Who’s ready for a wild weekend? All three NASCAR national series head to the iconic Martinsville Speedway for the penultimate race.
For a track that has been no stranger to drama and stress in the past, that all ramps up again this weekend as playoff drivers look to cash in on one more opportunity to advance to the Championship 4.
From Denny Hamlin’s infamous bump to Chase Elliott in 2017, Ross Chastain’s “Hail Melon” to make the title race in 2022 and the last-lap chaos between then-teammates at Richard Childress Racing — Sheldon Creed and Austin Hill — a year ago, The Paperclip has been the sight of memories that will last a lifetime.
Anticipation is rocketing, and desperation will be at a season-high when drivers hit the track. And for such a historic track, why not feature some legends who contributed to that as the dignitaries?
Grand Marshals
In celebration of their illustrious legacy in NASCAR, the Petty family will serve as grand marshals for the Xfinity 500. Led by seven-time Cup champion, Richard Petty, over 40 Petty family members will give the command to fire the engines.
The Petty family is wrapping up its 75th season anniversary in NASCAR, and in addition to the records upon records that they set, Martinsville was a historic site for them. Richard Petty won a leading 15 times at the track, while his father, Lee Petty, won his very first race at the half-mile track.
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.