Martinsville Miracle Watch: Can Blaney Work His Magic Once More?

The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are heating up, and we’re down to the final stretch before the Championship 4 gets decided. After an absolutely wild race at Talladega Superspeedway, the pressure is mounting on drivers who still need to punch their ticket to Phoenix. Ryan Blaney, who’s made a habit of winning when it matters most at Martinsville, finds himself in a familiar position: needing a miracle with his back against the wall.

Let’s paint a picture: watching Blaney win at Martinsville in back-to-back years to secure his Championship 4 spot was something special. Now he’s got to do it again, and honestly? I wouldn’t bet against him. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s break down where everyone stands heading into this weekend’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Top Contenders Already Locked In

Chase Briscoe shocked everyone at Talladega by grabbing his first-ever ticket to the Championship 4. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been phenomenal this season with three wins, including his first superspeedway victory, and he’s set career highs across the board. His first year with JGR has been nothing short of remarkable, and now the pressure’s completely off his shoulders.

Denny Hamlin is also locked in, despite battling throttle issues at Talladega that dropped him to a 24th-place finish. But here’s the thing about Hamlin: he’s a six-time Martinsville winner, and even though he doesn’t need this race, you know he wants that seventh grandfather clock. Plus, keeping guys like Blaney and Joey Logano out of Phoenix? That’s just good strategy.

Drivers Fighting for Their Championship Lives

Christopher Bell holds the best position among drivers who haven’t yet secured their spots. He won three of the first four races this season, showing incredible speed early on. Now he’s watching his teammates celebrate while he’s still grinding for a spot. The good news? Bell knows how to win at Martinsville when everything’s on the line because he’s done it before, and chances are he’ll do it again.

Kyle Larson had everyone thinking he’d finally broken through at a superspeedway when he was leading late at Talladega. Then the No. 5 ran out of fuel on the final lap, and just like that, his dominant day turned into heartbreak. Talk about a gut punch. But Larson’s got six straight top-six finishes at Martinsville, so there’s reason to believe he’ll bounce back strong this weekend.

The Martinsville Specialists in Must-Win Mode

William Byron has quietly put together one of the most consistent seasons we’ve seen in years. His season low is sixth place—think about that for a second. The two-time Martinsville winner hasn’t finished outside the top six all year, and that kind of consistency usually shows up when the stakes are highest.

Then there’s Blaney. Two consecutive fall wins at Martinsville. He hasn’t finished worse than 11th there since 2018. The numbers suggest this should be his race to lose, but racing doesn’t always go as expected. The pressure is enormous, knowing that only he, Logano, or possibly neither will likely advance from Team Penske. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Blaney, it’s that he shows up when the lights are brightest.

Chase Elliott is in the worst position of the contenders after finishing dead last at Talladega through no fault of his own. Getting caught up in a Stage 1 wreck ended his day before it really started. But Elliott’s led over 1,200 laps at Martinsville, and he’s got that calm demeanor that keeps him focused even when things look bleak. Don’t count him out.

And finally, Joey Logano. The three-time champion is riding a 12-race top-10 streak at Martinsville, and if anyone knows how to pull off something exceptional when their championship hopes are fading, it’s Logano. This No. 22 team has delivered magic before, and they’re certainly capable of doing it again.

What Makes Martinsville Different

This half-mile paperclip is unforgiving. It rewards patience, aggression at the right moments, and knowing exactly when to push your luck. The drivers who succeed here understand that sometimes you’ve got to bump someone out of the way, and other times you need to give them just enough room to keep things clean.

For the guys already locked into Phoenix, Hamlin and Briscoe, there’s still plenty to race for. Another win adds to their momentum heading into the championship race, and potentially playing defense against drivers like Blaney, who could be threats in Phoenix, makes perfect sense.

The Bottom Line

This weekend at Martinsville will determine who joins Hamlin and Briscoe in Phoenix for a shot at the championship. Blaney’s proven he can handle the pressure. Elliott’s got the speed. Larson needs redemption. Bell, Byron, and Logano all have the credentials. Someone’s going to deliver when it matters most.

Someone’s going to have their season end in heartbreak.  That’s what makes these cutoff races so compelling. It’s not just about speed or strategy anymore. It’s about who wants it most when there’s absolutely no room for error. Will Blaney make it three Martinsville miracles in a row? We’ll find out Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.