On this final weekend before the championship races to end the season, the Cup Series caps off a triple header weekend at Martinsville Speedway with the Xfinity 500 – 500 laps around the half mile paperclip that is Martinsville.

Thirty-seven teams brought cars to Martinsville for 40 starting spots.

Martinsville offers one of the most unique and treasured trophies – the grandfather clock; but while the clock is something special, there is something else that Martinsville is known for…the hot dog!  Over the course of a race weekend, the Hot Dog stand will sell thousands and thousands of the sandwiches – reports are 70,000 hot dogs ear sold and eaten by spectators and crews.  In fact, the crews keep a running count of how many hot dogs are consumed over the weekend. The famous hot dogs were even included into the pre-race prayer!

Zane Smith has signed a contract extension and will remain behind the wheel of the 38 car for Front Row Motorsports.

The drivers have been divided into two groups for 25 minute practice sessions before making a qualifying run.

Goodyear has brought a new left side tire to Martinsville for the race.

The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Justin Haley who posted a time of 19.670 seconds.

With a time of 19.286 seconds, William Byron puts his number 24 car on the pole with Ty Gibbs starting alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Xfinity 500:
William Byron – playoffs
Ty Gibbs
Kyle Larson – playoffs
Joey Logano – playoffs
Denny Hamlin – playoffs
Cole Custer
Kyle Busch
Chase Elliott – playoffs
Chase Briscoe – playoffs
Austin Cindric
Michael McDowell
Christopoher Bell – playoffs
Ross Chastain
Tyler Reddick
Carson Hocevar
Todd Gilliland
Alex Bowman
Ryan Preece
Brad Keselowski
Austin Dillon
Bubba Wallace
Shane van Gisbergen
Zane Smith
John Hunter Nemechek
Riley Herbst
Ty Dillon
Josh Berry
Erik Jones
Chris Buescher
Daniel Suarez
Ryan Blaney – playoffs
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Aj Allmendinger
Justin Haley
Noah Gragson
Cody Ware
Casey Mears

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

Over the course of the round of eight, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe have secured spots in the championship four; there are six drivers in a battle for the final two spots.  Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Chase Elliott are all in a must win situation if they are to move on to the championship round.

William Byron brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Ty Gibbs alongside.  Byron edges out for the lead.  Ty Gibbs and Kyle Larson battle for second.

Lap three, the top five are William Byron, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano.

Lap six, William Byron has pulled out to a half second lead on Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano round out the top five.

Lap 12, Joey Logano passes Denny Hamlin for fourth.

Lap 17, Daniel Suarez has advanced 10 spots since the race start.

Chase Elliott passes Denny Hamlin for fifth.

Lap 22, Chase Elliott passes Joey Logano for fourth.

Chase Elliott passes Ty Gibbs for third.

Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin battle for fifth.

The first caution flag of the race comes out on lap 29 when Daniel Suarez spins out after some on track contact; but saved the car.

 Drivers come down pit road for service with Michael McDowell winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.

Michael McDowell brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 36 with William Byron alongside.  Byron gets out in front for the lead.

Lap 37, the top five are William Byron, Michael McDowell, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, and Denny Hamlin.

Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin pass Michael McDowell as he begins to fall through the field.

Lap 41, the top five are William Byron, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott.

Chase Elliott passes Denny Hamlin for fourth.

Joey Logano passes Kenny Hamlin for fifth.

Drivers are getting three wide – something that rarely works.

Lap 48, Chase Elliott passes Ty Gibbs for third.  The top three drivers are Hendrick Motorsports cars.

Lap 50, Joey Logano passes Ty Gibbs for fourth.

Lap 52, William Byron has a half second lead on Kyle Larson; Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Lap 57, Ryan Blaney has entered the top 20.

Lap 67, William Byron has a lead of over half a second on teammate Kyle Larson; Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.  Ryan Blaney is up to 17th after starting the race in 31st.

Lap 71, William Byron now has a one second lead on Kyle Larson.

Lap 74, Ryan Blaney passes Tyler Reddick for 16th.

William Byron is nearly two seconds out in front of Kyle Larson; Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Lap 79, Michael McDowell has fallen to 23rd.

Riley Herbst was charged with speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.  With pit road speed just 30mph, a passthrough penalty will put a driver a lap down.

There are 29 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 87, Ryan Blaney has entered the top 15.

Lap 96, William Byron’s lead is down to under a second over Kyle Larson; Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.  Ryan Blaney is just outside the top 10 in eleventh.

Due to his passthrough penalty, Riley Herbst is now three laps down in last place.

Joey Logano passes Chase Elliott for third.

Lap 106, there are 22 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 108, Ryan Blaney is now in the top 10!

Lap 115, leader William Byron has just put Kyle Busch a lap down; there are now just 17 cars on the lead lap.

With 13 laps remaining in stage one, William Byron has pulled out to a lead of over two and a half seconds on Kyle Larson.

Joey Logano passes Kyle Larson for second.

With five laps to go in stage one, there are just 14 cars on the lead lap.

With a lead of nearly two and a half seconds, William Byron wins stage one.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
William Byron
Joey Logano
Kyle Larson
Chase Elliott
Ty Gibbs
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Blaney
Christopher Bell
Todd Gilliland
Austin Cindric

Drivers come down pit road for service with Wiliam Byron winning the race off of pit road. 

William Byron brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Joey Logano alongside on lap 142.  Byron jumps out in front for the lead with Logano in second.

The top five are William Byron, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Ty Gibbs.

Lap 147, there are just 16 cars on the lead lap with William Byron leading the way a half second in front of Joey Logano.

Lap 151, the top five are William Byron, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, and Christopher Bell.

Ryan Blaney is reporting a vibration on the brake pedal.

Lap 159, William Byron holds a lead of over half a second on Joey Logano; Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, and Chase Elliott round out the top five with 15 cars on the lead lap as Byron begins lapping slower cars.

Lap 175, William Byron has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Joey Loagno; Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five with 15 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 183, William Byrn has a lead of over a second and a half on Joey Logano; Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

`Lap 194, Ryan Blaney passes Denny Hamlin for seventh.

Lap 196, William Byron is over a second in front of Joey Logano with 14 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 198, Ryan Blaney passes Christopher Bell for sixth.

Lap 204, William Byron has a one second lead on Joey Logano; Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

AJ Allmendinger was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a  passthrough penalty.

Lap 209, Christopher Bell is falling through the field with a loose car in eleventh.

The caution flag comes out on lap 216 for Carson Hocevar who spins out in a single car incident.  Kyle Laron barely missed Hocevar as he spun.

Drivers come down pit road for service with William Byron winning the race off of pit road with teammate Kyle Larson in second.

Chase Briscoe had a slow stop on pit road with lug nut issue.

William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 224 with Kyle Larson alongside. 

Byron holds on to the lead with HMS 1-2-3.

Lap 227, William Byron leads the race with Kyle Larson in second; Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano round out the top five.

The caution flag comes out on lap 230 for a spin out from Cole Custer after a stack up with Alex Bowman and Josh Berry.

William Byron has led 226 of the 231 laps run today.

A few drivers come down pit road for service.

William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart with 23 laps remaining in stage two.  Byron holds on to the lead with Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson in a battle for second.

The caution flag comes out with 19 laps remaining in stage two when Cody Ware spins out and loses a tire.  The tire is laying up against the wall.

Several drivers come down pit road including the leaders. 

William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart with Kyle Larson alongside with just eleven laps remaining in stage two.  Byron holds on to the lead with Christopher Bell in second; Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Chase Briscoe round out the top five.  Shane van Gisbergen has entered the top 10.

Six laps remain in stage two and William Byron has a near one second lead on Kyle Larson.

William Byron wins stage two for the stage sweep.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
William Byron
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell
Chase Elliott
Todd Gillliland
Chase Briscoe
Ryan Preece
Shane van Gisbergen
Tyler Reddick
Erik Jones

Drivers come down pit road for service with William Byron winning the race off of pit road, but not all of the drivers came down pit road.

Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Ryan Blaney alongside.  William Byron will restart the race in seventh place.  Reddick takes the lead but Ryan Blaney comes up on the outside to battle for the lead.

Lap 274, the top five are Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Ty Gibbs.  William Byron is in seventh.

There are 19 cars on the lead lap.

The caution flag comes out on lap 279 for a spin out by Josh Berry after a three wide battle.

Austin Dillon was charged with a commitment cone violation and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

Ryan Blaney brings the field down for the green flag restart with Denny Hamlin alongside on lap 287.  Blaney edges out for the lead with Denny Hamlin in second; Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.  William Byron is in sixth.

William Byron passes Ty Gibbs for fifth.

Lap 282, William Byron passes Tyler Reddick for fourth.

Chase Elliott passes Tyler Reddick for fifth.

Lap 285, the top five are Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Chase Elliott.

Chase Briscoe brings his car down pit road with a possible engine issue.  He thinks the car is “blowing up”.

Lap 289, Ryan Blaney has a lead of over half a second on Denny Hamlin; Joey Logano, William Byron, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Of the top five drivers only Denny Hamlin is safe, the remaining four are all in a must win situation.

There are just 18 cars on the lead lap.

Chase Briscoe is out of the race with an engine issue.

Lap 313, Ryan Blaney has a lead of over a second on Denny Hamlin; Joey Logano, William Byron, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Lap 316, William Byron passes Joey Logano for third.

Lap 320, Ryan Blaney has pulled out to a lead of nearly two seconds on Denny Hamlin; William byron, Joey Logano, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Lap 328, Ryan Blaney’s lead is down to a second and a half on Denny Hamlin; William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Joey Logano round out the top five.

Riley Herbst takes his car to the garage with a mechanical issue.

Lap 333, Christopher Bell passes Joey Logano for fifth.

Denny Hamlin is slowed on the track trailing smoke.   He makes it top pit road and the track stays green.  Hamlin is out of the race with a blown engine.

Both of the drivers who have won their way into the championship four are now out of the race.

The three drivers out of the race all drive Toyotas.

Lap 342, Ryan Blaney has a lead of over a second on William Byron; Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.

Joey Logano has dropped to seventh place.

Lap 352, leader Ryan Blaney is passing slower traffic; there is now just 16 cars on the lead lap.

William Byron is slowly closing the gap on leader Ryan Blaney; the lead is now under a second and a half.

Lap 365, Ryan Blaney’s lead is down to under a second on William Byron; Ryan Preece, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Zane Smith was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.

Lap 371, Ryan Blaney has pulled out to a one second lead on William Byron.

Denny Hamlin said that he had no warning that there was an issue with the car; adding that he felt like the car was coming to him.

Lap 374, Joey Logano is the first of the leaders to make a pit stop and begins the cycle of green flag pit stops.

Ryan Blaney makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Ross Chastain.

The caution flag comes out on lap 378 for a spinout by Erik Jones.  He had just made a pit stop and was on “cold” tires.

Brad Keselowski, Austin Cindric, and Noah Gragson were caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

With some of the drivers yet to make a pit stop, there are only seven cars on the lead lap.

Drivers who have not made a pit stop come down pit road for service.  Ryan Blaney is the leader with William Byron is second.  Blaney gets out in front for the lead.

The top five are Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, and Todd Gilliland.

There are 16 cars on the lead lap.

The caution flag comes out on lap 398 when Carson Hocevar spins out again. 

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service with 100 laps to go in the race.

Ryan Blaney brings the field down for the green flag restart with William Byron alongside with 96 laps remaining in the race.  Blaney jumps out for the lead.

Lap 408, the top five are Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, and Todd Gilliland.

Erik Jones has a tire issue and limps his way to pit road.

With 88 laps remaining in the race, Ryan Blaney has just a third of a second lead on William Byron; Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

With 80 laps to go, Ryan Blaney has increased his lead to over half a second on William Byron; Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

With 65 laps to go, Ryan Blaney is cruising around the track with a lead of over half a second on William Byron; Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.  There are 17 cars on the lead lap.

With 57 laps to go, leader Ryan Blaney has encountered slower traffic.

With 51 to go, Ryan Blaney has just a third of a second lead on William Byron with third place driver Ross Chastain three seconds back.

Just 47 laps to go, William Byron has caught leader Ryan Blaney with slower traffic in front of them.

With 44 laps to go, William Byron passes Ryan Blaney for the lead.

Just 38 laps remain in the race, Willliam Byron has the lead with Ryan Blaney only a third of a second back.

With 31 laps to go, leader William Byron is lapping slower traffic; there are just 16 drivers on the lead lap.

With 25 laps remaining in the race, leader William Byron continues to lap slower traffic with Ryan Blaney less than a  second behind; there are 15 cars on the lead lap.

Twenty to go, William Byron has a one second lead on Ryan Blaney; Ryan Preece, Ross Chastain, and Josh Berry round out the top five.

Carson Hocevar spins out for the third time after some contact from behind to bring out the caution flag with 18 laps to go.

Drivers come down pit road for service with William Byron winning the race off of pit road.

William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart with eleven laps remaining in the race; Ryan Blaney is alongside.  Byron gets out in front from the inside lane.  The top five are William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Ross Castain, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson.

Seven to go, William Byron has a half second lead on Ryan Blaney.

Four to go, William Byron holds on to the lead by half a second over Ryan Blaeny.

William Byron takes the white flag.

William Byron wins the race to earn himself a spot in the championship four.  Kyle Larson is the final driver to make it in the Championship Four!

Byron burns it down to leave the car in a cloud of smoke.

Ryan Blaney came from a 31st place start to finish in second place, just short of remaining in the playoffs.

Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott have been eliminated from the playoffs.

The unofficial results of the Xfinity 500:
Willaim Byron
Ryan Blaney
Chase Elliott
Ross Chastain
Kyle Larson
Ryan Preece
Christopher Bell
Joey Logano
Todd Gilliland
Josh Berry
Tyler Reddick
Ty Gibbs
Kyle Busch
Shane van Gisbergen
Austin Cindric
Austin Dillon
Cole Custer
Bubba Wallace
Justin Haley
Brad Keselowski
John Hunter Nemechek
Daniel Suarez
Alex Bowman
Michael McDowell
Zane Smith
Ty Dillon
Ricky Stenho
use Jr
AJ Allmendinger
Chris Buescher
Noah Gragson
Carson Hocevar
Cody Ware
Casey Mears
Erik Jones
Denny Hamlin
Riley Herbst
Chase Briscoe