The NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 is drawing significant anticipation this week, with Chase Briscoe’s surprising victory at Talladega Superspeedway propelling him and other key drivers into the spotlight ahead of the critical race at Martinsville Speedway. The event marks an important phase for Joe Gibbs Racing and several top drivers as they vie for a spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway on November 2, and fans are eager to see who will emerge in this pivotal round.
Unexpected Triumph Ignites Joe Gibbs Racing Hopes
Joe Gibbs Racing experienced a noteworthy weekend as Chase Briscoe’s overtime surge at Talladega captured the attention of fans and teams alike. Few anticipated the Huntersville-based organization would celebrate such a moment, particularly given Briscoe’s history at drafting tracks—he had never before claimed a victory on this type of circuit at any racing level.
Briscoe’s win not only secured his first trip to the Championship 4 but also marked the first superspeedway victory for crew chief James Small. The win is even more profound considering that Martin Truex Jr., who retired at the end of last season, frequently struggled at larger venues.
“We had fast cars in the past, but usually luck has evaded us. Today everything kind of came together.”
— James Small, Crew Chief
Joe Gibbs Racing is positioned for a strong showing in the next phase, with Briscoe and teammate Denny Hamlin, who recently secured a win at Las Vegas, both advancing. Christopher Bell remains well-placed to potentially make it a trio for JGR in the championship finale, entering the next Sunday’s Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway with a 37-point cushion above the cutoff line.
The bracket is tight among the contenders. Kyle Larson, the 2021 series champion, sits 36 points above Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron, and 38 above defending champion Joey Logano. As Sunday approaches, the stakes are high for every team and driver involved.
The Upcoming Weekend: NASCAR National Series and Tour Events
Martinsville Speedway will be the center of action with a packed schedule surrounding the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500. The week’s racing events deliver opportunities for both established stars and emerging talents to shine across multiple series.
Thursday’s events feature the Whelen Modified Tour with two practices, followed by qualifying and the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200. Friday spotlights the Truck Series with afternoon practice and qualifying, culminating with the Slim Jim 200. On Saturday, the schedule continues with Xfinity Series practice and qualifying, Cup Series practice and qualifying later in the day, and the Xfinity Series IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250 by evening. The weekend culminates with the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 race at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, the penultimate opportunity to secure a championship slot.
What to Expect: Top Drivers Set for the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500
The official entry list for Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway highlights an array of the sport’s biggest names across Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota. Each driver will be aiming to capitalize on the momentum and secure valuable points for championship contention.
The lineup includes Ross Chastain (Chevrolet), Austin Cindric (Ford), Austin Dillon (Chevrolet), Noah Gragson (Ford), Kyle Larson (Chevrolet), Brad Keselowski (Ford), Justin Haley (Chevrolet), Kyle Busch (Chevrolet), Chase Elliott (Chevrolet), Ty Dillon (Chevrolet), Denny Hamlin (Toyota), Ryan Blaney (Ford), AJ Allmendinger (Chevrolet), Chris Buescher (Ford), Chase Briscoe (Toyota), Christopher Bell (Toyota), Josh Berry (Ford), Joey Logano (Ford), Bubba Wallace (Toyota), William Byron (Chevrolet), Todd Gilliland (Ford), Riley Herbst (Toyota), Zane Smith (Ford), Cole Custer (Ford), John Hunter Nemechek (Toyota), Erik Jones (Toyota), Tyler Reddick (Toyota), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Ford), Alex Bowman (Chevrolet), Cody Ware (Ford), Ty Gibbs (Toyota), Ryan Preece (Ford), Casey Mears (Ford), Michael McDowell (Chevrolet), Carson Hocevar (Chevrolet), Shane van Gisbergen (Chevrolet), and Daniel Suarez (Chevrolet).
Among the standouts to watch are Denny Hamlin, who has demonstrated recent success; Christopher Bell, currently sitting in a strong position; Kyle Larson, a previous series champion; William Byron and Joey Logano, who are within striking distance of the points needed to contend; and Chase Briscoe, the weekend’s breakout force.
Intensity Builds as Title Contenders Prepare for Martinsville Finale
As the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 approaches, intensity and anticipation continue to rise. The drama witnessed at Talladega sets an electrifying backdrop for Martinsville, and each lap carries championship implications for the likes of Chase Elliott, Carson Hocevar, Austin Cindric, Denny Hamlin, John Hunter Nemechek, Erik Jones, Ty Gibbs, Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., William Byron, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Todd Gilliland, Ty Dillon, Martin Truex Jr., James Small, Justin Haley, Casey Mears, Ryan Blaney, AJ Allmendinger, Cody Ware, Slim Jim, Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, Austin Dillon, Bubba Wallace, Zane Smith, Noah Gragson, Ryan Preece, Michael McDowell, Cole Custer, Christopher Bell, Riley Herbst, Shane van Gisbergen, Josh Berry, Alex Bowman, and more.
Teams like Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet all retain a vested interest, as do fans eager to see the outcome on the storied Martinsville track. The performance at this race will determine who gets the chance to compete for NASCAR’s ultimate prize at Phoenix Raceway, setting the stage for a high-stakes conclusion to the season.
“Drama at @TALLADEGA on the final lap.
Sounds about right. 😏 pic.twitter.com/mb42csKiAt”
— NASCAR (@NASCAR)
Welcome to the Championship 4, @chasebriscoe! pic.twitter.com/MfdwOzyWy3
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) October 19, 2025
It’s our time to shine. IT’S RACE WEEK! #Xfinity500 | #IAARitchieBros250 | #SlimJim200 | #VAisforRacingLovers300 pic.twitter.com/fk0e4zxodu
— Martinsville Speedway (@MartinsvilleSwy) October 19, 2025
Drama at @TALLADEGA on the final lap.
Sounds about right. 😏 pic.twitter.com/mb42csKiAt
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 20, 2025
