Martinsville 2 Race Review and Analysis

 



The bridge to Phoenix!  The Nascar Cup Series made its great visit to Martinsville Speedway for the final race before the Phoenix championship race.  Christopher Bell walks it off in Martinsville.  Bell punches his ticket to Phoenix and will race for the championship.  



(The 200th Win For Joe Gibbs Racing at Martinsville Speedway)


Coming into today, everything was going to be on the table.  All means necessary is a way to describe this afternoon.  From strategy to early dominance, to struggles, and a walk-off victory, we saw it all this afternoon in Martinsville.  Christopher Bell collected his 3rd win of the season and 4th of his career.  This is also Joe Gibbs Racing’s 200th win as an organization in the Nascar Cup Series.  



Denny Hamlin won stages 1 and 2. BJ Mcleod was done for the day, with issues under the hood. William Byron and Chase Briscoe both went a lap down early in today's race.  Austin Dillon spun in turn 3 late in today’s race as he made heavy contact with the outside wall.  After a Landon Cassill caution, it all came down to one final restart.  After Denny Hamlin dominated all day, Ross Chastain pulled off a legendary move and advanced to Phoenix, which knocked Hamlin out of the playoffs.  Chastain rode the wall, as two points separated the two rivals from a chance at the championship. In a move that looked like a video game, Nascar Heat 5 multiplayer move, Chastain surfed the outside wall, and pulled off the Hail Mary to head to Phoenix. Chastain gave the outside 3 and 4 wall a painting at 112 mph, as he rode off into the overcast Martinsville, Virginia sky, as he sets himself for a trip for the Championship in Phoenix. Known as the watermelon man, the “Hail Melon” attempt had one goal, to race for the Bill France Cup. A record-setting 18.845 seconds track record at Martinsville Speedway was laid down along the way. Chastain, in a outlaw state of mind, got the last laugh against his newly formed rival Denny Hamlin, but we’ll see next Sunday in the desert.



(Christopher Bell in Victory Lane)


Let’s go through today’s playoff field.  Christopher Bell wins at Martinsville for Joe Gibbs Racing.  Ryan Blaney finished 3rd for Team Penske.  Ross Chastain comes home 4th for Trackhouse Racing.  Denny Hamlin crosses the line 5th for Joe Gibbs Racing.  Joey Logano finishes 6th for Team Penske.  William Byron crosses the line 7th for Hendrick Motorsports.  Chase Briscoe came home 9th for Stewart-Haas Racing.  Chase Elliott strolls home in 10th for Hendrick Motorsports.  Notable finishes for non-playoff drivers come from Brad Keselowski who initially finished 3rd for RFK Racing, was later disqualified in post-race qualifying for his #6 car not meeting minimum weight. Bubba Wallace is in 8th for 23XI Racing.  Harrison Burton in 11th for Wood Brothers Racing, and Daniel Suarez in 12th for Trackhouse Racing.  Todd Gilliland in 13th for Front Row Motorsports, and Cole Custer in 14th for Stewart-Haas Racing. 



Let’s meet the drivers who will not advance.  Chase Briscoe, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin will not advance to run for the championship at Phoenix. 



In my opinion, today was wild.  From dominance, hard work, determination, persistence, and to one of the most legendary moves in Nascar history, we saw it all today.  The championship race is up next, which will be a showdown.  Taking all action into consideration, I’d rate today’s race a 9.3 out of 10.  Passing must be improved before the next Martinsville race weekend.  



(A Historical Afternoon For Joe Gibbs Racing)





(The Desert of Avondale, Arizona)




It all ends in the desert!  The sun will set on this 2022 Nascar season in Avondale, Arizona this upcoming weekend.  We will crown a champion in all three national series, from Trucks to Xfinity, and to finally the Cup Series.  Practice for the Camping World Truck Series will be at 8:05pm ET on Thursday.  Qualifying will be the day after at 6:00pm ET on Friday.  The Camping World Truck Series will crown a new champion for the 2022 season starting at 10:00pm ET Friday night, only on FS1.  Ty Majeski, Zane Smith, Ben Rhodes, and Chandler Smith will run for the Camping World Truck Series Championship Friday night.  The Lucas Oil 250 will be the race title for next week’s Truck Series race.  The Xfinity Series will have practice at 7:05pm ET on Friday.  Qualifying for the Xfinity Series will follow on Saturday at 2:30pm ET.  Noah Gragson, Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry, and Justin Allgaier will run for the Nascar Xfinity Series Championship title next Saturday evening at 6:00pm ET.  The Cup Series will have practice starting at 8:05pm ET on Friday night.  Qualifying will follow on Saturday at 3:30pm ET for the Cup Series.  Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, and Ross Chastain will run for the Nascar Cup Series Championship at 3:00pm ET Sunday afternoon.  Alex Bowman will also return at Phoenix Raceway for the first time since his concussion sustained at Texas. The dust will be settled in the desert next week, for officially the 2022 Nascar Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway.  



( All images credited to https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/cup-series.)


For next week's race information please view the link down below:

https://www.phoenixraceway.com/


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