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This weekend is the NASCAR Cup race at the Martinsville Speedway. The race marks the last race in the Round of 8, and will determine who joins Kyle Larson in the season finale. So far, there are seven contenders for three vacant spots, ahead of Sunday’s elimination race. In light of this, ex NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr spoke about the seven drivers. Of course, winning the race would greatly help their cause, but what if they don’t win?

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Things should be looking up, as all challengers have been fairly successful at the track. To be precise, they have won five of the last six races at the Martinsville Speedway. He said, “When you look at the guys, they all could run in the top five, or top three. Somebody is going to get moved. They’re going to have to move each other if they are all expected to run in the top three. There’s not enough room for all of them in there. I expect there to be some hurt feelings after this one.”

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What did Dale Earnhardt Jr say about the chasing pack?

First and foremost, he talked about Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin. Apparently, Elliott only needs to rack up 20 points if Larson bags yet another win. Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Hamlin needs to score 23 points in the same scenario or if a driver with a slim chance, wins.

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According to Dale Jr, “I think they both go into a racetrack that they know they’re really good and they just have to hope that their worlds don’t collide like they have there in the past. They’re, obviously, both probably going to be running up toward the front in the top five most of the day.

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Meanwhile, Kyle Busch will advance if he scores 54 points if there is a repeat winner. Dale Jr suspected that his eligibility scenario mirrors Hamlin and Elliott. Also facing this is Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney, who needs to amass at least 55 points. The same applies for the likes of Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski.

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To be exact, Truex can clinch with 55 points, while Keselowski can sneak in with help. Finally, there is Joey Logano, who is 26 points below the cutline. His case is the most difficult, as only a win can see him get a berth, or he should get help from other drivers.

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Dhruv George

14,853 Articles

Dhruv George is EssentiallySports’ foremost authority on motorsport and a founding member of the outlet’s NASCAR desk. A Journalism graduate fluent in English and French, he brings over eight years of motorsports journalism experience covering everything from high-octane NASCAR battles to the finesse of Formula 1 and MotoGP. His extensive paddock access has earned him exclusive interviews with top names such as F1’s Pierre Gasly and Moto2’s Tony Arbolino, cementing his reputation as a trusted voice among racing fans. Known for his candid opinions, Dhruv isn’t afraid to tackle contentious officiating calls, most recently defending Joey Logano after the DYL penalty in Phoenix. Before focusing on NASCAR as a Senior Writer, Dhruv contributed extensively to EssentiallySports’ coverage of F1 and NASCAR, building a versatile and impactful sports portfolio.

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