MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WDBJ) – ryan Blaney faces a win-or-go-home scenario at Martinsville Speedway this Sunday as the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Four contenders are resolute. the Xfinity 500, set to begin at 2 p.m., represents a critical opportunity for Blaney, currently seventh in the standings, to secure his place in the championship race at Phoenix.
Blaney is aiming for an unprecedented “fall race three-peat” at Martinsville, having won the event in both 2023 and 2024 to advance to the Championship Four in those years. The driver, who grew up near Martinsville in High Point, North Carolina, fondly recalls watching his father race at the track as a child, describing it as a “unique place” where fans can see “most of what’s going on” from anywhere around the mile-long oval.
“Honestly it’s the same mindset as we had going into this race last year,” Blaney said. “Had a bad race or two and put your backs up against a wall and you have one goal in mind. Hopefully we can rise to the occasion like we have in the past and I couldn’t think of a better place than Martinsville to go to.”
While acknowledging his past success at Martinsville, Blaney emphasizes the unpredictable nature of the sport. “just because it worked for you before, doesn’t mean it’s a sure thing. We have to work just as hard as we do like normal,” he stated.
Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin have already secured their spots in the phoenix race, and Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson currently hold positions above the cut line.
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