising afternoon come to a premature end following an incident that resulted in a 36th-place finish in Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Cindric started fourth in the penultimate race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season but struggled with a loose-handling condition in the opening laps, slipping to 10th by Lap 20. Following a green-flag pit stop for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment on Lap 66, Cindric continued to work with crew chief Brian Wilson to improve the handling of the No. 2 Mustang. The adjustments proved beneficial as Cindric worked his way back through the field to finish Stage 1 in seventh. The team elected to pit during the stage break, positioning Cindric fifth for the ensuing restart. As the race progressed, Cindric reported improved handling and continued to battle for position before making another green-flag pit stop just prior to Lap 200. A lengthy pit stop cost the No. 2 team valuable time, and a caution shortly after Cindric returned to the track left him two laps down. After taking the wavearound, Cindric restarted 16th, one lap behind the leaders. Shortly after the restart, Cindric was caught in an incident that caused significant damage to the front-end of the No. 2 Mustang. The damage ultimately forced Cindric behind the wall, ending his afternoon prematurely. He was credited with a 36th-place finish.
CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “It’s unfortunate to have our day end early like that. We had a fast Menards/Delta Ford Mustang and made some good progress throughout the race. Brian and the guys worked hard all weekend to give us a competitive car, so it’s disappointing not to get the finish we felt we were capable of. We’ve got one more opportunity next weekend at Homestead, and we’re looking forward to closing out the season on a high note.”
RYAN BLANEY No. 12 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 13TH STAGE 1: 13TH STAGE 2: 32ND FINISH: 35TH POINTS: 7TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney entered Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway looking to keep his championship hopes alive, but damage sustained to the No. 12 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse ultimately derailed a promising afternoon and resulted in a 35th-place finish. Seeking his third fall Martinsville victory in the last four seasons, Blaney started the 500-lap race from the 13th position and ran among the top 15 for much of Stage 1. Following a cycle of green-flag pit stops, Blaney ended the opening segment in 13th. A series of cautions early in Stage 2 provided Blaney with an opportunity to work his way forward, as he broke into the top 10 before making contact with another competitor on Lap 252. The incident resulted in significant front-end damage to the No. 12, forcing Blaney to the garage for repairs. The Team Penske crew worked diligently to repair the Mustang Dark Horse, allowing Blaney to return to the track on Lap 310. Despite the setback, Blaney continued to the checkered flag, ultimately finishing 35th. With the result, Blaney was officially eliminated from contention for his second career NASCAR Cup Series championship. He enters next Sunday’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway seventh in the points standings, looking to close out the 2026 season on a strong note.
BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “We were definitely getting better. The first stage we weren’t great, but that run where (the on-track contact) happened, I thought we finally got pretty good. I was passing some cars and really running kind of the front group down a little bit, so I felt like we made good gains (before the incident).”
JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 5TH STAGE 1: 16TH STAGE 2: 5TH FINISH: 18TH POINTS: 5TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano started fifth and finished 18th in Sunday’s penultimate NASCAR Cup Series race of the season at the Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Hopes were high after a strong practice and qualifying effort for the former Martinsville winner. Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse team showed strong pace, steadily working their way forward while he reported he was happy with the car’s turn. The team gained valuable track position through strategy, climbing to fourth on Lap 65 after passing Kyle Larson and moving into third by Lap 81 while staying out during the green-flag pit cycle. Logano continued to maximize track position before eventually dropping outside the top 10 as competitors on fresher tires worked their way forward. He would ultimately finish Stage 1 in 16th. In Stage 2, the No. 22 crew made a four-tire stop with fuel and air pressure adjustments on Lap 193. After being trapped a lap down during a caution on Lap 200, Logano received the wave-around to return to the lead lap. Restarting eighth on Lap 217, he quickly charged back through the field, advancing to fifth by Lap 241 where he would conclude Stage 2. During the final stage, Logano reported that the car could stand to be tighter before the team made a scheduled four-tire stop for fuel and adjustments on Lap 344. However, the No. 22 team was forced to make a second stop on the following lap after encountering an issue on pit road. The setback proved costly, and difficulties during the final pit sequence relegated Logano to an 18th-place finish at the checkered flag. With the result, Logano was eliminated from championship contention heading into next Sunday’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “We kind of had them where we wanted them. They were trying to give it to us and we gave it right back, so just frustrating is what it is. You win as a team and lose as a team and today we’re gonna lose as a team. It just stings when you do that. When we look at the last couple of weeks the opportunity was there at the end of those races to do it. We’re out of it now, which stings. On one hand, you look at the comeback we had from the regular season and have a chance to win a championship all down to one race to go. That’s something to be proud of, but, at the same time, it’s really easy to find 60-plus points sitting on the table over the last three or four weeks. It is what it is. That’s racing for you. We’ll move on.”
The NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the Championship concludes next Sunday, November 8, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Race coverage begins on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
