William Byron’s 16th career NASCAR Cup Series victory might be his most impressive – and most important – of his eight-year career.
Byron claimed at berth in the NASCAR Championship 4 with a victory in the season’s penultimate playoff race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 26 and will have a chance to race for his first Cup title next weekend at Phoenix Raceway.
Byron joins Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, who won playoff races at Las Vegas at Talladega, respectively, to claim their championship spots. Bryon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson, the 2021 series champion, earned the final berth on points after finishing fifth at Martinsville.
Byron started the 2025 season by winning his second consecutive Daytona 500.
“I watched my first NASCAR race up there in that (Martinsville) crowd at the start finish line,” Byron said after climbing out of his car, ‘and man, I am just so thankful, excited to see my family and just celebrate this one. We obviously go to Phoenix and just try to go kick (butt) there.”
Byron swept the opening two stages of the Xfinity 500 in dominating fashion before two-time defending race winner Ryan Blaney turned up the heat in the final stage. Blaney led nearly every lap of Stage 3 before Byron passed him with less than 40 laps to go in the race.
‘We just came up short. We did a good job and we got control of the race for a bit, but, gosh, (Byron’s) car was really fast,’ Blaney said after the race.
Byron ended the day with 304 laps led – the most in a single race of his career – for his third win at Martinsville but first in the fall playoff race. Blaney, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion, led 177.
Byron, who will turn 28 on Nov. 29, won the 2025 regular-season title and was cruising along in the playoffs until the third round commenced at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Byron had led 55 laps at Las Vegas and was contending for a win before he was caught up in a late-race accident with around 30 laps remaining that ruined his day. The following week at Talladega Superspeedway, Byron was again contending for the win in overtime before contact spun his No. 24 Chevrolet out of the lead and into 25th place.
“You just work so hard – all these guys work so hard – and you put everything into Sundays and sometimes you don’t get anything in return, and that’s been the last couple of weeks,” Byron said. “Sometimes life is that way, but you just got to keep being resilient, and we were, and it just feels damn good.”
Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott, the 2020 champion, finished third but was eliminated along with Blaney, Christopher Bell, who finished seventh, and three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano, who finished eighth.
Of the 2025 championship contenders – Byron, Larson, Hamlin and Briscoe – Larson is the only one who has won a Cup Series title.
Hamlin was the series runner-up in 2010 and finished third in the final standings in 2006, 2014 and 2021. Byron finished third in 2023 and 2024, while Briscoe, in his first season with JGR, had his previous best season in 2022 when he finished ninth driving for Stewart-Hass Racing.
NASCAR at Martinsville highlights
Watch the extended highlights from Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, the penultimate race of the 2025 NASCAR season.
NASCAR at Martinsville results
Here are the top 10 finishers in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville (starting position in parentheses):
(1) William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
(31) Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, 0.717 seconds behind
(8) Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, -1.738
(13) Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, -2.511
(3) Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, -3.418
(18) Ryan Preece, RFK Racing Ford, -3.716
(12) Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, -4.326
(4) Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, -4.538
(16) Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, -4.892
(27) Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, -5.874
William Byron wins NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville
William Bryon outdueled Ryan Blaney on a late-race restart to take the checkered flag and advance to the NASCAR Championship 4. Byron swept all three stages and led more than 300 laps in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Hocevar spin brings out caution and pit stops for leaders
Carson Hocevar spun in his No. 77 Chevrolet after contact from Michael McDowell to bring out the caution with 18 laps to go in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
William Byron was leading Ryan Blaney but nearly 1 second when the yellow flag came out. The drivers maintained their positions during pit stops and will line up on the front row for the restart and a late-race shootout.
William Byron passes Ryan Blaney for lead
William Byron squeezed inside Ryan Blaney then bumped Blaney’s No. 12 Ford for the lead with less than 40 laps remaining in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Byron dominated the first two stages of the race before Blaney leapfrogged him during a pit-stop cycle to dominate stage 3. Both drivers must win the race to make the Championship 4 next weekend at Phoenix Raceway.
Championship contenders pit before caution flag waves
Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, William Byron and Ryan Blaney – all seeking to earn the final two spots in the Championship 4 – made green-flag pit stops on successives laps as they seek capture the win in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Moments laters, the caution flag waved following a spin by Erik Jones after contact with Bubba Wallace.
Blaney and Byron will lead the field to green on the restart.
Denny Hamlin retires from race with engine issues
Denny Hamlin joined Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe with an early exit after a blown engine on Lap 335. Riley Herbst in a 23XI Racing Toyota also was forced to retire with mechanical issues.
Hamlin and Briscoe have already clinched berths in the Championship 4 next weekend at Phoenix Raceway.
Ryan Blaney leads William Byron, Chase Elliott, Ryan Preece, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and Joey Logano. All but Preece remain in championship contention.
Chase Briscoe retires from race with engine issues
Chase Briscoe, who clinched his berth in the Championship 4 with his victory at Talladega Superspeedway last week, was forced to retire from the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway with an engine issue. Briscoe is guaranteed to race for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship along with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin. The other two final four berths will be determined at the end of this race.
Josh Berry brings out caution early in Stage 3 at Martinsville
Josh Berry spun from the 18th position after contact with Bubba Wallace and Brad Keselowski on Lap 279 of 500.
Two-time defending Martinsville playoff winner Ryan Blaney led the field to green followed by Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano. Blaney started 31st.
William Byron who dominated the opening two stages surged past Ty Gibbs and Tyler Reddick into fourth. Bryon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott followed him to fifth place.
William Byron sweeps first two stages at Martinsville
William Byron has led nearly every lap of the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway and swept the first two stages. Byron had led 254 laps with 260 of 500 laps in the books ahead of Stage 3.
Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson finished second ahead of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and Hendrick’s Chase Elliott. The top four are among six drivers seeking to join Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe in the Championship 4. Todd Gilliland, Briscoe, Ryan Preece, Shane van Gisbergen, Tyler Reddick and Erik Jones rounded out the top 10.
Team Penske playoff contenders Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano along with Denny Hamlin opted to pit before the end of the stage during a caution and will restart ahead of Byron to begin Stage 3.
Hocevar spins to bring out caution at Martinsville
Carson Hocevar spun from 25th position after contact with Daniel Suarez, bringing out the caution flag on Lap 216. All lead-lap cars came down pit road for fuel and tires. William Byron maintained the lead following pit stops and has now led 224 of 229 laps.
NASCAR at Martinsville: Lap 175 update
William Byron has continued to dominate the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, leading 170 of 175 laps so far. Reigning Series champion Joey Logano runs second, followed by Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney.
William Byron wins Stage 1 of NASCAR race at Martinsville
Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron led 127 of 130 laps at Martinsville Speedway to win the opening stage of the Xfinity 500 as he seeks to make the Championship 4.
Reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano made late passes on Hendrick drivers Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson to finish second, with Larson third and Elliott fourth. Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Todd Gilliland and Austin Cindric rounded out the top 10.
Hamlin has already clinched his spot in the Championship 4 – along with Chase Briscoe – while Bryon, Logano, Larson, Ellliott, Blaney and Bell remain in contention.
NASCAR at Martinsville: Lap 100 update
William Byron has led 96 laps in the opening stage of the Xfinity 500. His Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, run second and third, respectively. Joey Logano, Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell round out the top 7. All but Gibbs are playoff drivers.
Which drivers are best positioned to make Championship 4?
NASCAR Martinsville playoff race: Caution flag on Lap 29
The caution flag waved on Lap 29 of the opening stage of the Xfinity 500 when Daniel Suarez spun after contact from Bubba Wallace at Zane Smith. Suarez was able to right his No. 99 car before any damage.
William Byron led the first 30 laps of the race as the field came down pit road for fuel and tires under the yellow flag. Michael McDowell took just two tires on the stop to leapfrog the field, and he will restart alongside Byron, who took four tires and kept his position.
NASCAR Martinsville playoff race goes green
Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron, seeking to make the Championship 4, leads the field as the green flag waves for the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Teammate Kyle Larson quickly siezed the second spot from Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs on the first lap.
What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
The Xfinity 500 is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 26 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia.
What TV channel is the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
The Xfinity 500 will be broadcast on NBC, the channel for the final three races of the Cup Series playoffs. Pre-race coverage will start at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
Yes, the Xfinity 500 will be streamed on Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville on Fubo
How many laps is the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville?
The Xfinity 500 is 500 laps around the 0.526-mile track for a total of 263 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 130 laps; Stage 2: 130 laps; Stage 3: 240 laps.
NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings
Here’s how things look with one race left in the Round of 8. The bottom four drivers will be eliminated after Martinsville ahead of the finale in Phoenix. Drivers who have secured a spot in the Championship 4 are marked with an asterisk.
Chase Briscoe*
Christopher Bell (+9)
Kyle Larson (+10)
Denny Hamlin (+13)*
William Byron (+46)
Joey Logano (+48)
Ryan Blaney (+57)
Chase Elliott (+72)
Who won the NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville last year?
The race wasn’t without controversy, though, as Christopher Bell’s late pass on Bubba Wallace was ruled illegal because of ‘wall-riding’ and that kept Bell out of the Championship 4.
NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville starting lineup
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Casey Mears, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford