Last week the Craftsman Truck Series secured their championship four for the final race of the season in Phoenix.  This week the Xfinity and Cup Series will decide who will compete for the championship.

Thirty-nine teams brought cars to Martinsville Speedway for 38 starting spots in the Dead On Tools 250.

After the drivers were divided into two groups for a 20 minute practice session, all 39 drivers will make a single car two lap qualifying run for the pole and to set the lineup.

Sam Mayer is the only driver in the round of eight who has secured a spot in the Championship Four.  Seven drivers will be in a battle for the three remaining champion four spots.

Currently John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, and Austin Hill are all above the cut line; while Justin Allgaier, Samy Smith, Chandler Smith, and Sheldon Creed are all below the cut line.  Of the drivers below the cut line, only Justin Allgaier at three below the line has a chance to move above the line by earning stage points.  The two Smiths and Creed are all in a must win situation if they want to advance to the championship round.

Martinsville is one of a very few concrete tracks on the NASCAR circuit.  It is also a track that the amount of rubber laid down on the track is determined by how hot the temperatures are.  The warmer the weather, the more rubber that gets built up on the track – rubber that the drivers can’t drive through and have to straddle and avoid.

After both practice sessions, Blaine Perkins sits at the top of the leaderboard with six of the eight playoff drivers in the top 10.

The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Timmy Hill who posted a time of 20,863 seconds around the half mile track.

After making his practice round, NASCAR saw something that they did not like about the 19 car driven by Myatt Snider.  NASCAR took the car back through inspection and it passed.  Snider will make his normal qualifying run.

Jeb Burton will not make a qualifying run after a leak was discovered in the radiator.  The leak is being repaired and he will have to start the race from the back of the field.

With a time of 20.035 seconds Sammy Smith puts his number 18 car on the pole for his first ever pole; fellow playoff driver Justin Allgaier will start alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Dead On Tools 250:
Sammy Smith
Justin Allgaier
Cole Custer
Riley Herbst
John Hunter Nemechek
Brandon Jones
Chandler Smith
Sheldon Creed
Austin Hill
Parker Retzlaff
Myatt Snider
Josh Berry
Ryan Sieg
Daniel Hemric
Parker Kligerman
Brett Moffitt
Sam Mayer
Josh Bilicki
Layne Riggs
Jeremy Clements
JJ Yeley
Anthony Alfredo
Kaz Grala
Josh Williams
Connor Mosack
Rajah Caruth
Brenna Poole
Kyle Sieg
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Chad Finchum
Blaine Perkins
Ryan Ellis
Joe Graf Jr
CJ McLaughlin
Chris Hacker
Akinori Ogata
Devin Jones
Jeb Burton

Timmy Hill failed to qualify for the race.

Stages one and two of the race are 60 laps each with stage three lasting 130 laps for a total of 250 laps around the half mile paperclip shaped track.

Devin Jones, Bett Moffit, Chris Hacker, and Jeffrey Earnhardt will have to start the race from the back of the field after the crews made some unapproved adjustments to the cars.  Jeb Burton is starting the race from the back of the field after he was unable to make a qualifying run after an issue with the radiator.

Former driver and NBC broadcaster compared racing at Martinsville like a prize fight in a phone booth.

Sammy Smith brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Justin Allgaier alongside with Smith getting out in front for the lead from the inside lane.  Justin Allgaier and Cole Custer battle for second.

Lap two, Sammy Smith has a half second lead on Justin Allgaier; Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.

Lap five, Sammy Smith has a near one second lead on Justin Allgaier.

Joe Graf Jr brings out the first caution flag on lap six when he spins out with a flat tire.

Sammy Smith brings the field down for the green falg restart from the inside lane with Justin Allgaier on the outside on lap eleven.  Smith edges out in front for the lead with Allgaier in second on Sammy Smith’s bumper.

Lap 12, the top five are Sammy Smith, Kustin Allgaier, Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, and Riley Herbst.

Lap 15, Sammy Smith has a half second lead on Justin Allgaier; John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, and Riley Herbst round out  the top five.

Lap 19, Sammy Smith has a lead of over half a second on Justin Allgaier; John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.

Lap 22, Sammy Smith holds a half second lead on Justin Allgaier; John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.

Laap 32, Sammy Smith has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Justin Allgaier as he encounters slower traffic and has begun to lap cars.

The top five are Sammy Smith, Justin Allgaier, John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, and Riley Herbst.

Lap 39, Justin Allgaier has closed the gap on leader Sammy Smith to under half a second; John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, and Riley Herbst continue to round out the top five. 

Kyle Sieg brings out the second caution flag of the race on lap 41 after he is topped on the track with a damaged car from apparently hitting the wall with a flat tire.

Some of the drivers come down pit road including leader Sammy Smith. 

Layne Riggs was charged with going through too many pit boxes and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

After staying out in the track, Justin Allgaier brings the field down for the green flag restart with eleven laps remaining in stage one.  Allgaier gets out in front of John Hunter Nemechek to hold on to the lead.

The top five are Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Hill, and Josh Bilicki.

Lap 52, Sammy Smith has already moved inside the top 10 in eighth.

Brandon Jones has a heavily smoking car with an apparent tire rub.

Six laps remain in stage one; Justin Allgaier has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Cole Custer; John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Hill, and Anthony Alfredo round out the top five with Sammy Smith up to sixth.

Sammy Smith battles with Anthony Alfredo for fifth and gets the spot. 

Justin Allgaier wins stage one…and the 10 extra points.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Justin Allgaier
Cole Custer
John Hunter Nemchek
Austin Hill
Sammy Smith
Anthony Alfredo
Riley Herbst
Myatt Snider
Chandler Smith
Josh Bilicki

The drivers who did not make a pit stop at the last caution come down pit road for service with Cole Custer winning the race off of pit road.

Sammy Smith is again the leader and brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 69.  Smith gets out in front of Myatt Snider for the lead.  After winning stage one, Justin Allgaier is back in 24th place.

Lap 71, the top five are Sammy Smith, Myatt Snider, Chandler Smith, Riley Herbst, and Josh Berry.

The caution flag comes out for a wreck on lap 73 involving playoff driver Cole Custer and Layne Riggs – Custer hits Riggs and spins him out

Sammy Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 80 with Chandler Smith alongside.  Sammy Smith gets out in front for the lead with Chandler Smith in second; Myatt Snider, Josh Berry, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.

Lap 83, Josh Berry battles with Chandler Smith for third and gets the spot.

There are 34 cars on the lead lap with Kyle Sieg the only car out of the race.

Lap 86, Chandler Smith and Riley Herbst battle for fourth.

Lap 87, Sammy Smith has pulled out to a lead of over a second and a half on Myatt Snider.

Ryan Sieg brings out the caution falg when he spins out.  Sieg gets the car moving again.

Just a few drivers come down pit road for service.

Crew chief Jason Ratcliff is making race start number 800 in today’s race.  Ratcliff has announced that he is retiring at the end of the season to spend more time with family.

Sammy Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 95 with Josh Berry alongside.  Smith pulled out in front for the lead with Josh Berry in second.  Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.

Lap 98, the top five are Sammy Smith, Josh Berry, Myatt Snider, Sheldon Creed, and Chandler Smith.

Lap 111, Sammy Smith has a lead of over a second on Josh Berry; Myatt Snider, Sheldon Creed, and Chandler Smith round out the top five.

Sammy Smith is reporting some possible brake issues; saying that it was just weird.

There are 33 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 117, Sammy Smith’s lead on Josh Berry is down to under a second.

Sammy Smith wins stage two.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Sammy Smith
Josh Berry
Myatt Snider
Sheldon Creed
Kas Grala
Parker Retzlaff
Chandler Smith
Cole Custer
Brandon Jones
Riley Herbst

John Hunter Nemechek has secured a spot in the Championship Four.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Sam Mayer wins the race off of pit road after taking fuel only.

JJ Yeley was caught speeding on pit road.

Ryan Sieg and Layne Riggs stay out on the track.

Layne Riggs brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 130 with Riggs getting out in front.

Lap 131 the top five are Layne Riggs, Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith, Ryan Sieg, and Myatt Snider.

The drivers can make it to the end of the race on fuel.

Sammy Smith passes Layne Riggs for the lead on lap 134.  Smith has led over 100 laps so far today.

Lap 136, Sammy Smith has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Layne Riggs; Myatt Snider, Josh Berry, and Sam Mayer.  Myatt Snider passed Layne Riggs for second.

Lap 140, Sammy Smith has a lead of over two seconds on Myatt Snider; Josh Berry, Layne Riggs, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.

There are several complaints from drivers that Sheldon Creed’s number two car is throwing fluid out of his car.  There is some evidence of fluid on Cole Custer’s windshield.

Justin Allgaier has entered the top 10.

Lap 145, Sammy Smith now has a three second lead on Myatt Snider; Josh Berry, Layne Riggs, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.

Lap 148, Cole Custer enters the top five.

The caution flag comes out on lap 153 when Layne Riggs spins out after contact from Sam Mayer.  He gets the car moving again.

Several drivers come down pit road for service including playoff drivers Justin Allgaier and Austin Hill.  This is the last set of sticker tires for the drivers who came down pit road.

Sammy Smith brings the filed down for the green flag restart with 90 laps remaining in the race with JMyatt Snider alongside.  Smith jumps out in front for the lead with Josh Berry and Myatt Snider in a battle for second.

Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.

The caution flag comes out with 88 laps to go when Akinori Ogata spins out.

A few more drivers come down pit road for their final set of tires.

Connor Mosack was caught speeding on pit road.

Chandler Smith was charged with having too many crew members over the wall and will have to restart from the back of the field.  He is also having some overheating issues.

Sammy Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart with 82 laps remaining in the race.  Smith gets back out in front for the lead with Josh Berry in second; Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, and Riley Herbst round out the top five.

With 79 laps to go, Sammy Smith has a lead of nearly a second on Josh Berry; Cole Custer, Riley Herbst, and john Hunter Nemechek round out the top five.

Devin Jones is out of the race with 34 cars on the lead lap.

Parker Kligerman is slowed on the track and brings out the ninth caution flag with a flat tire.

Drivers are making pit stops including Sammy Smith and Cole Custer.  Custer is reporting some voltage issues in his car.

Sam Mayer, Josh Berry, and Chris Hacker make contact on pit road.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with Austin Hill alongside with just 68 laps remaining in the race.

The top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, Anthony Alfredo, and Layner Riggs.

Drivers are three wide across the track.  Connor Mosack brings out the 10th caution flag of the race.  Myatt Snider makes contact in a three wide battle.  Cole Custer, Kaz Grala, and Jeremy Clements were also involved.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane with 54 laps remaining in the race.  Nemechek and Austin Hill go side by side in a battle for the lead with Austin Hill taking the lead on lap 19.

The caution flag comes out for Akinori Ogata’s sin out.

Chandler Smith is out of the race with mechanical issues..

Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag restart with John Hunter Nemechek alongside on lap 206.  Nemechek edges out for the lead.

The 12th caution flag comes out on lap 207 for a wreck involving JJ Yeley and Ryan Ellis.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with 36 laps remaining in the race.  Nemechek edges out in front for the lead with Austin Hill in second; Sheldon Creed and Justin Allgaier  battle for third.

With 32 laps to go, John Hunter Nemechek leads the race; Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, Sammy Smith, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.

Kaz Grala brings out caution flag number 13 with 30 laps remaining in the race. 

Layne Riggs is on pit road with the hood up.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with Austin Hill alongside.  There are just 25 laps remaining in the race.  Nemechek holds on to the lead with Sheldon Creed and Sammy Smith in a battle for third.

Sammy Smith passes Sheldon Creed for third with Justin Allgaier on his bumper.

Twenty to go, John Hunter Nemechek has a lead of over half a second on Austin Hill; Sammy Smith, Justin Allgaier, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five.

Sheldon Creed bumps Justin Allgaier and sends Allgaier up the track.  Creed takes fourth with Cole Custer in fifth.  Justin Allgaier drops to sixth.

Fifteen to go; the top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Hill, Sammy Smith, Sheldon Creed, and Cole Custer.

Tying last year’s record, Anthony Alfredo spins out and brings out the 14th caution flag with 13 laps to go.

With just eight laps remaining in the race, John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with Austin Hill alongside.  Nemechek gets out in front for the lead with Austin Hill in second.  Nemechek misses the turn and Austin Hill takes the lead. 

Big crash on the backstretch with seven laps to go.  Jeb Burton and Myatt Snider make contact; spinning Snider out and causing a 12 car pile up involving Kaz Grala, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Layne Riggs, Sam Mayer, Jeremey Clements, Josh Williams, CJ McLaughlin, Rajah Caruth, Chad Finchum, Brnadon Jones, and Josh Bilicki.

The race has been red flagged.

After a 28 minute red flag to clean up the crash and fluid on the surface, NASCAR has pulled the red flag to display the yellow and the cars are moving once again as cleanup continues with just six laps remaining in the race.

Cole Custer reports that the voltage is jumping all over the place.

Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag restart for the overtime shootout with Sheldon Creed alongside.  Hill gets out in front with Sheldon Creed in second.  Sheldon Creed and Austin Hill battle for the lead with Creed in front.  Justin Allgaier comes up on the inside after hitting the wall to battle with Sheldon Creed to cross the finish line first in a photo finish.  Drivers are crashing behind the leaders.

Cole Custer’s car is wrecked with fire underneath.

The unofficial results of the Dead On Tools 250:
Justin Allgaier
Sheldon Creed
Sammy Smith
Riley Herbst
Josh Berry
Daniel Hemric
Parker Retzlaff
Anthony Alfredo
Jeb Burton
Parker Kligerman
Layne Riggs
Rajah Caruth
CJ McLaughlin
Josh Willams
Myatt Snider
Brandon Jones
Jeremy Clements
John Hunter Nemechek
Cole Custer
Brett Moffitt
Austin Hill
Blaine Perkins
Josh Bilicki
Ryan Ellis
Sam Mayer
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Chad Finchum
Kaz Grala
Joe Graf Jr
Chris Hacker
Connor Mosack
Brennan Poole
Akinori Ogata
JJ Yeley
Ryan Sieg
Chandler Smith
Devin Jones
Kyle Sieg


The final four championship drivers are:
Sam Mayer
Justin Allgaier
John Hunter Nemechek
Cole Custer