NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: Martinsville mayhem sets up Championship 4
This weekend, the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series each eliminated four drivers from the playoffs to set up the Championship 4. For this week’s Mash-Up we have wrecks, driver drama, and even some Richard Childress drama. Let’s recap the weekend and get on to Phoenix.
Eight drivers found themselves in the championship races for this Sunday, and eight drivers left Martinsville heartbroken. In both of the races this weekend, we saw drivers make moves that cost them a potential Championship 4 spot.
We had two very different races, too. The Xfinity Series was chaotic and caution-filled. Meanwhile, the Cup Series had a period of 168 green flag laps to end the race. Yet, both races were a lot of fun to watch as the points battles played out.
Xfinity Series madness at Martinsville
To start the weekend at Martinsville, we had a very intense Xfinity Series race. The Dead On Tools 250 was just as good as it has been in years past. Fall playoff racing at Martinsville produces desperation, and triumph.
Like we’ve seen in years past, the Xfinity Series brought out some great Halloween paint schemes. While the NASCAR Championship 4 was up for grabs, the best schemes had to be the spooky looks throughout this race.
The Xfinity Series race really got going in the late stages of the race. Drivers started to spin out, lose grip, and cautions built up. There were 15 cautions in this race with a red flag period that almost lasted 30 minutes before overtime.
Sheldon Creed and Austin Hill were both on the outside looking in to start the weekend. Creed had to win. Hill needed points or a win. At the end of this race, the teammates were side-by-side with John Hunter Nemechek and Justin Allgaier behind them.
Some say Creed brake-checked Hill, others say Hill door slammed Creed. You be the judge.
Just like Daytona, Allgaier beats Creed at the line.
Things didn’t stop here for Creed, by the way.
Richard Childress calls Sheldon Creed ‘stupid’
For his hard racing effort to make a NASCAR Championship 4, Sheldon Creed was rewarded with criticism. From his boss. Richard Childress did not like how the end of the Martinsville race played out, and that was made clear. After the race, Childress told Dustin Long of NBC Sports just what he thought of Creed.
“I’ve had drivers drive for me before but nobody as stupid as Sheldon Creed,” Richard Childress told NBC Sports as he left Martinsville Speedway Saturday night.
“You don’t do that as a team player. What else do you want me to tell you?”
RCR VP of Competition, Andy Petree, definitely wasn’t happy with Creed.
Austin Hill then went on to spoil Sheldon Creed’s 2024 destination. It wasn’t a great secret, but it still hasn’t been announced yet. Here’s what each driver said about the race.
Justin Allgaier wins this race to go to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4. He will race John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, and Sam Mayer for a championship.
NASCAR Championship 4 set after Ryan Blaney’s big win
After years of trying – trying to win at Martinsville, trying to make the Championship 4, Ryan Blaney finally got it done. This race had its own drama, don’t get me wrong. But it wasn’t as intense postrace as the Xfinity Series. Before the race, Aric Almirola announced his semi-retirement from NASCAR. He won’t return to Stewart-Haas Racing next year.
Chevy had a big day as they claimed the Cup Series manufacturer’s championship at the start of this race. They swept the three national series for the fifth time. Also, the pace car broke down during the race after picking up too much rubber which ripped off the wiring under the car.
Wild times in Martinsville.
However, things got going when Joey Logano just drove straight through Ty Gibbs. There were other incidents, but this one got Denny Hamlin fuming mad.
Denny Hamlin had some explicit words for Logano on the radio. He then called him out after the race, too. Gibbs clipped Hamlin there.
While Hamlin and others put up a good fight, Ryan Blaney was simply too good. He went on to win this one in convincing fashion. Meanwhile, William Byron just barely held on to advance on points. He gets in over Hamlin.
This was a big celebration from Blaney as he gets to his first NASCAR Championship 4.
Martin Truex Jr., Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, and Hamlin were eliminated.