Skip to main content
Join Now
NASCAR Logo

NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: Final eliminations made before Phoenix

JHby: Jonathan Howard10/27/25Jondean25
William Byron Martinsville NASCAR
Mandatory Credit: Greg Atkins-Imagn Images

Only one more race left in the NASCAR season. The Championship 4 has been decided for all three national series after Martinsville. We had a tiebreaker for the final spot in the Truck Series, a first-time winner in the Xfinity Series, and a walk-off win in the Cup Series. And a little drama, too.

Whatever criticisms you may have of the NASCAR Playoffs, having Martinsville as a major elimination race is just perfect. Darlington starting the postseason, Bristol being the first elimination race, and Martinsville being the last elimination race are the best parts of the current format, if you ask me.

There were winners and losers all weekend long. One or two mishaps, and the championship hopes vanished from the eyes of many drivers at the Paperclip.

Rajah Caruth out early at Martinsville, ends title hopes

Unforutnately for Rajah Caruth, he entered the race above the cutline and left it with a totaled truck. In his last full-time season in the Truck Series for the foreseeable future, Caruth came up just short of the Championship 4.

Caruth was involved in an early restart incident. Then, Kaden Honeycutt got into his side and cut his tire. From there, it wasn’t long before the young NASCAR driver was in the wall.

Corey Heim quietly dominates NASCAR Truck race

Of course, Corey Heim was out front for most of the race. He led the most laps and once again added a win to his 2025 record.

11 wins on the season and likely another one coming at Phoenix. Can anyone stop Heim and does anyone in NASCAR’s fanbase want to see him lose after the season he’s had?

Layne Riggs eliminated via tiebreaker with Kaden Honeycutt

For Layne Riggs, it was end of the road as well in the NASCAR Truck Series. Once again, Honeycutt was involved. Riggs made up all the points he had to make up, and even had the fastest lap. It came down to a tiebreaker.

Honeycutt finished P2, which was the best finish in the Round of 8 between him and Riggs. So, the driver of the 52 moves on and the 34 is just racing for the win on Friday.

Harrison Burton announces 2026 NASCAR plans, gets pole award

On the same day that Harrison Burton’s 2026 NASCAR plans were announced, a move to Sam Hunt Racing, he won his first career pole. In over 100 starts, Burton hadn’t had a pole until Martinsville.

Unfortunately, the race didn’t go as well for Burton. But he is on the move and rejoining the Toyota family. Can he win with Sam Hunt next season?

Noah Gragson puts Todd Gilliland in crappy situation

Before NASCAR Cup Series practice, Noah Gragson pranked Todd Gilliland. It was a crappy situation. Literally. Gragson locked his teammate in a porta-potty in the infield.

Gilliland eventually got out. Then, he went on to earn another top-10 at Martinsville. It is easily his best track on the schedule.

Taylor Gray earns first win, NASCAR Xfinity drivers eliminated

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, Taylor Gray had a career day. He earned the win and even held off Sammy Smith on a late restart. It was like watching the Spring race in an alternate timeline where it didn’t end in a s**tshow.

Gray gets the win, and a few drivers go home disappointed. One driver who was eliminated took his frustrations out on Jeb Burton…

Sam Mayer right rear hooks Jeb Burton after finish

Following the finish to the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, Sam Mayer blatantly right-rear-hooked Jeb Burton. Then, he admitted to it in his post-race interview.

It was a horrible move on his part and something he should have known better than to do. Thankfully, it appears Burton is okay. His racecar wasn’t okay after finishing a strong P6, one spot ahead of Mayer.

Carson Hocevar gets into it with current and future teammates

During the NASCAR Cup Series race, Carson Hocevar was all over the place. And not in a good way. Hocevar got into it twice with Daniel Suárez, resulting in spins. Suárez and Hocevar will be teammates next season at Spire.

On top of that, Michael McDowell also spun Hocevar out. Not a great day for the 77 and not a great day for Spire, present and future drivers included.

Joe Gibbs Racing has concerning engine failures

Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin are locked into the Championship 4 and were ahead of Martinsville. That’s a good thing. Both drivers suffered engine failures on Sunday that ended their races.

Joe Gibbs claims that the team knows what the issue was and it shouldn’t be an issue at Phoenix. Still, you have to be nervous as a 19 or 11 fan.

William Byron gets walk-off win to advance to NASCAR championship

Credit where it is due, William Byron finally gets his moment in the NASCAR Playoffs. A walk-off in a must-win situation. He even did it over Ryan Blaney, who was the winner of the fall Martinsville race the last two years before.

Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle stepped up to the plate on Sunday. Now, they have one more race to wrap up what has been a truly great season for the 24 team.