Cup Series: Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway Starting Lineup

The anticipation is electric as we roll into Martinsville Speedway for what could be one of the most intense elimination races of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. The starting lineup begins with William Byron, who grabbed the pole position for Sunday’s Xfinity 500, and something about this feels different. This isn’t just another race. This is where Championship 4 dreams either come alive or die a painful death. Byron’s qualifying lap was something special.

He clocked in at 19.286 seconds, barely edging out Ty Gibbs by a razor-thin 0.002 seconds. That’s the kind of margin that gets your heart pounding, the kind that reminds you why we love this sport so much. But here’s the thing that’s got everyone talking: Byron is currently sitting below the playoff cutline heading into this final Round of 8 race. He needs something big to happen on Sunday, and starting from the pole gives him a fighting chance.

The Starting Lineup Has Some Serious Storylines

Let’s talk about this starting lineup for a minute, because there’s a lot to unpack here. Byron starts first, Gibbs second, and Kyle Larson rolls off third. Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin round out the top five. These guys are hungry, and you can feel it. But the story that’s really got my attention? Ryan Blaney. The reigning back-to-back winner of the fall Martinsville races is starting way back outside the top 30.

That’s not where you want to be when you’re fighting for your playoff life. Blaney’s path to the Championship 4 now pretty much runs through Victory Lane. He’s got 500 laps to work his way through traffic, avoid trouble, and somehow find himself in position to win. It’s a tall order, but if anyone can do it, it’s Blaney. The guy’s proven he knows how to get it done at this track.

Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway:

Cup Series: Starting Lineup

• 1. William Byron, No. 24 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 2. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 3. Kyle Larson, No. 5 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 4. Joey Logano, No. 22 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 5. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 6. Cole Custer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
• 7. Kyle Busch, No. 8 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 8. Chase Elliott, No. 9 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 9. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 10. Austin Cindric, No. 2 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 11. Michael McDowell, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 12. Christopher Bell, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 13. Ross Chastain, No. 1 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 14. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
• 15. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 16. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 17. Alex Bowman, No. 48 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 18. Ryan Preece, No. 60 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 19. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 20. Austin Dillon, No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 21. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
• 22. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 23. Zane Smith, No. 38 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 24. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 25. Riley Herbst, No. 35 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
• 26. Ty Dillon, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 27. Josh Berry, No. 21 (Wood Brothers Racing, Ford)
• 28. Erik Jones, No. 43 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 29. Chris Buescher, No. 17 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 30. Daniel Suárez, No. 99 (Trackhouse Racing, Ford)
• 31. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 32. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 (HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 33. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 34. Justin Haley, No. 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 35. Noah Gragson, No. 4 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 36. Cody Ware, No. 51 (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
• 37. Casey Mears, No. 66 (Garage 66, Ford)

What Makes This Race So Crucial

Martinsville has always been one of those tracks that separates the contenders from the pretenders. It’s a short track, just over half a mile, and it demands precision, patience, and a whole lot of aggression at the right moments. You can’t just ride around and hope for the best here. You’ve got to race, really race.

The Xfinity 500 is 500 laps of controlled chaos. That’s 263 miles of door-to-door, fender-bending action where track position is everything and one mistake can cost you your entire season. The race is broken into three stages: 130 laps, 130 laps, and then a grueling 240-lap sprint to the finish. By the time we hit that final stage, tempers will be flaring, cars will be beaten up, and the pressure will be absolutely crushing.

Who Else Should We Be Watching?

Beyond Byron and Blaney, there are several drivers who have everything on the line. Christopher Bell, starting 12th, knows he needs a strong finish to punch his ticket to the Championship 4. Chase Elliott, rolling off eighth, is in must-win territory. The No. 9 team has had its ups and downs this season, but Elliott’s a former champion who knows how to rise to the occasion when it matters most.

Tyler Reddick starts 14th and is another driver who’s feeling the heat. Ross Chastain in 13th is always a wild card at Martinsville. The guy races hard, maybe a little too hard sometimes, but that aggressive style could work in his favor on Sunday. And we can’t forget about the veterans in the field.

Kyle Busch starts seventh, and while his season hasn’t gone the way he hoped, he’s still one of the best short-track racers in the business. Denny Hamlin, starting fifth, has had such a strong season but hasn’t been able to seal the deal when it counts. Martinsville could be where he finally breaks through.

The Pressure Is Real

There’s something different about elimination races. The atmosphere is heavier. Every lap matters more. Drivers who are normally calculated take risks they wouldn’t dream of in a regular-season race. And that’s what makes this stuff so compelling to watch. For guys like Byron and Elliott, there’s no tomorrow after Martinsville if they don’t perform.

The season comes down to these 500 laps. All the hard work, all the late nights in the shop, all the sacrifices, it either pays off or it doesn’t. That kind of pressure does something to people. Some drivers crumble under it. Others thrive. We’re about to find out who’s who.

How to Watch the Action Unfold

If you’re planning to tune in, don’t turn that dial because this is one you won’t want to miss. The green flag drops at approximately 1:15 p.m. CT on Sunday, October 26. NBC has the television coverage, and you can also stream it on Peacock or catch it on MRN radio if you’re on the road. For the die-hard fans who want every angle, HBO MAX is offering in-car cameras for each driver, though you’ll need a subscription. NASCAR.com and SiriusXM Channel 90 also offer audio coverage.

My Take on What’s Going to Happen

 This sport has been around long enough for fans to know that predicting what will happen at Martinsville is a fool’s errand. But if I had to put money on it, I’d say we’re in for some fireworks. With so many drivers desperate to advance, I expect we’ll see some aggressive moves, some hurt feelings, and probably a bit of controversy before it’s all said and done.

Byron starting on pole is huge for him, but Martinsville eats up leaders for breakfast. Track position matters, but so does having a car that can handle 500 laps around this paperclip-shaped track. Blaney’s got a mountain to climb, but I wouldn’t count him out. The guy’s got ice in his veins when the pressure’s on.

Ahead of the Green Flag

One thing’s for certain: by the time we see that checkered flag on Sunday, we’re going to know which four drivers are heading to Phoenix for the championship race. And the three or four who fall short? They’re going to be replaying Sunday’s race in their minds all winter long, wondering what they could have done differently.

That’s the beauty and the brutality of NASCAR’s playoff format. One bad day, one wrong decision, one piece of bad luck, and your season’s over. It’s harsh, but it’s what makes these races so incredibly intense to watch. Get ready, folks. Martinsville is about to deliver the drama we’ve all been waiting for.