NASCAR and Martinsville go method again. Latest playoff historical past with Chase Elliott, others

Martinsville Speedway have been each birthed in 1947 and haven’t strayed from one another within the 77 years since.

(.526 to be precise, roughly 45 yards longer than a half-mile) is positioned a stone’s-throw north of the North Carolina-Virginia line, about an hour north of Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

That looks like fairly an outpost for a sport that seemingly outgrew such locales with the passing many years, however Martinsville survived. It helped that there was at all times some possession curiosity with NASCAR administration, and the group has been sole proprietor since 2004.

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After of modified racing in 1948, NASCAR ran its first “strictly inventory” collection in 1949 — it’s referred to as the Cup Collection right now. It was a humble, eight-race schedule, and Martinsville was the sixth cease.

The historical past pages say 10,000 followers watched win by three laps over runner-up Lee Petty. It was the second of Byron’s two wins in his transient profession, and he made them rely — he was NASCAR’s unique champ in ’49.

When NASCAR’s prime division expanded to 19 races in 1950, Martinsville bought two race dates and it’s been that method ever since. The second race has virtually at all times been close to the tip of the season, and 4 years in the past it changed Phoenix because the next-to-last date on the schedule — Phoenix was moved to the championship finale, changing Homestead-Miami.

Because it’s executed these previous 4 years, Martinsville’s checkered flag will set the championship discipline for Phoenix. For those who’re in search of developments to assist handicap the ultimate cease on the Spherical of 8, don’t look right here.

3 times, the Martinsville winner was a Spherical of 8 participant, as soon as he wasn’t. Two races have been pretty clear, one type of clear, and the opposite was an actual mess. Twice, the Martinsville winner went on to win the championship the next week, which implies twice he didn’t.

3 times the profitable margin was lower than a second, however as soon as it was 6.5 seconds, which is a couple of third of a lap across the paperclip-shaped structure.

Let’s recap the previous 4 years with Martinsville serving as Race 35 for NASCAR’s Cup Collection.

2020 winner: Chase Elliott Chase Elliott left everyone in the dust while winning Martinsville in 2020.