Byron Dominates at Martinsville, Larson a Step Closer to Back-to-Back Titles
Byron won the Xfinity 500, and Larson took a 67-point lead over Christopher Bell entering the NASCAR Cup Series finale.
- On Sunday, William Byron won the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, while Kyle Larson emerged atop the NASCAR Cup Series standings heading into next week's championship finale.
- Byron led 362 of the 500 laps on the 0.526-mile Martinsville Speedway short track to secure his first win of the 2026 season. He won both stages and controlled the race during long green-flag stretches.
- Hendrick Motorsports driver Larson finished in ninth place, establishing a 67-point advantage over Christopher Bell, with Denny Hamlin trailing three points behind Bell. This positioned Larson for the championship finale.
- Next week, Larson needs nine points at Homestead-Miami Speedway to become the 2026 Cup Series champion in the final race. The championship battle has reached its decisive stage.
- Chase Briscoe remains within striking distance of the leaders, while Joey Logano rounds out the top five in the standings. The field is set for the decisive championship race.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Kyle Larson Denied Martinsville Title Clinch as William Byron Finally Shrugs Off Cup Series Curse
Kyle Larson had a golden opportunity to settle the 2026 Cup Series championship before the season finale. After his dramatic Talladega victory opened up a 73-point advantage, the Hendrick Motorsports driver needed 59 points at Martinsville to clinch the title with one race remaining, regardless of how his rivals performed. But the historic short track […]
NASCAR Cup Series Standings After Martinsville: Chase Shakeup Sets Stage for Championship Finale
The NASCAR Cup Series championship picture is set for one final showdown, and Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway left plenty to unpack. William Byron won the Xfinity 500, but the bigger championship story belonged to Kyle Larson, who emerged from Martinsville atop the Chase standings heading into next weekend’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Larson […]
NASCAR standings after Martinsville Speedway
Updated NASCAR Cup Series standings heading into the championship race Today, the field raced on the 0.526-mile short track of Martinsville Speedway. Next week, it’s the NASCAR championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. View NASCAR standings after Martinsville Speedway below. Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson both went a lap down after electing not to put in ...
Byron dominates at Martinsville, Larson a step closer to back-to-back titles
William Byron claimed his first victory of the season in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway while his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson put himself into prime championship position with one race to go in the 2026 season.
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