Chevrolet fans might want to look away for a second because while the Bowtie Brigade has been flexing all season long with 14 wins and a tight manufacturer points race against Toyota, things haven’t looked nearly as shiny in the playoffs. The recent stretch of postseason races, especially Talladega, has painted a pretty different picture of who’s really got the upper hand.

And when a legend like Richard Petty weighs in, you know it’s not just another post-race hot take. Watching from the sidelines, The King had some sharp observations about how Ford and Toyota have flipped the script when it matters most. And let’s just say he didn’t sound too impressed with Chevrolet’s recent showing.

Richard Petty drops a truth bomb

Richard Petty, NASCAR’s seven-time champion and icon, recently voiced his disappointment in Chevrolet’s performance as the 2025 playoffs continue to be dominated by Ford and Toyota. Reflecting on the October Talladega race, Petty said, “When I sit there and I watch, it’s still not racing as far as I’m concerned. The No. 42 got up there and got to leading the race. They started passing him and stuff, and in 3 or 4 laps, he was running 30th.”

John Hunter Nemechek, driving the No. 42 Toyota, led laps early at Talladega (11 in total) but quickly fell back, illustrating the volatile nature of superspeedway racing but underscoring Toyota’s strength that day. Richard Petty continued, “At one time, the first six cars were Toyotas. The next time I looked up, the next five cars were Fords. The Chevrolets, as a whole, weren’t as good as those other cars.”

This observation by Richard Petty mirrored the race results. Toyotas and Fords monopolized the front (capturing the top five positions), while Chevrolets struggled to keep pace. Only Hocevar managed a top-10 for Chevrolet, with the next Chevrolet driver, Shane van Gisbergen, managing to get the 11th spot.

Unfortunately, this trend has been a hallmark of the 2025 playoffs. Outside of exceptions like the Charlotte Roval and Kansas races, where Chevrolet drivers claimed wins (Shane van Gisbergen and Kyle Larson), the majority of playoff victories have gone to Toyota and Ford competitors. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Toyota drivers and Team Penske’s Fords have largely dictated the playoff narrative in 2025.

Looking ahead to the final playoff race at Martinsville, Chevrolet fans are eager to see if their stars  — Kyle Larson, William Byron, or Chase Elliott  — can clinch a win to keep manufacturer hopes alive. Which of these accomplished drivers will rise to the occasion and deliver a championship contender Chevrolet can rally around? The answer will resonate deeply with fans as the season reaches its thrilling conclusion. But before that, there’s Martinsville.

Christopher Bell wants to join Richard Petty’s legacy

Christopher Bell heads into Martinsville Speedway with more than just a race win in mind. In fact, he aims to continue his path of matching the legendary Richard Petty’s record at the short track that has defined generations of NASCAR history. Petty, The King, holds the all-time record for Martinsville Cup Series victories with an astonishing 15 wins, spanning from 1960 to 1979, including 12 grandfather clocks – the most since the tradition started.

“So, it’s historic and Martinsville does such a good job of creating this tradition of the grandfather clock and the winner of the race getting it has become a storied trophy that everyone wants and cherishes,” Bell told WXLV-TV when speaking about the fabled trophy.

Richard Petty’s dominance at the paperclip-shaped half-mile track was a cornerstone of his seven national championships and cemented his place as NASCAR’s most prolific winner. Bell, who has already demonstrated his skill on short tracks with solid performances at Martinsville, seeks to etch his name in history by replicating this level of sustained success.

To date, Christopher Bell has one Cup Series win at Martinsville, achieved earlier in the 2022 season, and has shown he can contend with the veterans in the pressure cooker of a championship hunt. The 2025 playoffs provide the perfect backdrop for Bell to chase the same milestone as Petty, as he fights to secure a spot in the Championship 4.

Success at Martinsville would not only boost Bell’s title chances but also elevate his stature among the sport’s elite drivers. As Bell prepares to chase this historic achievement, fans wonder: Will he rise to the occasion and try to follow in The King’s path at Martinsville, or will another figure keep the crown (read clock) out of reach? The short track’s upcoming battle will be a defining chapter in both drivers’ storied careers and NASCAR history alike.