#SrigleyStats Weekend Recap: Martinsville
Taking a look back at NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series stats from Martinsville Speedway!
We have made it to the end of the road, folks. After a long and grueling season, the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will determine their championship next weekend at Phoenix Raceway.
Ryan Blaney and Justin Allgaier punched their tickets into the Championship 4 via victories at Martinsville Speedway, while other drivers, including William Byron and Cole Custer, had to fight and claw their way there.
But, it wouldn’t be Martinsville without some fireworks, as Austin Hill missed out on the Championship 4 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, after a last-lap wreck that caused tension between the Richard Childress Racing teammates.
William Byron had an amazing effort, as well, to get himself into the Championship 4 in the NASCAR Cup Series, fighting an ill-handling car, a broken helmet hose, and a long green-flag run to the finish.
For those looking for the #SrigleyStats Sheet, don’t worry, that will be released to paid subscribers later this week! If you’re interested in gaining access to the #SrigleyStats Sheet, you can subscribe for $5/month or $50/year, down below:
NASCAR Cup Series - Xfinity 500 at Martinsville - Top-10:
#12 - Ryan Blaney - Team Penske
#10 - Aric Almirola - Stewart-Haas Racing
#11 - Denny Hamlin - Joe Gibbs Racing
#14 - Chase Briscoe - Stewart-Haas Racing
#22 - Joey Logano - Team Penske
#5 - Kyle Larson - Hendrick Motorsports
#20 - Christopher Bell - Joe Gibbs Racing
#17 - Chris Buescher - RFK Racing
#2 - Austin Cindric - Team Penske
#38 - Todd Gilliland - Front Row Motorsports
NASCAR Xfinity Series - Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville - T10:
#7 - Justin Allgaier - JR Motorsports
#2 - Sheldon Creed - Richard Childress Racing
#18 - Sammy Smith - Joe Gibbs Racing
#98 - Riley Herbst - Stewart-Haas Racing
#8 - Josh Berry - JR Motorsports
#10 - Daniel Hemric - Kaulig Racing
#31 - Parker Retzlaff - Jordan Anderson Racing
#78 - Anthony Alfredo - BJ McLeod Motorsports
#27 - Jeb Burton - Jordan Anderson Racing
#48 - Parker Kligerman - Big Machine Racing
#SrigleyStats Spotlight Driver - Martinsville - Sammy Smith
Sammy Smith didn’t end up advancing to the Championship 4 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, after scoring a third-place finish in the penultimate event of the season at Martinsville Speedway.
However, the NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie came into the elimination event at Martinsville in a must-win situation and came to the half-mile paperclip with the fastest car on track, and a steady driver.
After being in the middle of a major slump throughout the Summer months, Smith has found his stride in the NASCAR Playoffs, scoring two top-five and four top-10 finishes in six races, and not a single DNF.
That has allowed the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who will depart for JR Motorsports after the NASCAR Xfinity Series season, to sit sixth place in series point standings, and potentially in a position to sit inside the top five.
Additionally, Smith has developed an extensive lead in point standings over fellow rookie contender, Chandler Smith, 39 points to be exact, which barring a major disaster, should be good enough to collect ROTY honors.
Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway featured a 168-lap green-flag run to the finish of the race, marking the longest green-flag run in a NASCAR Cup Series event at Martinsville Speedway since 1996 (27 years ago).
With Chevrolet having clinched the Manufacturer’s Championship in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 2023 marks the sixth time that a single manufacturer has clinched all three titles.
Chevrolet: 1996, 1998, 2005, 2012, and 2023
Toyota: 2016
However, only in 1996 and 1998 did the manufacturer also go on to sweep all three of the driver’s championships.