For material handling facilities, construction yards, and modern agricultural operations, tyres are far more than consumable rubber—they are the critical interface determining equipment uptime, operational safety, and total cost of ownership (TCO). Whether managing warehouse logistics with forklift trucks, navigating harsh demolition terrain with skid steer loaders, executing high-elevation maintenance via scissor lifts, or operating heavy machinery in wet agricultural fields, unexpected tyre failure remains a primary driver of costly operational delays.
Selecting the right tyre construction and compound grade requires balancing specific application demands against severe environmental stresses.
1. Forklift Operations: Solid vs. Pneumatic Tyres
In high-intensity warehouse and manufacturing environments, puncture resistance is paramount. Forklift operations typically choose between pneumatic and solid (cushion or resilient) tyres:
Pneumatic Tyres: Best suited for outdoor yards with uneven gravel or asphalt where shock absorption is essential to protect the equipment chassis and fragile cargo.
Solid Resilient Tyres: Built with three-stage natural rubber compounding—a durable tread layer for abrasion resistance, a center cushioning compound to dissipate heat buildup, and a steel wire-reinforced base to ensure absolute rim grip without slippage. For indoor facilities where floor hygiene is regulated, non-marking solid compounds eliminate black carbon friction marks entirely.
2. Skid Steer Loaders: Navigating Severe Abrasive Ground
Skid steer loaders impose extreme lateral scrubbing forces during zero-turn maneuvering. Standard pneumatic pneumatic skid steer tyres are vulnerable to sidewall punctures from rebar, jagged concrete, and scrap iron in demolition zones.
To maximize lifespan, fleet managers are increasingly adopting severe-duty, extra-deep tread patterns (L4 and L5 equivalents) featuring reinforced rim guards and cut-resistant compounding. Where total flat-proofing is required, aperture solid skid steer tyres provide the puncture immunity of solid rubber while built-in sidewall apertures preserve driver comfort and suspension longevity.
3. Scissor Lifts and Aerial Work Platforms: Precision Stability and Non-Marking Demands
Aerial work platforms (AWPs) and scissor lifts demand unwavering lateral stability at extended heights. Puncture failure while elevated represents a severe safety hazard; hence, scissor lifts almost universally mandate solid, high-load non-marking rubber wheels.
Key selection criteria include:
Low-rolling resistance compounds that preserve battery life in electric access platforms.
Premium synthetic polymer blends that leave no residue on finished epoxy or polished concrete floors.
High static load capacities to eliminate tyre squirm during elevated platform operation.
4. Agricultural Tyres: Soil Compaction and Traction Efficiency
In modern agricultural machinery, preserving soil structure while maximizing drawbar pull requires advanced radial and high-traction bias-ply tyre engineering. Deep, self-cleaning curved lugs provide forward bite in muddy topsoils, while wide footprint distributions reduce soil compaction to protect crop root systems. Flexible sidewall casing technology allows tractors and implements to run at optimized inflation pressures, lowering fuel consumption during heavy tilling.
Direct Factory Sourcing: The Quality and Compounding Equation
Behind every high-performance industrial and off-highway tyre is the precision of raw material sourcing and curing technology. High percentages of virgin natural rubber, premium carbon black dispersion, and automated vulcanization ensure tyres resist premature chunking, internal heat degradation, and tread separation.
Global equipment operators and parts distributors seeking long-term reliability often partner directly with specialized manufacturers. For high-grade material handling and agricultural solutions, Excel Tyres stands out as a dedicated China factory-direct producer specializing in forklift solid tyres, severe-duty skid steer tyres, non-marking aerial platform wheels, and agricultural tyres engineered to meet demanding international OEM specifications.
By aligning tyre tread patterns, rubber compounding grades, and duty-cycle ratings to specific site conditions, fleet managers can significantly lower replacement frequency, protect operator safety, and ensure seamless industrial productivity.
A good speedway night has a way of pulling you in. The lights come on, the shale is worked over, riders roll out for the parade and, before long, four bikes are heading into turn one with barely a gap between them.
But getting more from speedway isn’t only about watching the heats. A little preparation makes the whole evening more enjoyable, whether you’ve followed your club for years or you’re still learning who rides at number five.
Here’s how to make race night feel less like a quick visit to the track and more like a proper part of your week.
Put together a fixture plan, not just a list of dates
It’s easy to spot the big local derby or a meeting against title rivals, but the quieter fixtures can be just as worthwhile. They often bring different storylines: a returning former rider, a new signing finding their feet, or a reserve getting a chance to change the shape of a meeting.
At the start of the season, take ten minutes to save your club’s fixture list somewhere useful. A calendar on your phone is ideal, particularly if you add a reminder a day or two beforehand.
Keep an eye on:
Start times, as some meetings begin earlier or later than the usual slot
Cup and play-off dates, which can move around as results develop
Travel time, especially for away trips on weekday evenings
Weather forecasts, because rain can affect track preparation or force a postponement
Club updates, as rearranged fixtures are sometimes confirmed at short notice
Speedway’s outdoor setting is part of its charm, but British weather doesn’t always play along. It’s worth checking official club channels on the day of the meeting rather than relying on an old fixture graphic shared weeks earlier.
For an away night, I find it helps to have a simple backup plan. Know the route, check parking information, and look up whether the venue accepts cards at the gate or food outlets. If weather is unsettled, pack a waterproof layer and footwear you don’t mind getting dusty. A speedway track can be breezy even when the rest of the day has felt mild.
The race card tells you more than the running order
A programme is one of the best ways to follow a meeting properly. It gives you the line-ups, heat schedule and rider numbers, but it also helps you understand what may happen before tapes rise.
Speedway is a specialist form of motorcycle racing. Riders compete on oval tracks, usually over four anti-clockwise laps, using machines with a single gear and no brakes. That unusual combination is part of what makes the sport so compelling. For more background on the discipline, Motorcycle speedway on Wikipedia provides a handy overview.
When you’re reading the race card, look beyond the names.
Check the team news
A late injury, a guest rider or a rider-replacement arrangement can change a meeting completely. It may affect which heats feel strongest for each side, and it can alter a captain’s options later in the evening.
If a club has announced changes before the meeting, compare them with the programme. It gives you a clearer sense of where a side might be stretched and where its depth lies.
Look at recent form, but keep it in perspective
Form matters, of course, though speedway is wonderfully unpredictable. A rider may have had a difficult away meeting on a circuit that doesn’t suit them, then look completely at home on their own track two nights later.
A few useful questions are:
Has the rider scored well at this venue before?
Are they coming into the meeting after a busy run of fixtures?
Is this their first appearance back from injury?
Have they changed equipment or settled into a new team role?
Do they usually start sharply from the gate, or build speed as the race develops?
The more meetings you attend, the more you’ll notice the little patterns. Some riders read a developing race brilliantly. Others are particularly strong from specific starting positions. That’s the sort of detail that gives a heat extra texture.
Watch the track as the meeting goes on
Track conditions are a huge part of speedway. A freshly prepared surface may offer one set of challenges, while later heats can produce different racing lines and more opportunity for passing.
You don’t need to be a track expert to notice changes. Watch where riders are finding grip. Are they hugging the inside kerb, carrying momentum around the outside, or switching lines halfway through a bend? Those choices often explain far more than the final result alone.
Speedway basics that make every heat easier to follow
If you’re new to the sport, the pace can feel relentless. Four laps disappear in moments, and the score can swing rapidly across a few heats. Once you know the basics, though, it becomes very easy to follow.
How the scoring works
In a standard four-rider heat, points are usually awarded as follows:
3 points for first place
2 points for second
1 point for third
0 points for fourth or a retirement
At team level, a heat can finish 5-1, 4-2 or 3-3, depending on where each side’s riders cross the line. The scoreboard may look complicated at first, but it soon becomes second nature.
A 5-1 is especially significant because it puts both riders from one team ahead of both opponents. You’ll hear plenty of noise when the home pair are working together to protect that advantage.
Tactical decisions add another layer
Depending on the competition and regulations in use, team managers can have tactical options available when their side falls behind. These may include changing who takes a ride or using a designated tactical opportunity.
The exact rules can vary between competitions and seasons, so it’s sensible to check the official regulations or ask a regular supporter if you’re unsure. That’s not a weakness, either. Speedway has plenty of knowledgeable people who are usually happy to explain a rule between heats.
A few simple race-night manners go a long way
Speedway crowds are passionate, and a bit of friendly debate is part of the evening. Still, everyone gets more from it when the atmosphere stays respectful.
A few easy habits help:
Let people return to their viewing spot between heats where possible.
Keep walkways clear, especially around busy terraces.
Follow steward instructions and stay behind barriers.
Give riders space when they’re moving through public areas.
Remember that visiting supporters are there for the same reason you are, to back their team.
Cheering hard for your club is part of the deal. Treating others decently is too.
Make the most of being at the venue
There’s something very different about watching speedway in person. You hear the engines, feel the change in atmosphere before a key heat and catch the conversations that never make it into a result graphic.
Arriving a little earlier can improve the whole night. You’ve got time to find the entrance, pick a viewing area and take in the pre-meeting activity without rushing.
Finding your best place to watch
There’s no single perfect spot. Some supporters prefer the start and finish line, where you can see gating and the scoreboard clearly. Others like standing near the bends, where the racing lines and passes can be easier to appreciate.
If it’s your first visit, walk a short stretch of the terrace after the early heats. You may find a corner that gives you a much better view of how riders set up overtakes.
Do check the venue rules before moving around, particularly where reserved seating or restricted areas apply.
Practical bits that are easy to overlook
A few small preparations can save hassle:
Bring a warm layer, even in summer.
Keep a waterproof close by if rain is forecast.
Check accessibility arrangements with the club before travelling.
Look at food, parking and admission information in advance.
Agree a meeting point with your group in case you get separated.
For supporters attending with family members, it’s useful to choose a spot with a clear view, room to stand comfortably and easy access to facilities. Ear protection may also be appropriate for anyone who finds engine noise uncomfortable.
Back the club culture, not just the scoreline
Local clubs rely on the people who turn up, volunteer, run refreshment kiosks, sell programmes and welcome newcomers. Buying a programme, saying hello to a volunteer, or visiting a supporters’ stall is a simple way to feel more connected.
Speedway grounds often have character in abundance. Embrace it. The regulars who know every rider’s history are part of what makes the sport feel like a community rather than a screen-based result.
Keep the meeting going during the week
Race night doesn’t have to end when the final heat finishes. Between meetings, there’s plenty to follow without getting buried in noise.
Start with official club websites and social accounts for confirmed results, injury updates, fixture changes and rider news. National and regional speedway outlets can add previews, interviews and broader context, while rider profiles are often a great way to understand the people behind the race jackets.
A useful weekly routine might look like this:
Read the club’s match report after the meeting.
Check the latest fixture news midweek.
Watch for team updates and declared line-ups.
Read a preview before travelling to the next meeting.
Compare your own impressions with the result afterwards.
That final point matters. Were you right about which rider looked strongest on the changing track? Did a key heat turn on a start, a tactical decision or a brave outside line? Following those details makes the next meeting even more rewarding.
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The best speedway evenings are rarely only about the final score. They’re about spotting the track changes, recognizing a rider’s smart move in traffic, chatting over a close heat and feeling part of a club’s regular crowd.
Bring a bit of curiosity, arrive prepared, and keep an eye on the details. Before long, you’ll be reading a race card with confidence and looking forward to the next set of tapes going up.
Formula 1 combines high-speed competition, technical precision, and strategic decisions that can change the direction of a race within seconds. For American fans interested in sports betting, the championship offers several markets that reflect different aspects of the action, from qualifying performance to the final finishing order.
Understanding how these markets work requires more than recognizing the fastest drivers. Circuit characteristics, team performance, weather conditions, and race strategy all contribute to the changing competitive picture. Knowing what each betting option represents helps fans follow Formula 1 with a clearer understanding of the factors behind the odds.
Understanding Formula 1 Betting Markets
Formula 1 offers several betting markets beyond selecting the driver who finishes first. Each market focuses on a different part of the competition, allowing fans to explore outcomes related to individual drivers, teams, and race results.
FanDuel Sports bets, for example, provide examples of how motorsports markets are organized, although available selections may vary by event and location. Understanding these categories helps explain how different race scenarios are represented through betting odds.
Common Formula 1 markets include:
Race Winner: The driver recognized as the winner under the sportsbook’s settlement rules.
Podium Finish: Whether a driver places in the top three according to the classification used for settlement.
Head-to-Head: Which of two named drivers ranks higher, with specific rules governing retirements, nonstarters, and disqualifications.
Top Six Finish: Whether a driver places within the top six under the applicable market rules.
Check the classification and settlement cutoff specified by the operator. For example, Betfair’s published Formula 1 rules use the official FIA classification at the podium presentation and disregard subsequent penalties or disqualifications. If both drivers retire, its race head-to-head rules also use that classification. Other operators may apply different conditions.
How Betting Odds Reflect Expectations
Formula 1 odds represent the implied probability of different outcomes while also incorporating the sportsbook’s margin. Shorter odds generally indicate a higher implied probability, while longer odds suggest an outcome is considered less likely.
For example, +150 converts to an implied probability of 40%, while +600 converts to approximately 14.3%. A successful $20 cash wager would earn $30 profit at +150 or $120 at +600, returning $50 or $140 including the stake. These percentages describe the quoted prices, not independently verified chances of winning.
Several developments can affect these prices throughout a Grand Prix weekend:
Practice Performance: Lap times and longer runs offer context, but different fuel loads, tire compounds, track conditions, and testing programs limit direct comparisons.
Qualifying Results: Starting positions can change expectations, particularly on circuits where overtaking is difficult.
Technical Updates: New components or adjustments may alter a team’s performance.
Weather Forecasts: Changing conditions can affect tire choices, driving demands, and race preparation.
Odds may also respond to penalties, reliability concerns, and driver availability, although anticipated developments may already be reflected in the price. Recognizing why odds moved does not establish that the updated selection offers value.
Why Circuit Characteristics Matter
Every Formula 1 circuit presents different demands, making track characteristics an important part of understanding race expectations. Some venues reward straight-line speed, while others emphasize cornering performance, tire management, and precise driving.
High-Speed Circuits
Tracks with long straights and fast corners place considerable emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency and engine performance. Teams must balance speed with sufficient stability through demanding sections.
Circuits such as Monza illustrate how vehicle characteristics can shape the competitive order, particularly when small differences in straight-line performance become significant.
Street Circuits
Street circuits often feature narrow sections, limited runoff areas, and fewer overtaking opportunities. Qualifying positions can carry additional importance because moving through the field may prove difficult. Monaco is a familiar example, where track position and precise driving frequently become central to race strategy.
Technical Circuits
Layouts featuring varied corner speeds, elevation changes, and demanding braking zones test several aspects of vehicle performance. Teams must find a setup that balances competing requirements. Comparing circuit characteristics with previous performances provides context for understanding why competitive expectations differ between Grand Prix weekends.
The Importance of Qualifying and Strategy
Grand Prix qualifying normally establishes the starting order, subject to grid penalties, pit-lane starts, and other adjustments. A driver qualifying third may therefore start lower. Check the final starting grid rather than assuming it matches the qualifying classification, especially where overtaking opportunities are limited.
Pirelli nominates three slick compounds for each weekend, designated soft, medium, and hard. Softer slicks generally prioritize grip over durability, while harder alternatives can support longer stints. Intermediate and full-wet tires serve wet conditions. In an ordinary dry Grand Prix, drivers must use at least two different slick compounds, so tire strategy also involves mandatory requirements.
Safety cars introduce another strategic element by reducing gaps between competitors and creating opportunities for pit stops. Their appearance can change the timing of planned stops and affect track position.
These factors explain why qualifying pace and race pace are not always identical. A driver who performs exceptionally over one lap may face different challenges across an entire Grand Prix.
Following the Full Race Weekend
Formula 1 weekends provide several opportunities to observe how teams and drivers perform before the main event. Each session contributes different information, making the weekend’s progression useful for understanding competitive expectations.
Practice sessions allow teams to evaluate car setups, tire behavior, and performance over different distances. While headline lap times attract attention, they do not always reveal the complete picture because teams may use different fuel loads and testing programs.
Qualifying provides a clearer comparison of single-lap speed, although traffic, changing conditions, and track evolution can still affect results. Sprint weekends introduce a different schedule, with an additional competitive session that may provide further context.
During the Grand Prix, live timing reveals position changes, sector performance, and gaps between drivers. These details help explain developments that may not be immediately obvious from the television broadcast.
Following the entire weekend allows fans to connect individual performances with broader trends, rather than interpreting each session in isolation. Formula 1 analysis and trends can provide additional context by highlighting patterns in driver performance, team development, and race results across the season.
A More Informed Way to Follow Formula 1
Formula 1 betting markets reflect driver ability, engineering, circuit demands, and strategy. Understanding these factors adds context without establishing a profitable betting approach. Review the exact session and settlement rules, set affordable spending and time limits, and keep essential funds separate. Choosing not to wager remains reasonable when information or conditions are unclear.
William Byron erased a season-long winless drought by notching a dominant NASCAR Cup Series victory in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, November 1.
The two-time Daytona 500 champion from Charlotte, North Carolina, led three times for a race-high 362 of 500-scheduled laps in an event where he qualified in eighth place, strategically pitted under green flag from sixth place with a host of competitors on Lap 65, and utilized his fresh tires to carve his way back up the leaderboard and assume the lead for the first time on Lap 125 before he secured the first stage victory five laps later.
Byron proceeded to lead every lap of the second stage period that was mired with four caution periods en route to the latest stage victory. He then maintained the top spot for the start of the final stage period with 238 laps remaining. Despite surrendering the lead twice throughout the final stage period to make his scheduled pit stops under green, Byron cycled back to the lead on both instances, including his final cycle atop the leaderboard with 74 laps remaining. From there, he held off teammate Chase Elliott to notch his first elusive Cup Series victory of the 2026 season and win for the first time since winning at the fall Martinsville event a year ago.
With on-track qualifying determining the starting lineup on Saturday, October 31, Denny Hamlin secured his sixth Cup pole position of the 2026 season with a pole-winning lap of 98.492 mph in 19.226 seconds. Teammate Ty Gibbs started alongside Hamlin on the front row and in the second-place starting spot with a lap at 98.241 mph in 19.275 seconds.
Prior to the event, Cody Ware dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments that were made to his No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, pole-sitter Denny Hamlin, who elected to start on the outside lane, bolted his No. 11 King’s Hawaiian Toyota Camry XSE entry ahead of teammate Ty Gibbs, with Hamlin quickly transitioning to the inside lane through the first two turns. With the field of 37 competitors filing in two-by-two formation for a full cycle, Hamlin motored away to lead the first lap. After leading the second lap, however, Hamlin had a shift that did not go into gear. This caused the latter to go wide through Turns 3 and 4 as Ty Gibbs moved his No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE entry into the lead on the third lap.
Gibbs led Hamlin by half a second on the fifth lap, and the former retained the lead by four-tenths of a second over the latter while Ryan Preece, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, William Byron, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Austin Cindric and Josh Berry followed suit, respectively. Behind, Tyler Reddick occupied 11th place in front of Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, Chase Briscoe, Bubba Wallace, Chris Buescher, Todd Gilliland, Austin Hill, Connor Zilisch, Daniel Suarez, Michael McDowell, Carson Hocevar and Brad Keselowski, respectively, as Gibbs continued to lead Hamlin by three-tenths of a second at the Lap 25 mark.
Through the Lap 35 mark, Gibbs stabilized his early advantage by half a second over Hamlin while third-place Preece trailed by one-and-a-half seconds. Behind, Larson and Logano both trailed by two seconds apiece in the top-five mark and Byron trailed by three seconds in sixth place. Gibbs’ advantage over Hamlin then shrunk down to three-tenths of a second on Lap 40 and by a tenth of a second over the next five laps before Hamlin reassumed the lead on Lap 47.
By Lap 50, Hamlin led teammate Gibbs by half a second before Preece assumed the runner-up spot from Gibbs six laps later. Hamlin’s advantage increased by more than a second over Preece on Lap 60 before Bell pitted under green a lap later. More names that included Noah Gragson, Michael McDowell, AJ Allmendinger and Zane Smith would then pit before Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland pitted by Lap 64. Byron, Cindric, Elliott, Reddick and Chastain would all pit by Lap 65 along with Austin Hill, Shane van Gisbergen, Ty Dillon, Cole Custer, Bubba Wallace and Josh Berry while several, including Hamlin, remained on the track and opted to stretch their tires to the first stage’s conclusion.
By Lap 75, Ty Gibbs and Austin Dillon pitted as Hamlin led by two-tenths of a second over Preece. With Logano, Larson and Briscoe racing in the top-five mark, Preece overtook Hamlin for the lead nine laps later. As Preece stretched his lead by nearly two seconds over Hamlin on Lap 90, only seven competitors were scored on the lead lap amid the mix pit strategies between the competitors who elected to pit and those who remained on the track to stretch their tires to the first stage’s conclusion. By then, the leaders were mired in lapped traffic while those who pitted started to reel in and un-lap themselves from the lead lap competitors.
Just past the Lap 100 mark, Preece extended his lead up by five seconds over Hamlin while Logano, Larson, Byron, Briscoe, Gibbs, Buescher, Bell and Bowman followed suit, respectively. By then, 13 competitors were scored on the lead lap. As the laps proceeded, Hamlin started to fall off the pace with his worn tires. By Lap 110, he was overtaken by Byron for the runner-up spot before he would be overtaken by Logano a lap later for third place. Hamlin dropped to sixth place on Lap 115 before he was mired back in 13th place on Lap 120. Meanwhile, Larson was strapped in 16th place, and Briscoe was in 18th place while Bell, the latter of whom pitted, was up to fourth place.
On Lap 125, Byron overtook Preece for the lead. Despite being in heavy lapped traffic as Gibbs motored his way into the runner-up spot, Byron lapped Larson on Lap 129 as Larson faded outside the top-20 mark. By then, Hamlin and Briscoe had also plummeted towards the top-20 mark as Gibbs reeled in and intimidated Byron for the lead.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 130, Byron fended off Gibbs and motored his way to his fourth Cup stage victory of the 2026 season. Gibbs followed suit in second ahead of third-place Preece while Bell, Josh Berry, Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick and Chase Elliott were scored in the top 10, respectively. With seven Chase contenders (Byron, Gibbs, Preece, Bell, Cindric, Reddick and Elliott) racking up the event’s first round of stage points, the remaining Chasers that include Wallace, Blaney, Logano, Hamlin, Briscoe, Daniel Suarez, Larson, Chris Buescher and Carson Hocevar were scored in 11th, 13th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 26th and 27th, respectively. By then, Suarez, the first competitor scored a lap down in 22nd place, was awarded the free pass over 23rd-place Larson as the latter along with Hamlin and Briscoe did not accumulate stage points.
Under the event’s first stage break period, 21 competitors scored on the lead lap and led by Byron pitted, including Hamlin. Following the pit stops, Byron retained the lead by exiting pit road first over Gibbs, Bell, Preece, Bowman, Cindric, Elliott, Berry, Chastain and Reddick followed suit, respectively. Meanwhile, Hamlin was mired in 15th place while Larson was ranked in 24th place and a lap down.
The second stage period started on Lap 141 as Byron and Gibbs occupied the front row. At the start, Byron used the inside lane to motor his No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry ahead of Gibbs and the field through the first two turns and the backstretch. Byron led the next lap and he proceeded to lead between two-tenths and three-tenths of a second over Gibbs between Laps 145 and 150 while Bell, Preece, Elliott, Bowman, Chastain, Cindric, Berry and Wallace followed suit in the top-10 mark, respectively. By then, Hamlin was scored in 14th place in front of Joey Logano while Larson was scored the first competitor a lap down in 24th place.
At the Lap 160 mark, Byron was leading by half a second over Bell. The former increased his advantage by a second over the next 10 laps before the advantage stabilized at a full second on Lap 175. With Bell remaining in the runner-up spot over Gibbs, Preece and Elliott, Hamlin was racing in 15th place behind Logano, Briscoe was in 17th place and Larson was still ranked the first competitor a lap down in 23rd place.
As Byron led by one-and-a-half seconds on Lap 185, another cycle of green flag pit stops commenced as Erik Jones and Riley Herbst pitted their respective Toyotas. Chris Buescher pitted on Lap 189 before a host of names that included Noah Gragson, Suarez, Hamlin, Briscoe, McDowell, Cindric, Berry, Wallace, Blaney, Reddick, Logano, Zane Smith and Bowman pitted at and just past the Lap 190 mark.
As the pit stops continued, the caution flew on Lap 198 when Hocevar, who was battling the leader Byron, spun in Turn 4. The caution flew just as Bell was on pit road for service, but he would then be penalized for speeding on pit road. At the time of caution, only six competitors led by Byron were scored on the lead lap. The lead lap field would pit during this caution period as Byron retained the lead.
For the next restart on Lap 206, Byron motored away from Preece, Elliott and the field for a full cycle. As the field fanned out and bumped while jostling for spots, Byron retained the lead by two-tenths of a second over Elliott on Lap 210. Meanwhile, Austin Cindric sustained heavy damage to the front of his No. 2 Menards Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry after he rammed into the rear of Hocevar when the latter brake-checked the former following repeated bumps and contact. The damage would sideline Cindric from further contention.
Then on Lap 214, the caution flew when Logano bumped Bell into Hamlin and sent the latter two spinning up the track and towards the outside wall in the first two turns, though both managed to continue without sustaining any significant damage to their respective entries. The incident by Hamlin and Bell served as a big break for Larson, who was mired in 15th place, but was awarded the free pass to cycle back on the lead lap. During this caution period, nearly the entire lead lap field of 14 competitors led by Chastain, including Hamlin and Bell, pitted while the leaders Byron, Elliott, and Preece remained on the track.
The next restart on Lap 222 only lasted two laps when Preece, who was having a stellar run at the front and was racing in fourth place, spun through the first two turns after he got loose and lost a right-rear wheel, which caused the rest of the filed, including Gilliland, to scatter and jam on the brakes to avoid hitting Preece’s entry. By then, Byron retained the lead over Elliott and Chastain while Bell, Hamlin and Larson were scored from 12th through 14th, respectively. The following restart on Lap 232 featured Byron driving away from Elliott and the field to retain the lead. Byron’s lead stood at two-tenths of a second on Lap 235 before it stabilized on Lap 240.
At the halfway mark on Lap 250, Byron retained the lead by four-tenths of a second over Elliott. Two laps later, the caution returned when Blaney, who was racing in eighth place, spun his No. 12 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry through the first two turns as he nearly collected Gilliland. Prior to Blaney’s spin, he ran into the rear of Berry and sustained heavy front nose damage. The incident caused Blaney to take his entry behind the wall with a busted radiator, which also effectively terminated his 2026 championship hopes.
The latest caution period for Blaney’s incident concluded the second stage period as Byron was awarded his fifth Cup stage victory of the 2026 season and second of the event. Elliott settled in second ahead of Gibbs, Chastain and Logano while Wallace, Berry, Gilliland, Reddick and Bell were in the top 10. Only seven Chasers (Byron, Elliott, Gibbs, Logano, Wallace, Reddick and Bell) accumulated stage points during this second stage period while Hamlin and Larson were mired in 12th and 13th, respectively, thus leaving the latter two with no stage points for the latest stage period while Bell managed to secure one by finishing in 10th place.
During the event’s second stage break period, the lead lap field of 14 competitors led by Byron pitted. Following the pit stops, Byron exited pit road first over Elliott, Logano, Gibbs, Chastain, Wallace, Berry, Gilliland, Bell and Reddick followed suit, respectively.
With 238 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Byron and Elliott occupied the front row. At the start, Byron fended off Elliott to lead the next lap just before the caution quickly returned due to Cody Ware spinning through Turns 3 and 4. The next restart with 230 laps remaining featured Byron mirroring his launch from the previous restart from the outside lane to drive away from Elliott, Logano and the field to lead for a full cycle. Byron proceeded to lead by four-tenths of a second with 220 laps remaining before the advantage slightly grew by half a second with 210 laps remaining. As Elliott, Logano, Gibbs and Chastain pursued in the top five, Bell was in eight while Hamlin was mired in 14th.
As the event reached its final 200-lap mark, Byron’s advantage stood at seven-tenths of a second over Elliott, with Logano, Gibbs and Chastain trailing in the top five ahead of Wallace, Berry, Bell, Gilliland and Bowman. Behind, Reddick, van Gisbergen, Austin Dillon, Hamlin and Austin Hill were in the top 15, respectively, while Larson was mired in 16th place. Briscoe trailed Larson by three spots in 19th place as Byron added an additional two-tenths of a second to his advantage (up to nine-tenths of a second) over the next five laps. Despite having his advantage shrink back down to seven-tenths of a second with 190 laps remaining, Byron retained the top spot over Elliott.
With 175 laps remaining, Byron stabilized his lead by a second over Elliott as Logano, Gibbs and Chastain continued to occupy the remaining top-five spots. Wallace, Berry, Bell, Gilliland and van Gisbergen occupied top-10 spots over Bowman, Reddick, Austin Dillon, Hamlin and Larson, respectively, as Byron continued to lead by more than a second with 165 laps remaining.
A lap later, another cycle of green flag pit stops commenced as 23XI Racing’s Reddick and Herbst pitted. Amid the pit stops, Byron pitted from the lead with 158 laps remaining before he carved his way back to the lead 11 laps later. With the lead back in his possession, Byron led by four-tenths of a second over Elliott before the advantage grew by eight-tenths of a second with less than 130 laps remaining. By then, Logano was mired a lap down in 17th place after he made an extra pit stop to have a loose wheel addressed while Briscoe, who was leading and tried to stretch his fuel tank before he pitted, was mired back in 20th place.
Down to the final 125 laps, Byron was leading by seven-tenths of a second over Elliott while Gibbs, Wallace, Chastain, Bell, Berry, Hamlin, Reddick and Larson were scored in the top 10, respectively. Byron’s late advantage grew by more than a second over the next 10 laps before he added another second to the lead for the next 15 laps. By then, Bell slipped to seventh place while Hamlin raced in ninth place ahead of Larson.
Then with 85 laps remaining, a final cycle of green-flag pit stops commenced as Bell pitted. Hamlin would also pit along with Bowman before Byron pitted with 79 laps remaining. As the pit stops cycled through, Briscoe cycled to the lead before Byron reassumed it with 74 laps remaining. As Byron led by two-and-a-half seconds with 70 laps remaining, his advantage slightly shrunk by more than one-and-a-half seconds over Elliott down to the final 60-lap mark as Gibbs, Berry, Wallace, Hamlin and Bell followed suit, respectively, with Larson in 10th place.
Down to the final 50 laps, only 10 competitors were scored on the lead lap as Byron continued to lead by more than a second over Elliott. By then, Larson was the last competitor scored on the lead lap in 10th place while Hamlin and Bell were in sixth and eighth, respectively. Over the next 10 laps, Larson would be lapped as Byron maintained the lead by nine-tenths of a second.
As the event reached its final 30-lap mark, Byron stretched his late lead back up by more than a second over Elliott. Byron’s advantage stood beyond a second with 20 laps remaining before it grew by more than two seconds with 10 laps remaining. By then, Hamlin was in sixth place while Bell was racing in front of Larson in ninth place.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Byron remained in the lead by more than two seconds over Elliott. With Elliott unable to reel in his teammate, Byron smoothly navigated his entry around Martinsville for a final time before he cycled back to the frontstretch for his first elusive checkered flag of this season.
With the victory, Byron notched his 17th career win in the NASCAR Cup Series division, his fourth at Martinsville, second in a row at the fall Martinsville event and. Byron, who extended his current Cup race-winning streak to seven consecutive seasons, achieved the sixth victory of 2026 for Hendrick Motorsports, the organization’s 33rd win at Martinsville and the 10th victory of this season for Chevrolet.
Despite having his championship hopes for 2026 evaporated, Byron’s Martinsville victory, which boosted the driver of the No. 24 entry from 11th to ninth in the Chase standings, left him ecstatic at achieving a race victory to this season’s column amid a roller coaster stretch.
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“We’re always pretty good here,” Byron said on the frontstretch on USA Sports. “Man, it’s been a freaking long road this year. This team’s worked really hard, and I just appreciate them. We’ve had our struggles, but man, today feels damn good. Thanks to Mr. Hendrick and thanks to everyone working really hard at the shop. Man, we never quit. There’s something to be said about that. It’s always a really unique and important opportunity when you drive for Hendrick Motorsports to come here and try to do well. It just all came together for us. Pretty happy.”
Amid Byron’s race victory, Denny Hamlin finished in sixth place while Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell both finished a lap down in ninth and 10th, respectively. As a result, Larson will enter next weekend’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a 67-point advantage over Bell and 70 over Hamlin as the latter three will square off against one another for the 2026 Cup Series championship.
“I’m happy, but I’m also bummed because there’s just a lot of opportunity there in the stages,” Larson said. “We were just on the wrong side of the strategy…was just struggling for grip there about the last 50 laps. Unfortunately, [I] went down a lap there right at the end. That hurt the second stage. Thankfully, we were able to get back to the lead lap, though. It all could have been a lot worse tonight, so look at the positives from that. Go to Homestead next week with a comfortable gap, but still not locked up. [I] Would love to get a couple good first stages and then pound it in the third stage.”
“It just really came down to Stage 1 with us running the no stop strategy,” Hamlin said. “[We] Lost all of our track position there. Once we lost our track position, it’s hard to drive back to the front. Nobody else did. [I] didn’t capitalize today on Larson not getting any stage points and stuff like that. The first stage was the killer for us that set us back…It was just a lot of unfortunate timing of some things, but for us, this weekend, it was about everything to gain, nothing to lose, and we just didn’t gain enough to make it realistic. I feel confident that I’ll be able to go [to Homestead] and contend. I’d love to get another win before the end of the year. I thought it was going to come today, but we’ll have to get one more shot at it next week and see if we can’t get just one more win.”
“All in all, 10th is probably about where we stacked up,” Bell said. “It was a really hectic day, and it is what it is. [Homestead]’s just another race, another opportunity to fight for a win. I think we know.”
Chase Elliott, who won at Martinsville in April, settled in second place ahead of Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry and Shane van Gisbergen. Austin Dillon and Bubba Wallace finished seventh and eighth, respectively, as Chase contenders Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe, Joey Logano, Carson Hocevar, Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric ended up 12th, 14th, 18th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 28th, 35th and 36th, respectively.
The penultimate Cup Series’ Chase event of the 2026 season at Martinsville saw 11 lead changes among six leaders, and six cautions over 47 laps. In addition, only seven of 37 starters finished on the lead lap.
Results:
William Byron, 362 laps led, Stages 1 & 2 winner
Chase Elliott
Ty Gibbs, 44 laps led
Josh Berry
Shane van Gisbergen
Denny Hamlin, 40 laps led
Austin Dillon
Bubba Wallace, one lap down
Kyle Larson, one lap down
Christopher Bell, one lap down
Ross Chastain, one lap down, seven laps led
Tyler Reddick, one lap down
Alex Bowman, one lap down
Chase Briscoe, one lap down, six laps led
Todd Gilliland, one lap down
Michael McDowell, one lap down
Connor Zilisch, one lap down
Joey Logano, two laps down
Zane Smith, two laps down
Austin Hill, two laps down
Carson Hocevar, two laps down
Ty Dillon, two laps down
Ryan Preece, two laps down, 41 laps led
Chris Buescher, three laps down
AJ Allmendinger, three laps down
Noah Gragson, three laps down
Brad Keselowski, three laps down
Daniel Suarez, three laps down
Erik Jones, three laps down
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., three laps down
John Hunter Nemechek, four laps down
Riley Herbst, five laps down
Cody Ware, six laps down
Cole Custer, 13 laps down
Ryan Blaney, 59 laps down
Austin Cindric – OUT, Accident
Josh Bilicki – OUT, Clutch
After the ninth Chase event of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, Kyle Larson leads the standings by 67 points over Christopher Bell and 70 over Denny Hamlin. The rest of the 16-car Chase field is displayed below, with the remaining Chasers starting with fourth-place Chase Briscoe being mathematically eliminated from championship contention.
Chase Standings:
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell -67
Denny Hamlin -70
Chase Briscoe -84
Joey Logano -103
Tyler Reddick -125
Ryan Blaney -133
Ty Gibbs -160
William Byron -166
Chase Elliott -201
Austin Cindric -206
Carson Hocevar -210
Bubba Wallace -212
Ryan Preece -255
Daniel Suarez -259
Chris Buescher -270
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is set to conclude next Sunday, November 8, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, where a champion will be crowned. The event’s broadcast is slated to commence at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN Radio, SiriusXM, and HBO MAX.
Format: 263 miles / 500 laps with three stages. Stage 1: Ends at lap 130, Stage 2: Ends at lap 260, Stage 3: Ends at lap 500
RFK RACING RACE SUMMARY: Ryan Preece has sometimes described himself as “a short-track killer,” and, although he did not win, he validated those words at Martinsville. After setting fast time in practice Saturday, followed by a strong 6th place qualifying effort, he became a serious threat on Sunday. Preece put the BuildSubmarines.com Ford into the lead on Lap 84 and kept it there for 41 circuits. Very much in contention, Preece was among the fastest on the Martinsville half mile, until a loose wheel in Stage Two derailed his day. Despite fighting relentlessly to regain lost position, Preece finished 23rd. Chris Buescher made his 400th career start, and used his veteran experience, working to dial in the Nerds Gummy Cluster’s Ford throughout the day, before finishing 24th. Brad Keselowski, in the TravelCenters of America Ford, faced his own challenges, diligently working to manage tire wear and maintain grip throughout the afternoon, ultimately finishing 27th.
DRIVER HIGHLIGHTS
Ryan Preece – No. 60 BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Finish: 23rd Start: 6th Laps Led: 41 Stage Results: S1- 3rd, S2-30th Headline takeaway: Ryan Preece was among the early standouts, leading 41 laps and finishing 3rd in Stage One. However, a loose wheel during Stage Two, proved costly, causing him to spin and fight from behind the remainder of the race.
Preece Quote: “This is a tough one. We had a rocket ship. The BuildSubmarines.com Ford was the car to beat today for much of Stage One. And I know we would’ve been there at the end. But this is a tough sport and things happen. We’ll go to Homestead and finish this season strong.”
Chris Buescher – No. 17 Kroger / Nerds Gummy Clusters Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Buescher Quote: “Overall, a pretty decent run. We just got caught a lap down at the end of Stage One and that really got us behind and really from there it was a matter of how the race played out. There was a lot of brake checking and crashes and that’s a little more egregious than normal. We tried a little strategy there to try to get something out of it.”
Brad Keselowski – No. 6 TravelCenters of America Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Finish: 27th Start: 23rd Laps Led: — Stage Results: S1-33rd, S2-29th Headline takeaway: Brad Keselowski fought to work his way through the field, but tight short track confines and rapid lap times by the leaders forced him to claw his way from behind. Although he fell laps behind, the team continued to grind, using wave around strategy to gather back lost laps, before finishing for 27th.
Keselowski Quote: “Not a good day. We really struggled in the first stage. Made some good adjustments and got better we just weren’t fast enough.”
Point Standings:
Buescher: 16th Preece: 14th Keselowski: 19th
Next Up:
The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the season finale’ November 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5 mile oval – Homestead, FL). The race begins at 3:00 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBC Sports and the Motor Racing Network.
About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 39th season in 2026, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Li
NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway Xfinity 500 Team Chevy Post-Race Report November 1, 2026
Byron Completes Chevrolet’s Season Sweep at Martinsville Speedway
William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team showcased a near dominate afternoon at “The Paperclip” to earn their first trip to victory lane of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Byron’s fourth coveted grandfather clock came paired with a perfect points day, with the North Carolina native sweeping the stage wins and clocking in the fastest lap of the race to bring home the win and a 76-point day. The win, Chevrolet’s record-extending 64th all-time at Martinsville in NASCAR’s premier series, capped off a season sweep for Chevrolet at the track with Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott driving the manufacturer to victory lane in the spring event.
For the second consecutive weekend, Chevrolet earned five top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series race. Chase Elliott took the checkered flag in second to give Hendrick Motorsports a one-two finish. Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen ended the afternoon in fifth to match his career-best short track result. Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon finished seventh, with Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson rounding out the effort with a hard-fought ninth-place finish.
Despite a challenging day for the defending champions, the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team will carry a 67-point lead to Homestead-Miami Speedway as they race for their third title in NASCAR’s premier series.
RACE RECAP:
Stage One:
Despite a challenging practice session, Kyle Larson laid down a strong lap in qualifying to earn the third starting position for the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series Chase at Martinsville Speedway. As the field sorted out after a couple of laps around the .526-mile venue, Larson quickly settled into the fourth position for much of the opening run. It took just 32 laps around the Virginia venue for the leaders to reach lap traffic, allowing Larson to start making gains towards closing the gap to then-race leader, Denny Hamlin. A long run building opened up the door for the first green flag pit cycle, which ultimately got underway near the halfway point of the stage. A split pit strategy saw a handful of the top-10 runners, including Larson, opt to run out the stage. But it was the fresh tires that prevailed on the run to the end of the stage. Among those who called for four tires and fuel during the cycle was crew chief Rudy Fugle, giving his driver the opportunity to make a quick march from 16th to the lead that led to the stage win.
Stage Two:
With a call for four tires and fuel under the stage break caution, the No. 24 pit crew kept their driver in position to lead the field to the green flag for Stage Two. Maintaining the lead on the restart, Byron quickly found his rhythm around “The Paperclip” – clocking the fastest lap of the race early in the run before reaching the tail-end of the field. With another green flag pit cycle on the horizon, Byron had yet to make his trip to pit road when the first natural caution of the day flew at Lap 199. While Byron and his teammate, Chase Elliott, continued to pace the field from the top-two positions, timely cautions found Larson back on the lead lap as a tight battle among the top-three title contenders ensued just inside the top-15. A caution with eight laps remaining ultimately brought the stage to a close, giving Byron the stage sweep.
Final Stage:
With both pit crews maintaining their positions in the race off pit road, it was an all-Chevrolet front row with Byron and Elliott to lead the field to the start of the final stage. Byron continued to showcase his race-contending speed, resuming the lead to pace the field to the third green flag pit cycle of the day. Fugle was on the tail-end of the cycle, ultimately calling Byron to pit road on Lap 344 before going on to retake the lead just nine laps later. Within that timeframe saw the points leader, Larson, re-enter the top-10. Settled into 10th as the leaders worked through lap traffic just before the 400-lap marker, Daniels radioed to his driver to keep his pace as they were just within the 20-lap range towards their final trip to pit road of the afternoon. Meanwhile, Byron was able to progressively build his lead as he maneuvered through lap traffic, reaching a four-second advantage as the race hit 90 laps to go. Byron’s call to pit road came with 78 laps to go, quickly cycling back up into the top position six laps later. Never looking back, Byron went on to claim the checkered flag and complete Chevrolet’s season sweep at Martinsville.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season will conclude at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Championship Race on Sunday, November 8, at 3 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Post-Race Driver Quotes:
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 11th
“It felt really good to run consistently up front today at Martinsville in the Moose Fraternity Chevrolet. The car handled well and we didn’t need any major swings at adjustments, it was just small little things all day. Unfortunately, we had a little blip there on the last pit stop which hurt us at the end but that’s how it goes sometimes. We ended the day 11th and it certainly could’ve been worse, but it felt good to run well today.”
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 7th
“Heck of a day. Proud of everyone on the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Ducks Unlimited crew. We fought all day long, making the needed adjustments and battling back when we went a lap down. Excited to be one of the seven cars to finish on the lead lap, and happy to see the momentum we’re bringing to the end of the season as we look to conclude on a high note and carry that into 2027.”
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 9th
How would you describe your day today?
“It was a difficult race. The first stage got away with us on strategy. I assumed we were just kind of playing off the No. 11 (Denny Hamlin). The second-half of the run didn’t go like we needed it to. We could have used a caution at some point to save us, but unfortunately, it went green the whole way and we got ate up. I was just hanging on, really. Fortunately, we got back on the lead lap in the second stage, and we just kind of had to fight it out from there. It was just hard to pass. I tried some runs to pass and beat my tires up. Other runs, I tried to save and it was just kind of net-whatever.
It was just a bummer day. I thought our No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet was going to be good, and I think it would have been okay had we kept the track position in Stage One. Obviously, William (Byron) and Chase (Elliott) were really, really good. I think they could have driven my car just as fast. Congrats to William and Chase, both, for the good run here. It was a good day for Hendrick Motorsports.”
I know you wanted to clinch it today, but is it a sense of relief with the points cushion heading into Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend?
“It is a sense of relief, for sure. The No. 20 (Christopher Bell) played the first stage right, and I thought things could get crazy and we could get damage in the back. We got through the day relatively clean. I didn’t lose as many points as I was expecting to today, so I’m happy with that. We’ll go to Homestead-Miami Speedway and try to collect a good points day.”
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 2nd
What more did you need in the closing laps?
“I just needed some rear tires. I was running as hard as I could go. I really fell off hard on the run before, and I think that’s probably what hurt me the most with having to make up that gap. William (Byron, race winner) had that gap to play with and he did a great job managing that. He saved and he knew I was pressing. I’m really proud of our No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet team. I thought we got our car better and better all day. That last run, I was really happy with it, but I just needed to be a little further up the road.”
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 1st
How relieving is it to get in the win column this year?
“Yeah, it’s been a tough year, but we’ve grinded and never stopped working. It means a lot for everyone on this No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet team. I think everyone’s felt it, but have worked hard and kept their heads down. To come to a place like this, where we’re traditionally good and just have an awesome performance like that, is incredible. We just kept getting a little bit better through the race and it was a lot of fun.”
How much did you have to work on the car? How many adjustments did you have over the course of the race?
“We just did little adjustments, but it’s hard to say. The track kind of came to us, and when we made that green flag stop, it just stayed good for us. It was awesome.”
Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 20th
“Solid top-20 day for our Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen team. We qualified in a decent spot, which helped us with pit stall selection. For most of the day, our Chevrolet was tight on fire off but built free as the run went on. Andy (Street, crew chief) and the guys kept adjusting on it and towards the end, the balance was better. We just kept burning the rears off it. Didn’t matter how easy I was on the pedals. Overall, a good day for our No. 33 group. Still room for improvement but today was definitely better than the spring.”
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 16th
“It was such a busy day at Martinsville, it felt like we would go from the back to the front all the time with how the cautions played out. Outside of that, I feel like we had some good pace on our Delaware Life Chevrolet, we just couldn’t find our home in the top 10. We were right around that 15-20th mark all day, but it was a clean day without a torn up race car and that is always a good thing leaving Martinsville. One more to go, so hopefully we can build on Talladega and Martinsville into Homestead-Miami Speedway to go into 2027 with some good momentum.”
Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 17th
“It was a good recovery for our team. We were three laps down at one point, but we were able to get back on the lead lap there to start the final stage and get a decent day out of it. Really proud of this No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet team, as well as Shane (Van Gisbergen) and Ross (Chastain) for having a great day, as well. It was a good day for the organization and a great day for Chevrolet. I’m excited to get to Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend and close out the season strong.”
You ran fifth at Martinsville. Can you label yourself as a fantastic short track racer?
“I definitely feel like I’m getting there, thanks to having a great team around me. Our team did a great job getting our No. 97 Wendy’s Chevrolet better from yesterday and I qualified badly. It was a great day. The first stage was awesome with the different strategies. We managed to stay on the lead lap and we just kept working forward. I enjoyed it.”
About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future.
GM Motorsports, including the Cadillac Formula 1® Team develops and proves advanced technologies in the most demanding environments, accelerating innovation in performance, safety, efficiency, and electrification for its production vehicles. Cadillac Racing is one of the leading manufacturers in the IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC). Chevrolet competes in single seaters in the US IndyCar series, and in NASCAR with multiple team partners and drivers. Corvette customer teams compete in GT series across the globe including IMSA and WEC. Learn more at GM.com.
Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester/Ducks Unlimited Chevrolet Team Earn Strong Seventh-Place Finish at Martinsville Speedway
Finish: 7th Start: 20th Points: 24th
“Heck of a day. Proud of everyone on the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester/Ducks Unlimited crew. We fought all day long, making the needed adjustments and battling back when we went a lap down. Excited to be one of the seven cars to finish on the lead lap, and happy to see the momentum we’re bringing to the end of the season as we look to conclude on a high note and carry that into 2027.” -Austin Dillon
Solid Day for Austin Hill and the No. 33 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet Team at Martinsville Speedway
Finish: 20th Start: 17th Points: 31st
“Solid top-20 day for our Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen team. We qualified in a decent spot, which helped us with pit stall selection. For most of the day, our Chevrolet was tight on fire off but built free as the run went on. Andy (Street, crew chief) and the guys kept adjusting on it and towards the end, the balance was better. We just kept burning the rears off it. Didn’t matter how easy I was on the pedals. Overall, a good day for our No. 33 group. Still room for improvement but today was definitely better than the spring.” -Austin Hill
TY GIBBS LEADS TEAM TOYOTA WITH THIRD-PLACE FINISH AT MARTINSVILLE Toyota Places Four Cars Inside the Top 10 on Sunday
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (November 1, 2026) – Ty Gibbs finished third to lead Team Toyota in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway.
Four total Toyota Camry XSE’s finished inside the top 10, which included Gibbs, Denny Hamlin in sixth, Bubba Wallace in eighth and Christopher Bell in 10th.
Bell now sits second in the Championships standings, 67 points behind the leader heading into next weekend’s Cup Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Hamlin sits third, 70 points out and are the only drivers mathematically eligible to win the 2026 Championship behind leader Kyle Larson.
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Martinsville Speedway Race 35 of 36 – 263 miles, 500 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, William Byron* 2nd, Chase Elliott* 3rd, TY GIBBS 4th, Josh Berry* 5th, Shane Van Gisbergen* 6th, DENNY HAMLIN 8th, BUBBA WALLACE 10th, CHRISTOPHER BELL 12th, TYLER REDDICK 14th, CHASE BRISCOE 29th, ERIK JONES 31st, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK 32nd, RILEY HERBST *non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
TY GIBBS, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 3rd
How were you were able to keep track position and bring home a strong finish?
“It was just a long night. Not a lot of passing. The tire was just really sensitive and the tire was made recently. Just made the material newer and fresher and easier to wear. The 54 Monster Energy, SAIA Toyota was really fast but not fast enough. We were close enough and in contention, we’ll just go out there and go get them next week and next year.”
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 King’s Hawaiian Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 6th
How would you describe the day?
“Just really came down to stage one with us running the no-stop strategy. Lost all of our track position there. When we got to the back, then you got all those incidents, the cautions, then obviously the 22 (Joey Logano) got the 20 (Christopher Bell), and the 20 got into us. It’s racing, I guess. You’re going to have that.We just lost our track position. Once we lost our track position, the strategy, it’s hard to drive back to the front. Nobody else did. Obviously got some decent damage there.”
You’re not out of it mathematically. It’s a very steep climb. What kind of an attitude do you take into next week?
We didn’t capitalize today on Larson not getting any stage points and stuff like that. Yeah, just the first stage. The first stage was the killer for us that set us back. At the end of the first stage, not only that, we had to restart last because we had to wave around. It was just a lot of unfortunate timing of some things. For us, this weekend, it was about everything to gain, nothing to lose. We just didn’t gain enough to make it realistic.”
Some people would say next week would take a miracle. How confident are you at Homestead with your team to do your part?
“Yeah, I mean, I feel confident that I’ll be able to go there and contend. I’d love to get another win before the end of the year. I thought it was going to come today. We’ll have to get one more shot at it next week and see if we can’t get one more win.”
CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 10th
There is a big gap to (Kyle) Larson. What did you get here that was right and what did you maybe miss?
“I don’t know. I mean, I think at least myself, I got tricked into thinking I was better than I was. My team, Adam (Stevens, crew chief), did a great strategy call there in stage one to pit and got us a bunch of track position. On the Stage 2 start, I felt like I was pretty good. Adam came on the radio and said that William (Byron) was running part throttle. I’m at 100%, he’s at 80%. I don’t know, I was pretty close on the short run, then the long run I fell off. All in all, 10th is probably about where we stacked up. It was a really hectic day. It is what it is.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
Date: Nov. 1, 2026 Event: Xfinity 500 (Round 35 of 36) Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (.526-mile oval) Format: 500 laps, broken into three stages (130 laps/130 laps/240 laps)
Race Winner: William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet) Stage 1 Winner: William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet) Stage 2 Winner: William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
RWR Finish:
● Cody Ware (Started 37th, Finished 33rd / Running, completed 494 of 500 laps)
RWR Points:
● Cody Ware (35th with 262 points)
Race Notes:
● William Byron won the Xfinity 500 to score his 17th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his first of the season and his fourth at Martinsville. His margin over second-place Chase Elliott was 2.049 seconds.
● This was Chevrolet’s 891st all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory and its 10th of the season. Chase Elliott won for the Bowtie Brigade March 29 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Carson Hocevar won April 26 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Elliott won again May 3 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Shane van Gisbergen won May 10 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Daniel Suárez won May 24 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, van Gisbergen won again June 28 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, Kyle Larson won Sept. 13 at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis, Sept. 27 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City and last Sunday at Talladega.
● This was Chevrolet’s series-leading 64th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Martinsville. Chevrolet won its first race at Martinsville on May 19, 1957, with NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker.
● There were six caution periods for a total of 47 laps.
● Only seven of the 37 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Kyle Larson remains the championship leader after Martinsville with a 67-point advantage over second-place Christopher Bell.
Sound Bites:
“The lack of cautions in the first stage prevented us from getting any sort of track position. We really needed the car to rotate better in the center of the turns. It seemed like no matter what we did, the handling in the turns would not budge. The guys never gave up, and we had moments where we were able to put down some solid lap times, but just never caught the breaks we needed.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Rocket Doctor / Super.com Chevrolet
Next Up:
The NASCAR Cup Series season finale is Sunday, Nov. 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The championship race starts at 3 p.m. EST with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
JOSH BERRY, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “It was really fun. The car was really solid all day. We just needed a little bit of track position and needed to get up to the front a little bit sooner. Overall, the car was really solid. I just want to thank these guys, everybody at Wood Brothers and Team Penske, Ford Racing for everything they do for us. I’m just glad to have another good run.” WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU AND RYAN BLANEY? “Obviously, Ryan got into me pretty good there and I got up out of the groove just trying to save it and we got together.”
JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “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.” WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE? YOU HAVE A NEW CAR COMING IN 2027. “There are plenty of positives, you just got me in a negative moment after just getting out of the car. Our Mustangs are getting faster, which is great. We showed that we can be in contention at almost every track now, so those have been good gains. We’ll see what the new SC is gonna be like next year. I’m kind of excited to see what that is, but we still have one more race to try to win and we can still get to second in points, which would be an accomplishment. I’m pretty sure there’s some kind of money involved with that, so let’s go get it.”
RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE 21? “We were definitely getting better. The first stage we weren’t great, but that run where that 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. The deal in three and four, I just barely accidentally bumped the 21 and he decided to slam on the brakes and end our day. I don’t really know why after just a tiny little bit of contact, not even on purpose. He just lost his mind and unfortunately it ended our day.”
