Ryan Blaney Victorious at Martinsville; Christopher Bell Penalized

Ryan Blaney found redemption at Martinsville Speedway after his heartbreaking runner-up finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway last week. (Photo: Joshua White | The Podium Finish)

RIDGEWAY, Va. — The final race in the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 has been the most highly-anticipated event of the 2024 season, and race winner Ryan Blaney served the Martinsville fans what was arguably the most passionate winning effort of his career on a silver platter. 

Following his heartbreaking defeat to Tyler Reddick at Homestead-Miami Speedway last Sunday, Blaney entered Martinsville race weekend with one thing on his mind: race his way into the Round of 4.

Sitting seventh in the standings and in a must-win scenario, Blaney’s confidence was high after Saturday’s practice session. 

“We’ve had really good runs here in the past, especially doing what we did last year at this race was great,” Blaney said to NASCAR.com’s Alex Weaver. “Confidence is high. This team is ready for the new goal and the new task we have to achieve.”

Blaney started Sunday’s Xfinity 500 in 14th place and had a decent car all afternoon. He was able to cycle his way to the front on Lap 192 when the field split pit strategies.

As the race progressed, Blaney led a couple of laps before a caution waved on Lap 196 for a Turn 3 incident involving Carson Hocevar, Austin Cindric and Todd Gilliland. Restarting alongside Brad Keselowski, Blaney finished second while his former teammate took the lead and won Stage 2. 

Blaney had a fast car, but to his frustration, he could not get around Keselowski to take maximum stage points. He hovered in the top 10 throughout the remainder of the race and the field watched as his car came to life in the last 50 laps.

He began cutting into the leaders’ gap like a hot knife through butter and eventually caught the dominant car of Chase Elliott. Blaney shot ahead and took the checkered flag with a 2.5-second lead over Elliott.

“The last 70 or so laps, I tried to save my rears the best I could because that’s where I started struggling later in the runs,” Blaney said post-race, catching his breath following an exhausting run. “I hated I had to lay the bumper to some guys, but I had to do it. It was nice to pass the 9 clean. 

“I appreciate everybody for getting better through the night. Thank goodness. I think that’s the most tired I’ve been after a race in a long time.”

Chase Elliott had one of the most dominant cars of the day, but it was not enough to pull off the win at the end of the Xfinity 500. (Photo: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)

The No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet of Elliott was the car that everyone was watching throughout the weekend. Elliott qualified second, the best of all of the playoff contenders, and was one of the most commanding cars of the day on Sunday.

Elliott won Stage 1, leading 88 of the 130 laps. His car was extremely competitive, but did not have the edge over Blaney in the end. It was all for naught for the 2020 Cup champion as he finished a solid, but disappointing second place.

While Blaney repeated his walkoff win of last season, the excitement was overshadowed by the drama surrounding the final Round of 4 position.

Christopher Bell and William Byron fought throughout the day to gain as many points as possible to edge each other out for the final Playoff spot.

In the closing laps, Byron was seen holding off the Chevrolets of Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain. Talk on the radios between crew chiefs made many fans think that the finish was manipulated. It seemed as though the Nos. 1 and 3 held back from making a move to pass the No. 24.

However, NASCAR Race Control ruled that Bell’s last lap ride along the Turn 4 wall was where the line was crossed. Chastain’s “Hail Melon” move was banned after his wild ride at Martinsville two years ago and NASCAR viewed Bell’s last lap mishap as an equivalent safety violation. The final Round of 4 spot was given to Byron.

Christopher Bell’s loose condition in Turn 4 turned into a flashback to Ross Chastain’s “Hail Melon” two years ago, costing Bell his spot in the Championship 4. (Photo: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)

“I don’t know what to say,” Bell said. “I understand that the rule is made to prevent people from riding the wall. But my move was completely different than what Ross’ was. I got loose getting into the corner and slid right into the fence.”

Meanwhile, Byron did not seem to be as excited as someone who had just made it into the final round of the playoffs.

“[I] just don’t really know what to think about all that, but thankful that NASCAR looked at it, that they have rules in place and that’s what it is,” he said.

With the Round of 4 set, Blaney, Byron, Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick head to Phoenix with one goal in mind – win the 2024 Cup Series championship.

Unfortunately, Elliott, Bell, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin will not be competing for the title this year. It will be Logano’s third, Blaney’s second or Byron and Reddick’s first championship trophy.

The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway airs at 3:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock with MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio 90 carrying live, audio broadcasting of the season finale.