Three Hendrick Motorsports drivers are racing for the final two spots within the NASCAR Cup Sequence Championship 4 and this weekend’s showdown at Martinsville Speedway is the cutoff for championship goals. For William Byron, seven factors above the cutoff, and Kyle Larson, seven factors beneath the cutoff, moving into the Championship 4 is feasible on factors however for Chase Elliott, 43 factors beneath, it is probably a win and you might be in state of affairs.
“I strive laborious to not overthink the state of affairs,” Elliott said. “To be candid, we have been on this spot earlier than, so it isn’t like that is the primary time I have been via this or needed to expertise this. Having carried out that earlier than and been on this spot, I feel that it offers you slightly little bit of a way of peace and simply form of understanding learn how to deal with it and understanding that your workforce can get it carried out.”
Elliott, in fact, speaks from expertise after successful Martinsville in 2020 to advance to the Championship 4 after which capturing the title at Phoenix Raceway that season. The 2020 Cup Sequence champion is the one driver to complete contained in the High 10 in all six brief observe races this season and he has one profession win at Martinsville, with six High 5 and 11 High 10 finishes in 18 begins. He additionally has the fifth-best common end (12.67) at Martinsville Speedway amongst lively Cup Drivers with no less than two begins. Lengthy story brief, Elliott is aware of learn how to race at Paperclip.
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Kyle Larson’s place is way extra advantageous than his teammate Elliott, with Larson being seven factors beneath the cutoff line to make the Championship 4 in Phoenix Raceway.
“We have a win and a pair second-place finishes I feel at Martinsville since I joined Hendrick Motorsports,” Larson stated. “It is not at all times been an excellent observe for me, however I feel that Hendrick Motorsports has an excellent package deal for the observe and it has positively helped me. Hopefully, we are able to battle for stage wins and the victory on Sunday.”
In 19 profession races at Martinsville, Larson has one race victory, 5 High 5 and 7 High 10 finishes with a profession common end of 16.7. With simply seven factors to make up and qualify for the Championship 4, Larson could make it on factors, however it’s going to take some assist from Christopher Bell or his teammate, William Byron, to make it to the ultimate spherical.
William Byron, alternatively, is within the catbird seat amongst Hendrick Motorsports drivers and sits with a seven-point cushion above the cutoff line. Byron has two profession Cup Sequence wins at Martinsville, together with one this season, 5 High 5 and 7 High finishes total.
“It is a spot that I do know everybody at Hendrick Motorsports places loads of emphasis on being aggressive at,” Byron stated. “I do know final fall is not what we wished and I am hopeful that after we return this time within the fall we’re actually aggressive. We all know what the mission is for the weekend and it is our job to execute and make it occur.”
There are various permutations on what may occur to the Hendrick Motorsports after Martinsville, with the potential for zero to a pair of Hendrick automobiles making the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway on November 10. And that is the great thing about racing; you by no means know what’s going to occur till the flag drops.
