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Thinkin’ Out Loud at Martinsville: Next Gen Short Track Racing Has Improved, Just Not by Much

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What Happened?

Denny Hamlin spanked the field at Martinsville Speedway en route to his first win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season on Sunday (March 30). Behind him, all teammate Christopher Bell could do was watch as the No. 11 Toyota pulled away as he finished second. The rest of the top five were Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson.

It’s the sixth time Hamlin has won at The Paperclip and his first victory there since 2015.

See also
Denny Hamlin Turns Back (Grandfather) Clock to Win at Martinsville

What Really Happened?

Sunday had most things fans expect out of a short track race.

But just not on the scale anybody is hoping for.

In the spring Martinsville race of 2022, with only five lead changes shared among just two leaders, we experienced what was probably the worst Martinsville event in the modern era — and that’s saying a lot for a track that’s hosted six Cup races since then.

That was also the Next Gen car’s second points-paying short track race, and even the most cantankerous race fan can’t argue that there hasn’t been at least a little bit of progress since.

Sunday wasn’t the barn burner that Martinsville has been in the past, but it still had some short track qualities that we’ve come to know and appreciate.

Bump and runs for track position?

Check.

Angry drivers throwing tantrums?

Check.

Hot tempers and confrontations post-race?

Check and check.

Alas, despite all of that, it simply wasn’t anywhere near the grand scale of intrigue the last two nights have had in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, for better or for worse.

That’s because during the final stage, there didn’t seem to be any challenges for the lead.

At first, Wallace restarted by his employer’s vehicle on the front row for a multitude of green flags. Each time, however, Hamlin cleared the No. 23 Toyota and pulled away for the short time frame of green flag laps until the next caution.

Then, it was Bell, who did manage to lead a single lap after the final restart, challenging Hamlin for a couple of circuits before finally surrendering and merging in line in second.

Even through the lapped traffic and wearing tires, Bell not only couldn’t pass his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, but he couldn’t even get to his back bumper.

It is frustrating to watch something like this happen again after three seasons of crying for short track improvements and the constant tire compound and rules package changes being made. After this long of waiting, you have to wonder if the Next Gen car can ever be as good as short track racing was in years prior.

But hey, at least it wasn’t as bad as 2022.

Who Stood Out?

Despite his historical success and speed there, it’s almost unfathomable to think that Hamlin had not won a Cup race at his home state track of Martinsville in a decade.

Yet, that’s the position the No. 11 Toyota was in when the engines fired on Sunday afternoon. However, you never would have guessed that based on the level of dominance Hamlin had on display.

After starting fifth, the JGR driver hovered around the top five until winning stage two and leading a whopping 274 laps, or 68.5% of the race. Hamlin stayed out during a caution to inherit the lead on lap 126. From then on, Hamlin paced the field for every single lap except one on the way to his sixth victory at the short track.

You can probably chalk that up to the short track package of the Next Gen car. For a number of times, both teammates and employees challenged Hamlin for the lead in the numerous restarts that occurred in the final stage.

However, despite the anticlimactic finish in a weekend that has seen everything but in the last two days, Hamlin’s win is still remarkable.

When the Virginian climbed out of his car on Sunday on the frontstretch to celebrate, he did so knowing full well he’s now tied with NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for most career wins in Cup Series history with 55.

Also noteworthy, he will hunt for a championship in the Cup playoffs for what will be the 18th time in his career.

18th time’s the charm?

Who Fell Flat?

After the first caution waved only 32 laps in, it was Josh Berry that took the reins of the field. For a short period of 40 laps, everyone was reminded of how Berry cut his teeth on his road through the NASCAR ranks.

After starting the race 14th, the former NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Champion took two tires under the first caution, which gave him the lead. From the restart, Berry pulled away from the field by more than two seconds, and, while it was still early, it looked as if the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing team may be in strong contention for its first Martinsville win since 1973. Then, the next caution forced him down pit road.

But upon exit, he received some brief contact with 23XI Racing driver Wallace. Moments later, Berry’s day was ruined.

The No. 21 stalled on the backstretch after it lost power. Even after bringing the Ford to pit road multiple times, the team couldn’t recover after going down multiple laps.

Because of a battery, Berry ended what had started as a promising day in 32nd, four laps down.

See also
4 Burning Questions: What Actions Should NASCAR Take After Another Messy Martinsville?

Paint Scheme of the Race

In case we need a reminder of the historic track return that is occurring three weeks from now, Michael McDowell and Spire Motorsports were happy to oblige this weekend.

And they looked good doing it, too.

While it’s not the first time a car has been sponsored by a track attempting to market its race at other NASCAR tracks, it is the first one for Rockingham Speedway in decades. That alone makes it noteworthy.

Even more so, black and white alone make for a difficult combination to make into an attractive livery, yet the No. 71 designers pulled it off. Even better, they made use of painting those side skirts white to blend with the design – something every single Cup car should do all the time.

We’ve had some solid schemes this year already, but for all you livery lovers out there, you know what’s coming next week. We already have some solid contenders in the field for honor of best in show.

What’s Next?

The Cup Series visits The Lady in Black.

Darlington Raceway will host the annual throwback weekend featuring paint schemes from decades of NASCAR and racing history. The Goodyear 400 will be broadcasted live on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET.

NASCAR At Track Coordinator at Frontstretch

Dalton Hopkins began writing for Frontstretch in April 2021. Currently, he is the lead writer for the weekly Thinkin' Out Loud column, co-host of the Frontstretch Happy Hour podcast, and one of our lead reporters. Beforehand, he wrote for IMSA shortly after graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2019. Simultaneously, he also serves as a Captain in the US Army.

Follow Dalton on Twitter @PitLaneCPT

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