NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Elimination Race at Martinsville Speedway: Preview and Prediction

The NASCAR Cup Series field moves to Martinsville Speedway for the final elimination race of the season. By winning at Texas, Kyle Busch ensured that it all comes down to the final race of the season before the championship race next Sunday. And so it does, as three spots are yet to be booked for Phoenix.

Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, and Brad Keselowski sit pretty on points and hold three cutoff spots. Keselowski, not one of the original favorites to make the Phoenix race, now has a great chance as he starts on pole position at Martinsville. He has two wins in 21 races at the short track but has a very good average finish there.

Can Martin Truex Jr. do a Denny Hamlin at Martinsville?

Sharing the front row with him is Martin Truex Jr. The Joe Gibbs Racing star aims for a hat-trick of wins at the track. Martinsville could not have come at a better time for Truex Jr., as he sits 36 points off the cutoff spot. He won the spring race there earlier this season, as well as the playoff race in 2019.

Truex Jr. also has finished in fourth place or better in five of his last six races at the track. He certainly knows how to get the job done under pressure at this venue. A second-place finish mid-week at Texas should also help his confidence.

Denny Hamlin is a contender wherever he goes. Seven wins so far this season is a testament to that, and Hamlin’s record at Martinsville also boosts his chances. He earned the fourth-place on the starting line-up for the race.

While Truex Jr. aims for three straight wins at Martinsville, Hamlin has already done so before. He has three top-5 finishes in his last four races there and has five wins at the track.

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How do the other NASCAR Cup Series playoff drivers fare?

Kevin Harvick, for whom anything less than a win is considered an upset these days, is four races without a top-5 at Martinsville.

Chase Elliott, on the other hand, finished fifth earlier this year at the short-track but does not have a lot to go by. He knows he needs a very good finish, probably a win to make it through, and is quite capable of that.

Alex Bowman is someone who can stun the field too. He has delivered a few consistent performances off late and starting in third place, he can make a serious run.

The dark-horses

The man Bowman replaces next season, Jimmie Johnson, has the most wins at Martinsville among active drivers. In his second but last NASCAR race, Johnson will be motivated to make it ten wins at the track.

Clint Bowyer, also in his last race at Martinsville, will aim to make a good run. Kurt Busch needs nothing short of a win and will make a run for his third ‘Grandfather Clock’ trophy.

A short-track race can produce some exciting action on the track, and nothing less is expected in the most important race of the season so far. With so much at stake, tensions will run high.

Prediction: Denny Hamlin to win, with Martin Truex Jr challenging him.

Read more – All You Need to Know About the Iconic and Unique Trophy for the NASCAR Race at Martinsville Speedway