Drivers to watch, drivers with questions to answer in Xfinity 500 at Martinsville

Two spots are up for grabs in the Championship 4 and the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway will decide who gets them. Such a historic track and so many great races over the years. Elimination at Martinsville brings out aggression in drivers and brings out their best performances.

A year ago we saw a walk-off win from Christopher Bell and the amazing wall ride from Ross Chastain. I’m not sure we’re going to get quite a race like that. However, we just might see drivers put the bumper to the car in front of them and force the issue.

Short-track racing is hit or miss right now. Mostly misses. However, the pressure of the NASCAR Playoffs and possible elimination is going to make this race interesting.

We’ll see how the new short-track tire performs on the half-mile oval this weekend.

Drivers to watch in Xfinity 500

Kyle Larson
He picked up his first grandfather clock this season. I think that Kyle Larson might be able to do it again this weekend. After making a big mistake a week ago at Homestead-Miami, Larson wants redemption. I know he is locked in and can wait his time until Phoenix, that’s just not his style, though.

Denny Hamlin
A DNF last week really hurt Denny Hamlin in the points. He’s 17 under and will have to put together quite a race on Sunday to advance to the Championship 4. The favorite in this race, Hamlin has five wins at Martinsville in his career. He’d like to make that six wins and get his ticket punched to Phoenix. He’ll be up front.

Ryan Blaney
After coming so close at Homestead, I expect Blaney to be out for blood. He enters 10 points above the cutline. He’s in the best position of his career to make the Championship 4. Blaney has done pretty much everything at Martinsville, except win a race. He will hope to change that on Sunday.

Drivers with questions to answer at Martinsville

Martin Truex Jr.
Once again, let’s just prove that this team can get it done in the Xfinity 500. Martin Truex Jr. and his group showed top-10 speed and now they need to show winning speed. Truex has three wins at Martinsville and will be poised to win his fourth. I think he’s in a must-win spot. Good news, Truex is “optimistic.”

Tyler Reddick
Let’s see if Reddick can do it. He’s never been to a Championship 4. 10 points under the cutline, he can make it in. So, he will have to prove it like Truex, but for different reasons. In a career-best season, Reddick has accomplished a lot. However, this is where you show if you’re a championship-level driver or not.

Chris Buescher
Meanwhile, Buescher is in the worst points situation of any driver. So, he has more to prove than anyone else. When Buescher won three of five races to end the regular season, I expected a bigger playoff performance. Even though it hasn’t been dominant, Buescher is just a win away from stealing a spot in Phoenix. Can he win the Xfinity 500?