The 1995 Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway remains one of the most iconic races in NASCAR history. With just 8 laps remaining, ‘The Intimidator’ executed a textbook bump and run on Rusty Wallace, nudging his No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet ahead to claim his 67th career victory in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The win not only showcased Earnhardt’s aggressive driving style but also significantly reduced his points deficit to Jeff Gordon, intensifying the championship battle.

Fast forward to 2025 and Martinsville once again takes center stage, this time as the pivotal Round of 8 elimination race in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. With Chase Briscoe and Hamlin already having secured their spots in the Championship 4, the remaining contenders face a high-stakes showdown. The half-mile paperclip-shaped track is set to deliver its trademark close-quarter racing, where every lap could determine who advances to the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. As the playoff field narrows, drivers must navigate the tight turns and aggressive competition, knowing that only two will continue their championship quest.

NASCAR Martinsville weekend schedule

Martinsville is set to host a full-house event. All NASCAR national series returned to Martinsville, bringing a high-stakes showdown for drivers aiming to secure a spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. Action kicks off Thursday with MX-5 and Modified practice and qualifying from 3:48 pm, followed by the IMSA MX-5 at 6 pm and Modified 200 at 7:30 pm. Friday will feature the long-awaited Truck Series practice and qualifying at 2 pm, leading into the Slim Jim 200 at 6 pm, with stages ending on laps 50, 100, and 200.

Saturday ramps up with Xfinity Series practice and qualifying at 1 pm, Cup Series practice and qualifying at 4:30, and the pre-race show at 7 pm. The IAA and Richie Bros. 250 at 7:30 pm, covering 250 laps across four stage segments. And then finally, the most elevated event of all, Sunday’s elimination round, the Xfinity 500, airing on NBC with a 1:30 pm race and 2 pm green flag, running 500 laps with stages ending on laps 130, 260, and 500. Temperatures will sit in the 60s and 50s in the afternoon with a minimal 5% chance, keeping conditions ideal for close-quarter racing.

Martinsville isn’t just another stop on the NASCAR schedule; it is where championship dreams are made and broken. With total purses of $9,797,935 in Cup, $1,651,939 in Xfinity, and $782,900 in Trucks, the stakes are sky high and every lap counts. Every payout, every contingency, and every charter point adds to the intensity, making this one of the most fiercely contested weekends of the year. But one major question looms. Who gets to take home the big prize?

Ryan Blaney is the favorite for Martinsville

Ryan Blaney enters as the opening odds-on favorite at +375, having won the last two fall Martinsville races. And this could be the chance for him to erase the -47 points deficit to clinch his spot in the Championship 4. Denny Hamlin, one of the championship contenders at Phoenix, sits close behind at +500 with Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson all listed at +600.

William Byron follows at +750, and the defending champion, Joey Logano, who is also looking to better his -38 points deficit, is at +800, with Chase Briscoe (+1600) rounding out the drivers most likely to contend. Long shots include Carson Hocevar at +8,000 and Justin Haley at +12,500, while part-time injuries like Casey Mears have odds of +25,000. With a full field of 37 drivers entered, including the loan part-time competitor, Mears, the Cup race promises a high-octane battle on the paper clip.

On the half-mile paperclip, there is no room for mistakes. Championship 4 berths are on the line, and drivers will battle door-to-door and in the tightest, most unforgiving corners in the sport. From Ryan Blaney’s favorite odds to high-pressure moves in the braking zone, Martinsville promises all the strategy, grit, and edge-of-your-seat racing that have made it a fan favorite for decades.