Ryan Blaney didn't have to win at Martinsville on Sunday to advance to the NASCARCup SeriesChampionship Race, but he didn't want to leave any doubt.
Blaney was dominant throughout the Xfinity 500, leading 145 laps, finishing second in Stage 1 and winning Stage 2 and the race to lock himself into the Phoenix title chase. William Byron claimed the final spot based on points, finishing 14th at Martinsville.
Blaney and Byron join Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell as the drivers who will vie for the Cup in Phoenix next weekend.
Xfinity 500 results
Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Newman (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Carson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford
Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
J.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford
Blaney wins Stage 2
Ryan Blaney won the second stage of Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway and appears to be the car to beat. Blaney started the race 11th but had battled up to second behind Denny Hamlin by the end of the opening stage.
After a brief battle following a restart off Ryan Newman’s spin, Blaney passed Hamlin for good with 30 laps left in the stage.
Hamlin takes Stage 1
Denny Hamlin won the first stage of the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, holding off fellow playoff drivers Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr.
Hamlin, who started third, and Truex Jr., who started second, both got boy pole-sitter Ty Gibbs by the end of lap 2. Hamlin then got by Truex Jr. in lapped traffic on lap 48 and held it throughout the end of the stage. Blaney was a big mover in the first stage, starting 11th after barely missing out on the final round of qualifying Saturday.
The lone caution in the stage came on lap 105 when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Harrison Burton tangled with Hamlin just behind looking to lap them.
The NASCAR Cup Series shifts to the tight confines of Martinsville to whittle the playoff field from eight to four Sunday.
Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell already know they will race for the championship Nov. 5 in Phoenix, but six others need to win or bag a good result to join them. On the positive side of the cut line are William Byron (+30) and Ryan Blaney (+10), while Tyler Reddick (-10), Denny Hamlin (-17), Martin Truex Jr. (-17) and Chris Buescher (-43) are on the outside looking in.
Last year’s penultimate race was the scene of one of the wildest scenes in NASCAR playoff history, as Ross Chastain rode the wall with the throttle wide-open in order to nose ahead of Hamlin and qualify for the final on points.
More looks at @RossChastain's move to advance to the CHAMPIONSHIP! pic.twitter.com/GA0rwVRLTM
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 30, 2022
We won't see a similar move this year, however, as NASCAR responded by outlawing the maneuver in the offseason.
Here’s what else to know ahead of the Xfinity 500:
Xfinity 500 TV/streaming schedule
All times Eastern
Saturday12:30-1:20 p.m.: Practice (USA, NBC Sports app)1:20-2:30 p.m.: Qualifying (USA, NBC Sports app)
Sunday1:30-2 p.m.: Pre-race show (NBC, NBC Sports app)2-5:30 p.m.: Xfinity 500 (NBC, NBC Sports app)
Xfinity 500 details
Track: Martinsville Raceway, .526-mile paperclip oval in Ridgeway, VirginiaRace length: 500 laps for 263 milesBanking: 12 degrees in the turns, none on straightawaysStage lengths: Stages 1 and 2 – 130 laps | Stage 3 – 240 lapsLast year's winner: Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Xfinity 500 qualifying results
Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford
Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Carson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Ryan Newman (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
J.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford
Top drivers and best bets for the Xfinity 500
Denny Hamlin needs to win or finish very close to the front in order to advance to the Championship 4, and he's headed to a track where he has won five times in his career. Understandably, he's the favorite according to BetMGM. The Hendrick Motorsports duo of Kyle Larson and William Byron sit second and third in the points standings and have the second-best odds, with both at +725. Martin Truex Jr., who sits alongside Hamlin 17 points below the cut line, is the only other driver who enters at better than 10-to-1.
Best odds to win• Denny Hamlin +325• William Byron +725• Kyle Larson +725• Martin Truex Jr. +900
Yahoo Sports' Nick Bromberg wrote on the betting market earlier in the week and, in addition to the favorites, recommends backing Christopher Bell and Joey Logano +1700. Bromberg is wary of Brad Keselowski at +700 and, if you're looking for a longshot, says Ty Gibbs is worth a look at +3000.
NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings
1. Christopher Bell* – 4,110 (-) 2.Kyle Larson* – 4084 (-)3. William Byron – 4,126 (+30) 4.Ryan Blaney – 4,106 (+10) _________________________________ Cut line5.Tyler Reddick – 4,096 (-10) 6. Martin Truex Jr. – 4089 (-17) 7. Denny Hamlin – 4089 (-17) 8.Chris Buescher – 4,063 (-43) *-Clinched entry into Championship 4
Xfinity 500 entry list
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing ChevroletAustin Cindric (2), Team Penske FordAustin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletKevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing FordKyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletBrad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing FordCorey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports ChevroletKyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletChase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletAric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing FordDenny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRyan Blaney (12), Team Penske FordChase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing FordJ.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing FordA.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing ChevroletChris Buescher (17), RFK Racing FordMartin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChristopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaHarrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing FordJoey Logano (22), Team Penske FordBubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing ToyotaWilliam Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJustin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing ChevroletMichael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports FordTodd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports FordRyan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing FordCarson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletErik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletTyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing ToyotaRicky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing ChevroletAlex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletRyan Newman (51), Rick Ware Racing FordTy Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaTy Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports ChevroletBJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports FordDaniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
