One of the most crucial NASCAR Cup Series races of the season has arrived and it will all transpire at one of the most iconic and brutal tracks on the circuit: Martinsville Speedway. The half-mile short track hosts the final opportunity for NASCAR playoff Round of 8 drivers to keep their aspirations of a championship alive.
Thirty-eight cars will take the green for the 500-lap race, barring any updates to the entry list.
Garrett Smithley returns to Rick Ware Racing in their No. 15 Chevrolet. Joey Gase will pilot the team’s No. 53 Chevrolet.
Timmy Hill will drive the No. 66 Crash Claims R Us Toyota for MBM Motorsports. It will mark Hill’s twelfth start on the 2021 campaign.
Tyler Allen is listed as Christopher Bell’s crew chief this week. There were two unsecured lug nuts on Bell’s No. 20 after Kansas Speedway, so Adam Stevens is expected to be suspended for this race.
Drivers will take off in the penultimate race of 2021 on Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.
Entering his fifth year with Frontstretch, Luken Glover is the author of The Underdog House, shedding light on the motivation and performance of NASCAR's dark horse teams as they strive to fight to the top. Additionally, Glover reports for the site at various events, and he contributes in the video editing department.
A 2023 graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is a middle school math and PE teacher, as well as a basketball coach. He is passionate about serving in his church, playing/coaching a wide variety of sports, and researching motorsports history.