It’s the final race before a new champion will be crowned in the NASCAR Cup Series. Eight playoff drivers will be cut to four.

Even before there was a NASCAR, there was a Martinsville and today Martinsville’s half mile paper clip shaped track will determine the final four drivers that will compete for the championship next week in Phoenix.

Kyle Larson has secured his spot in the final four after two race wins.

In both the Truck and Xfinity Series races there was a lot of beating, banging, and flared tempers that resulted in double digit caution flags and even one red flag.  Even before the Cup Series drivers take to the track, the drama has begun.  Half of the field failed the pre-race inspection process on the first attempt including playoff drivers Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott.  Of the 19 cars, only the Joe Gibbs Racing number eleven car driven by Denny Hamlin failed inspection for a second time.  After passing on the third attempt, Hamlin will have to start the race from the back of the field.  He was scheduled to start the game in third place.

Kyle Larson has dominated the round of eight with two wins.  Larson will start the Xfinity 500 from the pole with Chase Elliott starting alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Xfinity 500:
Kyle Larson
Chase Elliott
Denny Hamlin – moved to the back of the field
Martin Truex Jr
Joey Logano
Brad Keselowski
Kyle Busch
Ryan Blaney
Kevin Harvick
Kurt Busch
William Byron
Christopher Bell
Alex Bowman
Austin Dillon
Chris Buescher
Ross Chastain
Bubba Wallace
Tyler Reddick
Michael McDowell
Daniel Suarez
Matt DiBenedetto
Chase Briscoe
Aric Almirola
Cole Custer
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ryan Preece
Ryan Newman
Erik Jones
Corey LaJoie
BJ McLeod
Cody Ware
Anthony Alfredo
Josh Bilicki
Joey Gase
Justin Haley
Quin Houff
Garrett Smithley
Timmy Hill

Stages one and two of the race are 130 laps each with stage three lasting 240 laps for a total of 500 laps around the half mile track.

NASCAR has called for a competition caution on lap 60.

Drivers can run around 165 laps on a single load of fuel.  They will have to make a stop for fuel during stage three.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the outside lane and takes the lead.  Chase Elliott has already made contact with another driver on lap one.

Lap three, Kyle Larson leads the race with Martin Truex Jr in second; Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

Lap five, Denny Hamlin has moved up to 31st after starting the race from the back of the field.

Lap seven, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of over half a second in front of Martin Truex Jr.

Lap 10, Joey Gase has taken his car down pit road.

Lap eleven, Kyle Larson has a one second lead on Martin Truex Jr; Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.  Denny Hamlin is in 28th place as he works his way through the field.

Lap 18, Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second on Martin Truex Jr.  Denny Hamlin is in 27th place.

Lap 25, Kyle Larson has led every lap so far and has a second and a half lead on Martin Truex Jr; Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.  Denny Hamlin is up to 25th place.

Denny Hamlin reports a tight condition in his car.

Lap 33, Kyle Larson holds a second and a half lead on Martin Truex Jr; Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

Ryan Blaney reports numerous handling issues in his car.

Lap 37, in 23rd place, Denny Hamlin has moved above the cut line with a single point over Kyle Busch.

Lap 39, Chase Elliott passes Martin Truex Jr for second; Kyle Larson leads the race by over a second. 

Leader Kyle Larson has approached slower traffic.  There are 26 cars on the lead lap with Denny Hamlin in 21st.

Lap 51, Kyle Larson’s lead is down to just half a second on Chase Elliott; Martin Truex Jr, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch round out the top five. 

There are 23 cars on the lead lap; Denny Hamlin is in 21st.

Lap 55, Chase Elliott has caught up to leader Kyle Larson.

Lap 56, Chase Elliott passes Kyle Larson for the lead.

Lap 58, now the leader, Chase Elliott is on Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s bumper and is looking to put him a lap down.

Lap 59, Martin Truex Jr has caught up to leaders Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson for a three way battle.

Lap 61, NASCAR displays the yellow flag for the competition caution.

Several of the drivers come down pit road for service.  Kyle Busch reports that the left side of his car is shaking.  Many of the drivers are reporting various handling issues in their cars.  Kyle Larson wins the race off of pit road.

Denny Hamlin was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.  Hamlin had moved up to 21st before the caution.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane on lap 68.

The top five are Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr, and Joey Logano.

Lap 71, Kyle Larson has a half second lead on Chase Elliott.

Ryan Newman spins out on lap 72 and brings out the caution flag.  Newman makes contact with Michael McDowell when he gets turned around.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 77 and holds on to the lead.

Lap 79, the top five are Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr, Brad Keselowski, and William Byron.  There are 26 cars on the lead lap.

Chase Elliott is reporting some possible electrical issues in his car.

Joey Gase is off the track.

Lap 85, Chase Elliott passes Kyle Larson for the lead; Martin Truex Jr, William Byron, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Lap 89, Ross Chastain makes a trip down pit road for a possible loose wheel.

Lap 91, Chase Elliott has a lead of over half a second on Kyle Larson; Martin Truex  Jr, William Byron, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Ryan Blaney ahs some damage to his car after contact from Austin Dillon.

Lap 104, Chase Elliott has a lead of over half a second on Kyle Larson; Martin Truex Jr, William Byron, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Lap 108, Denny Hamlin is in 16th place and up to eleven points above the cut line.

There are 24 cars on  the lead lap.

Lap 113, Chase Elliott has a one second lead on Kyle Larson; Martin Truex Jr, William Byron, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Lap 120, Denny Hamlin finally gets around Ricky Stenhouse Jr for 14th.

Lap 124, Chase Elliott has a one second lead on Kyle Larson; Martin Truex Jr, William Byron, and Brad Keselowski rounds out the top five.

There are 21 cars on the lead lap.

Austin Dillon has a hole on the right front of his car, but reports that the car is running better.

Chase Elliott wins stage one for his third stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Chase Elliott
Kyle Larson
Martin Truex Jr
William Byron
Brad Keselowski
Kyle Busch
Austin Dillon
Alex Bowman
Joey Logano
Aric Almirola

Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney are the only playoff drivers not to earn any stage points.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Kyle Larson edging out for the win off of pit road.

Kyle Larson was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 141 and gets out in front of Martin Truex Jr for the lead; Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and William Byron round out the top five.

Joey Gase is out of the race with Ryan Preece off the track.

Lap 148, Chase Elliott has a lead of nearly a half a second on Martin Truex Jr; Kyle Busch, William Byron, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Lap 151, Denny Hamlin is just outside of the top 10 in eleventh place; Kyle Larson is in 21st with 22 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 153, William Byron passes Kyle Busch for third.

Lap 157, Chase Elliott has a lead of over half a second on Martin Truex Jr; William Byron, Kyle Busch, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.  Denny Hamlin has entered the top 10.  Joey Logano is having some handling issues and is mired back in the field.

Lap 168, Now in the top 10, Denny Hamlin is secrely above the cut line and a part of the final four.

Lap 170, Chase Elliott has pulled out to a one second lead on Martin Truex Jr; William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Kyle Busch round out the top five..  There are 22 cars on the lead lap.  Ryan Preece has returned to the track 54 laps down.

Kyle Larson has moved up to 16th place after a speeding penalty.

Lap 176, Chase Elliott’s lead is now a second and a half on Martin Truex Jr.

Kyle Busch tells his team that he needs “a lot of help” with his car.

Lap 180, Chase Elliott has a sone second lead on Martin Truex Jr; William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

Ryan Newman has to make an unscheduled pit stop for a tire rub after some three wide racing.

Lap 185, Ryan Blaney is in leader Chase Elliott’s sight and in danger of going a lap down.

Lap 194, Chase Elliott has a one second lead on Martin Truex Jr; William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.  There are 21 cars on the lead lap.

The fourth caution flag comes out on lap 197 when Austin Dillon gets into the wall with a flat tire.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Martin Truex Jr winning the race off of pit road.  Tyler Reddick is caught speeding on pit road.  The pit road speed for Martinsville is a very pedestrian 30mph.

Martin Truex Jr brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 204 and edges out Chase Ellitt for the initial lead, but Chase Elliot comes from the outside lane to pass Truex for the lead.

The top five are Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr, William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Kyle Busch.

Lap 209, Kyle Busch passes Alex bowman for fourth.

Lap 211, Chase Elliott has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Martin Truex Jr; William Byron, Kyle Busch, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.  There are 20 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 218, Chase Elliott has increased his lead to over a second on Martin Truex Jr; William Byron, Kyle Busch, and Alex Bowman round out the top five. 

Timmy Hill is off the track.

Lap 219, William Byron passes Martin Truex Jr for second.

Lap 222, the top five are Chase Elliott, William Byron, Martin Truex Jr, Alex Bowman, and Kyle Busch.

Lap 229, Chase Elliott has a one second lead on William Byron; Alex Bowman, Martin Truex Jr, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.  Kyle Larson has entered the top 10 after his speeding penalty.

Lap 223, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch battle for sixth with Hamlin taking the spot.

There are only 20 cars on the lead lap with Timmy Hill and Joey Gase out of the race.

Kyle Busch is still asking for help…including with himself.

Lap 238, Chase Elliott has a one second lead on Alex Bowman; William Byron, Martin Truex Jr, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Currently Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano are all below the cut line and in danger of elimination from the playoffs.

Lap 251, Denny Hamlin has passed Christopher Bell for fifth place.

Lap 252, it’s a Hendrick Motorsports 1-2-3 with Chase Elliott leading the way with Alex Bowman in second and William Byron in third; Martin Truex Jr  and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

When the race began, Denny Hamlin was 32 points above the cut line, he is now 34 points above after getting into the top five.

Chase Elliott wins stage two for the stage sweep.

Chase Elliott has earned enough points to secure a spot in the final four and a chance to defend his title.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Chase Elliott
William Byron
Alex Bowman
Martin Truex Jr
Denny Hamlin
Aric Almirola
Christopher Bell
Brad Keselowski
Kyle Busch
Kurt Busch

Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano failed to earn any stage points.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Chase Elliott winning the race off of pit road.  Kyle Busch was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

Chase Elliott brings the field down pit road for the green flag start of stage three on lap 270 and gets out in front of team mate Alex Bowman for the lead.

The top five are Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, and William Byron.  Kyle Busch is the last car on the lead lap in 20th place.

Justin Haley has to bring his car down pit road for an unscheduled pit stop with a smoking tire.

Lap 279, Chase Elliott has a lead of over a second on Denny Hamlin; Alex Bowman, William Byron, and Aric Almirola rounding out the top five.

Lap 282, Alex Bowman and Denny Hamlin battle for second with William Byron looking to make it a three way battle.

Lap 284, Chase Elliott has a near two second lead on Alex Bowman; Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.

Lap 287, Bubba Wallace gets up the track after some contact with Erik Jones, but the track stays green.

Lap 288, Chase Elliott has led 207 laps so far and currently has a two second lead on Alex Bowman.

Lap 297, Chase Elliott has a near two second lead on Alex Bowman; William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.  Kyle Busch has failed to move through the field after a speeding penalty.  He is currently in 18th place.

Lap 303, Alex Bowman has closed the gap on leader Chase Elliott to under a second.

Lap 310, Alex Bowman has caught up to leader Chase Elliott.

Josh Bilicki brings out the caution flag when he spins out and hits the wall after some contact with Corey LaJoie.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Chase Elliott winning the race off of pit road.  Bubba Wallace was caught speeding on pit road.

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 320 with Denny Hamlin alongside.  Chase Elliott gets out in front for the lead.  Denny Hamlin missed a shift.

Lap 321, the top five are Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin Martin Truex Jr, and Aric Almirola.

Quin Houff brings out the caution flag when Josh Bilicki sends him into the wall on lap 323.  Quin Houff took exception with Josh Bilicki sending him into the wall and purposely spin Bilicki out.  NASCAR has penalized Houff five laps for the infraction.

During the caution, Joey Logano brings his car down pit road for adjustments and fresh tires.

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 330 and holds on to his lead but gets a challenge from Alex Bowman.

The top five are Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and William Byron.

Ryan Blaney has a possible tire rub after some beating and banging on the track.

Lap 337, Chase Elliott has a lead of over half a second on Alex Bowman; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and William Byron round out the top five.

Ryan Newman brings out the eighth caution flag on lap 340.  Ross Chastain and Newman make contact before Newman hits the wall.

Several drivers come down pit road for service. Joey Logano stays out on the track and will be the race leader.

The drivers are on the edge of their pit window to make it to the end of the race on fuel.

Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag restart on alp 346 and edges out for the lead with Chase Elliott in second.

The top five are Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, Martin Truex Jr, and Kyle Larson.  Kyle Busch ahs entered the top 10.

As the air temperatures cool, the handling of the cars also changes.

Lap 351, Chase Elliott passes Joey Logano for the lead.  Putting Joey Logano in second also puts him back below the cut line.

Alex Bowman battles with Joey Logano to take second place.

Martin Truex Jr has liquid coming out of his car and may possibly have an overheating issue.

Lap 355, the top five are Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr, and Joey Logano.

Cole Custer spins out to bring out the ninth caution flag of the race on lap 356.  Custer keeps his car off the wall and does not hit any other cars.

Martin Truex Jr is recycling his engine to avoid any overheating issues.

Denny Hamlin reports that he could not feel when the jack dropped; he lost a few spots as a result.

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restar on lap 363 and beats out team mate Alex Bowman for the lead.

The top five are Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Larson, and William Byron.  There are 23 cars on the lead lap.

Brad Keselowski and Christopher Bell make contact but the track stays green.

Lap 370, Chase Elliott has a half second lead on Alex Bowman; Martin Truex Jr, William Byron, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

The caution flag comes out on lap 379 when Daniel Suarez spins out.

Drivers come down pit road for service.  Chase Elliott reports that his car is getting tighter.  Chase Elliott wins the race off of pit road but not all of the drivers made a pit stop.

Kyle Larson is caught speeding on pit road for a second time.  Larson was pushing Denny Hamlin when he was charged with speeding.

After staying out on the track, Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with 116 laps remaining in the race.

It was a fortunate caution flag for Martin Truex Jr who had a loose wheel.

Martin Truex Jr takes the lead with Austin Dillon in second; Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Joey Logano round out the top five.

With 112 laps to go, Denny Hamlin passes Martin Truex Jr for the lead.

With 109 laps to go, Chase Elliott passes Joey Logano for fourth; Deny Hamlin leads the race with Martin Truex Jr in second with Austin Dillon in third.

Lap 393, Denny Hamlin has a lead of over half a second on Martin Truex Jr; Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.

Lap 405, Denny Hamlin has a lead of over half a second on Martin Truex Jr; Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, and Austin Dillon round out the top five.

With 89 laps to go, there are 23 cars on the lead lap.

Five of the eight playoff drivers are in the top 10.

Lap 417, Denny Hamlin has a near one second lead on Martin Truex Jr;  Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, and Austin Dillon round out the top five.

Lap 421, Brad Keselowski battles with Austin Dillon for fifth.

Alex Bowman passes Chase Elliott for third.  After leading 289 laps, Elliott is losing the handling in his car.

Brad Keselowski passes Austin Dillon for fifth.

Lap 426, Denny Hamlin has pulled ut to a lead of over a second on Martin Truex Jr.  Alex Bowman is on Truex’ bumper and challenging for the spot.

The eleventh caution flag comes out on lap 437 when Austin Dillon gets into the wall with a flat tire.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Denny Hamlin winning the race off of pit road. 

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart with 57 laps remaining in the race.  Hamlin gets out in front for the lead with Alex Bowman in second; Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Lap 446, Alex Bowman battles with Denny Hamlin for the lead; Hamlin holds him off.

Lap 450, Martin Truex Jr has an issue with his car, the track stays green.  He has a bad fender rub after contact with Brad Keselowski.

Lap 452, Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman battle for the lead; Chase Elliott , Brad Keselowski, and William Byron round out the top five.

The caution flag comes out when Brad Keselowski makes contact with Chase Elliott and sends Elliott around.

A few drivers come down pit road for service including Chase Elliott.  NBC Sports reports say that none of the teams have any fresh sticker tires.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart with 40 laps remaining in the race.  Alex Bowman is alongside on the outside lane.  Hamlin gets out in front for the lead with Alex Bowman in second.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr spins out and brings out the  caution flag.  Bubba Wallace also has some severe damage to his car.

Kyle Larson brings his car down pit road for some damage to the car.

Bubba Wallace comes down pit road for repairs.

Denny Hamlin again brings the field down for the green flag restart with 34 laps remaining in the race.  Hamlin gets out in front for the lead with Alex Bowman and Brad Keselowski in a battle for second.

Lap 468, Martin Truex Jr makes it a three way battle for second.

Lap 469, Denny Hamlin leads the race; Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, William Byron, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

Martin Truex Jr gets into the wall.

Ryan Preece spins out to bring out the caution flag.

A few drivers come down pit road but Martin Truex Jr was not one of them.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 23 laps remaining in the race.  Denny Hamlin gets out in front with Alex Bowman in second.  Hamlin and Bowman battle for the lead with Hamlin holding on to the lead.

The top five are Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and William Byron.

With 17 laps to go, Brad Keselowski battle with Kyle Busch for third and Martin Truex Jr fights for every spot he can in an attempt to move above the cult line.

Lap 486, Alex Bowman continues to battle with leader Denny Hamlin.

Ten to go, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr are tied for the final spot in the final four.

Nine to go, Denny Hamlin leads the race with Alex Bowman continuing to battle for the lead; Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and William Byron round out the top five.

The 15th caution flag of the race comes out with just six laps remaining in the race when Denny Hamlin spins out after Alex Bowman gets loose and makes contact.  Alex Bowman takes the lead.

Martin Truex Jr gets around Kurt Busch and is now one point above the cut line, putting Kyle Busch below the cut line.

For the third time this weekend, the race goes into overtime.

Alex Bowman brings the field down for the two lap overtime shootout to the finish.  Alex Bowman takes the lead but Kyle Busch is coming from the outside.

Alex Bowman takes the white flag with Kyle Busch in second.

Alex Bowman wins his fourth race of the season and another win by a non-playoff driver.  Brad Keselowski gets into Kyle Busch and spins him around.  Kenny Hamlin drives up to face off with Alex Bowman and pushes the car before he drives away after the crew chief said, “big picture”.

Despite finishing in second place, Kyle Busch fell three point short of making the final four.  Penske Racing drivers Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano also failed to make the final four.

The four drivers that will compete for the championship are Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr.

The unofficial results of the Xfinity 500:
Alex Bowman
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Martin Truex Jr
William Byron
Aric Almirola
Kurt Busch
Erik Jones
Chris Buescher
Joey Logano
Ryan Blaney
Kevin Harvick
Austin Dillon
Kyle Larson
Matt DiBenedetto
Chase Elliott
Christopher Bell
Tyler Reddick
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Anthony Alfredo
Corey LaJoie
Chase Briscoe
Cole Custer
Denny Hamlin
Bubba Wallace
Michael McDowell
Ross Chastain
Daniel Suarez
BJ McLeod
Cody Ware
Justin Haley
Ryan Newman
Garrett Smithley
Quin Houff
Josh Bilicki
Ryan Preece
Timmy Hill
Joey Gase