As the Xfinity 500 marks the closing stages of the 2020 NASCAR season, Martin Truex Jr. must surely be delighted to encounter Martinsville Speedway.
Sunday’s race (2 p.m. NBC) in Virginia holds not only the hopes of a second NASCAR Cup Series championship for him but also the hopes of six other drivers aiming to secure their playoff spot.
Be prepared to see Treux on your TV screens frequently this weekend as Martinsville Speedway holds three days of playoff racing. The experienced NASCAR Cup Series driver is aiming for his third consecutive victory at Martinsville.
In the second-to-last race of the 2020 Cup season, which has been heavily impacted by the pandemic, a total of eight drivers remain in contention for the Cup. Nevertheless, after Sunday’s race at the renowned .526-mile short track, only half of those drivers will continue their pursuit for the championship.
This week, the NASCAR traveling circus arrived in Virginia later than expected. The Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 in Texas, which took place on Sunday, was delayed for several days due to inclement weather and didn’t conclude until Wednesday night.
Virginia will take center stage in NASCAR this week. Alongside the Cup Series’ Xfinity 500, the “Half Mile Of Mayhem” will also witness the presence of NASCAR’s other two top series.
On Friday, the NASCAR Truck Series will race under the lights in the NASCAR Hall of Fame 200. Additionally, the penultimate race of the 2020 season, the Draft Top 250, will put the NASCAR Xfinity Series in the spotlight.
Schedule for Xfinity 500 at Martinsville
In just three days, witness three thrilling races unfold at one of NASCAR’s most exhilarating tracks, each painting a unique playoff picture.
This weekend, Martinsville Speedway will be the battleground for all of NASCAR’s top series races. The significance is immense for each series, as they will be hosting their penultimate race of the season.
Here’s the full schedule:
NASCAR Truck Series: NASCAR Hall of Fame 200
The event is scheduled for Friday, October 30th at 8 p.m. on FS1. The pre-race show will begin at 7 p.m. The race will consist of 200 laps, covering a distance of 105.2 miles.
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Draft Top 250
The event will take place on Saturday, October 31 at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcasted on NBC. The race will consist of 250 laps, covering a distance of 131.5 miles.
NASCAR Cup Series: Xfinity 500
Sunday, November 1st at 2 p.m. marks the date for the race. The pre-race show on NBC will commence at 1:30 p.m. The race will cover a total distance of 500 laps, equivalent to 263 miles.
This weekend’s races will allow fans to attend, but precautionary measures have been implemented to ensure social distancing in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, officials at Martinsville Speedway were required to make adjustments to the seating arrangement. In addition, certain race-day attractions had to be closed or restricted.
To access the complete visitor guide for the upcoming weekend, please visit MartinsvilleSpeedway.com.
Road to 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4
There are currently eight drivers in contention for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season championship. However, following Sunday’s crucial race, only four will continue to vie for the title.
Afterwards, the top four contenders will engage in a thrilling race at Phoenix Raceway, where the competitor who secures the highest position will be crowned the champion of the season.
As of now, Joey Logano is the sole racer with a confirmed playoff spot at Phoenix. He secured his place in the final four by achieving victory at Kansas Speedway on October 18th, 2018.
In order to secure a spot, the remaining drivers must either clinch a victory at Martinsville or finish within the top four in points by the end of the race. This group consists of previous champions Kevin Harvick (2014), Brad Keselowski (2012), and Martin Treux Jr. (2017), along with Denny Hamlin, a native of Virginia, as well as Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, and Kurt Busch.
These are the most recent postseason standings for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series.
| Place | Driver | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Joey Logano | 1 win |
| 2. | Kevin Harvick | +42 |
| 3. | Denny Hamlin | +27 |
| 4. | Brad Keselowski | +25 |
| 5. | Chase Elliott | -25 |
| 6. | Alex Bowman | -25 |
| 7. | Martin Truex Jr. | -36 |
| 8. | Kurt Busch | -81 |
Yet, no other contenders have experienced the level of triumph at “The Paperclip” as Truex has. In fact, Truex has emerged victorious in the last two Cup Series races held at Martinsville Speedway, namely the 2020 Blue Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 and the 2019 First Data 500. What’s more, he took the lead for an impressive 596 out of the 1,000 laps completed in those races.
Truex is currently in seventh place with a 36-point deficit from the cutoff mark. To secure his spot next week at Phoenix, he might have to achieve a third consecutive win at Martinsville.
According to the oddsmakers, he has a high likelihood of achieving exactly that.
Xfinity 500 betting favorites
It comes as no surprise that Truex is the frontrunner to win Sunday’s Xfinity 500.
On Thursday afternoon, Truex had the highest odds at +325 to win the race at DraftKings. The oddsmakers have such high expectations for him that there are no favorable odds available for him to finish in the top 3 (-106) or top 10 (-670).
If you were to bet $100 on Truex and win, here’s how much you would gain in return.
- Win (+325): $325
- Top 3 (-106): $94.34
- Top 10 (-670): $14.93
All eight playoff drivers are actually listed among the top 10 contenders to win the race.
Below are the complete odds for the Xfinity 500 as presented by DraftKings.
| Driver | To win | Top 3 | Top 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Truex Jr. | +325 | -106 | -670 |
| Denny Hamlin | +550 | +155 | -400 |
| Brad Keselowski | +550 | +155 | -400 |
| Kyle Busch | +850 | +240 | -278 |
| Chase Elliott | +850 | +240 | -278 |
| Joey Logano | +850 | +240 | -278 |
| Ryan Blaney | +900 | +250 | -265 |
| Kevin Harvick | +1000 | +275 | -240 |
| Alex Bowman | +2500 | +550 | -122 |
| Kurt Busch | +2800 | +650 | -109 |
2020 NASCAR season champ?
Kevin Harvick, the frontrunner for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Championship, has solidified his position as the top contender by securing a place in the final four next week, thanks to his victory at Kansas earlier this month.
The odds for Harvick to win the season title are set at +160.
The field’s two most improbable contenders, Bowman (+6000) and Busch (+10000), are likely in desperate need of a win on Sunday to avoid being eliminated. This is evident from their incredibly long odds.
Here’s the full list:
| Driver | 2020 Championship Odds |
|---|---|
| Kevin Harvick | +160 |
| Denny Hamlin | +245 |
| Brad Keselowski | +325 |
| Joey Logano | +350 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | +1400 |
| Chase Elliott | +2500 |
| Alex Bowman | +6000 |
| Kurt Busch | +10000 |
Which driver will ultimately compete for the title at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship in Phoenix next week? Who will be given the opportunity to race and potentially secure the esteemed title of the newest Cup Series grand champion?
To discover the outcome, race enthusiasts should tune in to Sunday’s race at Martinsville.
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