William Byron, a contender in the NASCAR Cup Series, secured the pole position for Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway after delivering a fast qualifying lap, aiming to keep his playoff hopes alive in the final Round of 8 race. The NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 will see Byron’s Hendrick Motorsports team facing significant pressure as they pursue a much-needed victory to advance.
Byron Races Against Playoff Odds
Although Byron starts at the front of the field, the No. 24 Chevrolet team finds itself 36 points behind the playoff cutoff heading into Martinsville Speedway. With elimination looming, Byron’s need for a win is urgent. His impressive lap of 98.185 mph on Saturday narrowly beat Ty Gibbs by just two-thousandths of a second, placing Gibbs second and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson in third with a time of 98.038 mph.
Byron’s performance marked the fastest qualifying lap at Martinsville since 2016. It also broke Hendrick Motorsports’ pole drought, with their last pole coming at Kansas Speedway in May. This stretch had been their lengthiest since 2006, highlighting the importance of Byron’s achievement for both the driver and the Charlotte-based organization.
Zane Smith Secures Extended Contract with Front Row Motorsports
Zane Smith, who drives the No. 38 Ford, has agreed to a multi-year extension to remain with Front Row Motorsports, continuing his partnership with crew chief Ryan Bergenty through 2026. In his first season with the Moorseville, N.C.-based team, Smith achieved one top-five and five top-10 finishes, qualifying 23rd for Sunday’s race. Smith stands at No. 27 in the driver standings as he enters the crucial event at Martinsville Speedway. Before joining Front Row, Smith was a rookie competitor for Spire Motorsports.
Reflecting on the year’s ups and downs, Smith shared his optimism for continued growth with Front Row Motorsports.
“We’ve had an up-and-down year, but heading into the offseason, I feel like we’ve put our program in a great position to hit the ground running in 2026,”
said Zane Smith in a team news release.
“Front Row has always felt like home — the people, both on the road and at the shop, truly make this a special place and I’m excited for what next season holds.”
— Zane Smith, Driver
Full Starting Lineup for the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500
The field for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway features top drivers from across Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet teams. Below is the complete starting lineup based on Saturday’s qualifying results:
1. William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
2. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
3. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
4. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
5. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
6. Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford
7. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
8. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
9. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota
10. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
11. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
12. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
13. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
14. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
15. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
16. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
17. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
18. Ryan Freece, No. 48 Chevrolet
19. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
20. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
21. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
22. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet
23. Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
24. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
25. Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
26. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
27. Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
28. Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
29. Chris Buescher, No. 16 Ford
30. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
31. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
32. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
33. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
34. Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet
35. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
36. Cody Ware, No. 51 Ford
37. Casey Mears, No. 66 Ford
Anticipation Builds for Sunday’s Showdown
With William Byron at the front and several notable names like Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and rookie drivers including Zane Smith and Riley Herbst in the mix, the stage is set for an intense race at Martinsville Speedway. Each competitor, from veterans such as Brad Keselowski and Erik Jones to newer faces like Carson Hocevar and Shane van Gisbergen, will be battling not only for a strong finish but also for crucial championship points.
Attention will also be on teams like Hendrick Motorsports, Front Row Motorsports, and Spire Motorsports as they look to close out the season on a high. The results at the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 could reshape playoff hopes and set the tone for the coming year, making this event a pivotal moment in the NASCAR championship race.
He hopes to finish exactly where he starts. pic.twitter.com/MwetjJH9HH
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 25, 2025
His future is Front Row!@ZaneSmith will drive the No. 38 for @Team_FRM in 2026 and beyond. pic.twitter.com/VyZediAmFN
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 23, 2025
Paperclips and Legos are a similar size, right?@NoahGragson | @MartinsvilleSwy pic.twitter.com/z7HOfzfTeW
— NASCAR Nation (@NASCARNation) October 25, 2025
