With only one out of four places secured for the finale in Phoenix, the importance of the forthcoming race in Martinsville cannot be overstated. Although Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott are predicted to advance comfortably, the remaining one spot can turn the race on Sunday into a mini Last 4 itself, with five drivers going for one spot.

As always, the weather will play a key role in what promises to be an action-packed race.

The weather forecast suggests cloudy skies, cooler temperatures, and a chance of showers with highs of 58°F and lows of 48°F and westerly winds, 4-8 mph on Saturday.

But the conditions on Sunday are expected to remain dry and sunny with occasional clouds dry with highs of 68°F and lows of 40°F with NW winds, 8-14 mph.

So, if the track experiences rain on Saturday, we could see the racing action increasing on Sunday or even going into the next week on Monday.

Trick or treat for drivers at Martinsville

Interestingly, the race is falling on the Halloween weekend. But the only driver who is sure of a treat is Kyle Larson.

The Hendricks driver won his third consecutive race in Kansas and automatically advanced to the Last 4. Even though he isn’t the favourite for a win, if he somehow manages to do so, his fourth consecutive win will put him in elite company.

However, Larson is only second in prediction odds going into the weekend.

The favourite to take chequered flag is Martin Truex Jr. The Gibbs driver has won three of the last four races in Martinville with the most recent earlier this year.

Kyle Busch will also look to make it into the Last 4 after missing out in 2020.

Brad Keselowski also remained confident in anticipating a good result for his team but the driver currently sits in seventh place, so naturally, things would be difficult for him.

You wouldn’t rule out an upset at this stage of the series. Last year, it was heartbreak for Kevin Harlock but even though he’s out of playoffs this year, he can still cause damage to those fighting for a spot as he could be motivated for ‘other reasons’.

But still, it’s quite unusual for a race to be won by a driver who is not in the top eight at this point of the season, so that’s all the more reason why this Halloween weekend will be full of drama.

Also Read: Chase Elliott Reveals the ‘Biggest’ Lesson He Learned from Surprise 2020 Title Assault