William Byron delivered a commanding performance in the Martinsville Cup playoff race, ultimately prevailing in an electrifying Ryan Blaney Martinsville playoff battle on Sunday. Held at Martinsville Speedway, this race determined which drivers would compete for the NASCAR Cup championship in Phoenix, with Byron’s dominant run securing his place among the elite Championship 4 contenders.
Byron’s Achievement Takes Center Stage at Martinsville
Starting from the pole in the Xfinity 500, William Byron seized the lead early on and established control by pacing the field for 304 laps, which is the highest tally in his Cup Series career. The Hendrick Motorsports driver, piloting the No. 24 Chevrolet, captured his third win of the season when the stakes were at their highest. The pivotal moment arrived with less than 43 laps to go, when Byron reclaimed the lead from Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Ford, a move that ultimately decided the thrilling contest.
After the race, Byron reflected on the magnitude of his accomplishment against last year’s fall winner at Martinsville, with emotions running high as he discussed the challenges he overcame to secure a shot at the series title.
“Damn, I got a lot to say. Things have a way of working out, and we’ve been tested, and this is just unbelievable. I’m out of breath.”
– William Byron, NBC Sports interview
The contest was defined by resilience, particularly during the closing laps as Byron and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney fought fiercely, with both drivers giving everything in pursuit of the win. Byron continued to emphasize the relentless hard work by his team and himself throughout the season.
“All these guys work so hard and you put everything into Sundays and sometimes you don’t get anything in return. And that’s been the last couple weeks, and honestly throughout the year, we had some close calls, but sometimes life is that way, but you just got to keep being resilient, and we were and just feels damn good.”
– William Byron, NBC Sports interview
Championship Field Set for Phoenix
By achieving victory at Martinsville, Byron secured his third Championship 4 appearance. He will join Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson, along with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, as the race for the NASCAR Cup title shifts to Phoenix Raceway.
Each of these drivers—Larson, Hamlin, Briscoe, and Byron—have delivered outstanding performances throughout the 2025 season. The upcoming finale in Phoenix promises to be an intense showdown as four of the sport’s top talents contest for the coveted championship.
Recap of the 2025 Xfinity 500 Final Results
The Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway delivered excitement as drivers raced for their championship hopes. William Byron emerged victorious after leading the majority of the laps, while Ryan Blaney put up a strong fight until the closing stages. The official results underline just how intense the battle for the finale spots became as the field heads into the biggest race of the year.
NASCAR’s Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway will take place on November 2, beginning at 3 p.m. ET. All eyes will be on William Byron and his fellow title contenders as they vie for the 2025 Cup Series crown.
Byron’s win at Martinsville not only marks one of the highlights of the 2025 season but also cements his reputation for stepping up when it matters most, shaping up an unforgettable championship weekend in Phoenix.
William Byron advances to Championship 4 with his third victory at Martinsville. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/kjLgUoLFJD
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 26, 2025
