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Joey Logano is in an enviable place.
As the one driver who has already secured a spot within the championship finale of NASCAR’s Cup Series subsequent weekend, he’ll enter Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway with a head begin on preparations for the finale at Phoenix Raceway.
Seven others, nonetheless, will duel for the final three spots on the oldest and shortest circuit within the premier collection, a 0.526-mile oval. Passing was tough within the spring and call is a given, and certain moreso with the best of stakes on the road.
“It’s a super tight battle for everybody, so when it comes down to the end of the race we’ve seen it so many times, whether it’s for the win or it’s for that one point that they need coming off turn four, we’ve seen some big moments here where desperate people do desperate things and this is a track where the desperate people have an opportunity to do a desperate thing,” Logano, the 2018 champion, stated. “I’m glad I’m not a part of that.”
Chase Elliott is the one different former champion nonetheless within the combine for this 12 months’s title. He’s third in factors, eight behind Ross Chastain and 6 forward of Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron, who received at Martinsville within the spring. Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell and Chase Brisco full the sphere of contenders, with Hamlin presumably having a bonus.
He’s received 5 instances at Martinsville, however not since 2015, whereas Logano, Elliott and Byron have all received extra not too long ago on the observe. Byron shall be making an attempt to turn out to be the primary driver to win each races in a season at Martinsville since Hamlin in 2010.
CHASING THE WIN
Chase Briscoe is final among the many eight contenders for the championship, 63 factors behind chief Logano. He just about must win at Martinsville to make the title spherical.
He’s not fairly certain how that may have an effect on his driving till the race is underway.
“I think it’s hard to say what you’re willing to do sitting here versus when you’re in the moment,” Briscoe stated within the media heart on Saturday. “The emotions and adrenaline, everything is totally different than when you’re sitting here. … I don’t know what you’re willing to do. I think it’s different for everybody and until you’re in that moment it’s hard to say. We’ve just got to go try to get a win.”
75 AND COUNTING
Martinsville is celebrating its seventy fifth anniversary, and observe president Clay Campbell couldn’t be happier to be the final cease on the race to the championship last.
Like Richmond, which hosted its second weekend below pleasant climate situations, moderately than sweltering warmth typical of Virginia in mid-August the forecasts for Sunday recommend it is going to be day to take a seat within the stands and rejoice the anniversary.
“I love where I’m at,” Campbell stated of the speedway’s spot on the schedule. “Right now we’re in the 60s, around 70 degrees. So it’s a beautiful time for our area. And, you know, to be the penultimate race, I think it’s I think it’s a great time of the year.”
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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