NASCAR Cup Series

Greg Biffle was a strong contender in the first half of the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Biffle led a total of 18 laps and was a regular inside the top 10. As the laps dwindled down, the No. 16 3M Ford continued to get tighter which cost valuable track position on restarts as Biffle was stuck in the outside lane. The tight handling condition, coupled with tire wear, culminated in an 18th-place finish.

Richard Childress Racing's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Martinsville Speedway ... In 144 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has earned four pole awards and posted seven victories with drivers Dale Earnhardt (five times), Ricky Rudd (1983) and Kevin Harvick (2011).

After seeing his recent momentum stalled during the final two laps at Talladega, Martin Truex Jr. is ready to resume where he left off before the folly at the Alabama superspeedway.

Ford Racing has won four of the first six Chase races, two each by Team Penske drivers Joey Logano (New Hampshire, Kansas) and Brad Keselowski (Chicagoland, Talladega). The Ford record for most Chase wins in a single season is five, which was set in 2005 and equaled in 2008.

Talladega Recap: Denny Hamlin finished 18th in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway to advance to the Eliminator Round of the 2014 Chase for the Sprint Cup championship in the #11 FedEx One Rate/”Deliverminator” Toyota. Hamlin came into the race needing a 15th-place finish to ensure a spot among the final eight drivers vying for this year’s title, and along with other teams in similar situations, elected to hang in the back of the draft pack throughout most of the 188-lap event won by Brad Keselowski. Hamlin started 38th but quickly moved forward on the high-banked superspeedway.

After a confusing qualifying session set the starting field, here is what was surprising and not surprising in the 46th annual Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

What a wonderful race we saw at Talladega on Sunday. It had visual excitement that can only be rivaled by Daytona. We had suspense, as we did not know who would continue in the Chase and who got their hearts broken right through to the final lap. It was everything we could have hoped it would be. Then Brad Keselowski won the damn race and ruined everything.

Whether it’s before the race or during it, Martinsville Speedway prides itself on getting fans as close to the action as possible and the Goody’s® Headache Relief Shot® 500 on Oct. 26 will be no exception.

Brad Keselowski went from the brink of elimination to having a spot in the Eliminator Round of NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup. Fresh off his must-needed win at Talladega, Keselowski now has his sights set on the Goody’s® Headache Relief Shot® 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 26.

The final race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ “Contender” round at Talladega Superspeedway lived up to its billing with a thrilling finish in determining the final eight drivers who will advance to the next portion of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Three Team Chevy drivers move to the ‘Eliminator’ round following the 46th Annual GEICO 500.