CONCORD, N.C. - This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series rolls into Martinsville Speedway for the second time in 2024. For the three remaining Hendrick Motorsports championship hopefuls, they'll need to get past this final obstacle before heading to Phoenix Raceway to compete for a title.
But for Rick Hendrick's team, there might not be a better track than Martinsville to host the Round of 8 finale.
The group has collected a record 29 victories, including a 1-2-3 finish at the track's spring race. This Sunday, the team will look to make it an even 30 and leave Virginia with title hopes still intact.
RELATED: Hendrick Motorsports driver averages: Martinsville
Also in action this weekend will be a softer tire compound. The right side tires will be the same rubber used during Richmond Raceway's second event as well as the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway — it's softer compound designed to produce more speed early in the run before surrendering time the longer a competitor uses it. On the left side of the race car, Goodyear has brought an even softer compound, with the goal of making passing easier due to increased tire wear.
Teams will all take to the track for one 45-minute practice session on Saturday to see how these changes will affect their race cars.
Where is NASCAR this weekend?
The Cup Series will race at Martinsville.
What time is the NASCAR race this weekend?
The Cup Series race will start at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
NASCAR on TV this week
Saturday, November 2
1 p.m. ET: Practice - NBC Sports App
2:50 p.m. ET: Qualifying - NBC Sports App
All cars will practice during the 45-minute session. For qualifying, Chase Elliott will be in Group A while Kyle Larson, William Byron and Alex Bowman will be in Group B.
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Sunday, November 3
2 p.m. ET: Cup Series main event - NBC
NASCAR playoff standings Round of 8
| Driver | Wins this round | Margin to elimination |
| 1. Tyler Reddick | 1 | ADV |
| 2. Joey Logano | 1 | ADV |
| 3. Christopher Bell | 0 | +29 |
| 4. William Byron | 0 | +7 |
| ----------------- | ||
| 5. Kyle Larson | 0 | -7 |
| 6. Denny Hamlin | 0 | -18 |
| 7.Ryan Blaney | 0 | -38 |
| 8. Chase Elliott | 0 | -43 |
STAGES
STAGE 1: LAP 130
STAGE 2: LAP 260
END OF RACE: LAP 500
Will the NASCAR race be on the radio?
Yes, listeners can find the race on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
Where can I stream NASCAR online?
Download the NBC Sports App for online coverage. Fans can also keep up with the action on X by following @TeamHendrick.
Martinsville driver averages, statistics for Hendrick Motorsports
Data provided by Racing Insights
Larson, No. 5 team
The Round of 8 has been marked with adversity for Larson. Pit stop issues at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and a flat tire at Homestead-Miami Speedway have certainly knocked the team down in the standings. However, Larson enters Martinsville seven points behind Byron for the final transfer spot. At a track where Larson scored a victory last season and finished runner-up this year, a walk-off win is not out of the question. His 808 laps led on short tracks this season is also a career-best mark.
Elliott, No. 9 team
Despite a solid run at Homestead, Elliott will likely need to find victory lane to advance to another Championship 4. This would not be out of the question as the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team did exactly that in 2020, and went on to win the title. This season, Elliott is the only driver in the Cup Series to finish inside the top 10 in every short-track race. He'll aim to build off a third-place finish in the spring to advance to the season finale.
Byron, No. 24 team
Consistency in the playoffs has propelled Byron to his current position. Entering Sunday, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native sits seven spots above the cutline. While last fall's Martinsville race was one to forget, Byron has been good at "The Paperclip" in the Next Gen era, scoring two victories and leading 300 laps in the process. His 77 stage points scored in the postseason are also the most of any driver. He'll aim to break through for his fourth victory of the season by adding a third grandfather clock to his collection.
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Bowman, No. 48 team
Short tracks have been a highlight of Bowman's successful 2024 campaign. The Tucson, Arizona, native has scored four top-10 finishes on short tracks in 2024, his most in a single season. Since the playoffs began at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bowman has collected 63 stage points, second only to Byron. While not in the fight for a title, the No. 48 Ally Racing team will look to win for a second time this season and continue this run of form over the past two months.
Hendrick Motorsports
Martinsville is the only track on the Cup Series calendar where all four active drivers from Hendrick Motorsports have gone to victory lane. The team has also won five of the last eight races held at the .5-mile track and became the first organization ever to score a 1-2-3 result in April. Four of the last five pole awards at short tracks have also gone to Hendrick Motorsports drivers. Will one of the four be able to get the 30th victory at the track this Sunday?
Catch all of the action from "The Paperclip" on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.