NASCAR at Martinsville live updates, results, highlights from Xfinity 500 playoff race

Last week in Kansas, there were seven drivers competing for the final three spots in the Championship 4. Then, Kyle Larson, who already punched his ticket, won at Kansas and prevented another driver from clinching automatically.

So that means this week at Martinsville, there’ll yet again be seven drivers competing for just the final three spots in the Championship 4. The race for the second and third spot in the standings is separated by just two points between Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin. However, they have a comfortable lead — 31 points — over the current fourth place driver, Kyle Busch.

But while Busch has the lead for the fourth place spot right now, he too is locked in a close race. Just six points separate the field’s seventh place driver (Brad Keselowski, 4,068 points) and it’s fourth place driver (Busch, 4,074 points).

Any one of those drivers could make the point differential moot with a win, though Larson’s won three races in a row, including the last two Round of 8 races. Otherwise, another Larson win means it’ll come down to points and a lot of drivers will need everything to go their way.

Martin Truex Jr., who currently sits at sixth in the standings, won last time out at Martinsville in April. He beat out Denny Hamlin after passing him with 16 laps to go to take the lead, never giving it up. If he can repeat, then he’ll clinch a spot automatically, otherwise it’ll be up to the field.

Sporting News is tracking live updates and highlights from the XFinity 500 at Martinsville. Follow along below for updates throughout.

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NASCAR at Martinsville live updates, highlights from Xfinity 500

4:35 p.m.: Chase Elliott in the lead once again with 167 laps to go and counting. Bowman, Hamlin, Truex, Byron round out the top-5.

4:33 p.m.: Quin Houff is being held back and penalized five laps for intentionally spinning Billicki near a saftey vehicle. Claims NASCAR “doesn’t care about respect.”

4:26 p.m.: Hamlin trying to get out in front but isn’t itching to make a move and is playing it conservative.

4:25 p.m.: Here’s how things are looking on the restart out of the caution.

4:21 p.m.: The caution comes out as Josh Billicki spins out and stops on Turn 4 and lap 310. Austin Dillon gets the free pass. Now on the lead lap.

4:20 p.m.: Worry starting to creep in in the Kyle Busch camp.

4:12 p.m.: Chase Elliott remains in front. He’s led for 207 laps so far with 211 to go. Also already has his spot in the Championship 4 locked up.

4:03 p.m.: Kyle Busch now gets hit with a penalty for speeding off of pit road and goes to the rear.

3:57 p.m.: Chase Elliott wins Stage 2. He has now locked himself in to the Championship 4 thanks to the points from the stage win. Joins Kyle Larson in the championship.

3:46 p.m.: More on Elliott as he looks to clinch with a strong showing in Stage 2.

3:36 p.m.: Chase Elliott can clinch one of the three remaining Championship 4 spots with a strong performance in Stage 2.

3:32 p.m.: Another caution out as Austin Dillon has a right front tire issue.

3:28 p.m.: Kyle Busch seems to be struggling too.

3:23 p.m.: Blaney’s woes continue as his car seems to be in serious trouble.

3:10 p.m.: Kyle Larson, who led for much of the day, now goes to the back after speeding on pit road.

3:07 p.m.: Stage 1 over at Martinsville. Here’s how the race is shaking out.

2:58 p.m.: Obviously stage points are important, but no one can clinch after Stage 1.

2:52 p.m.: Blaney’s woes continue. He’s running in ninth right now and has taken serious damage a few times.

2:49 p.m.: Elliott has reclaimed the lead but it’s not all smooth sailing.

2:43 p.m.: A caution comes out as Ryan Newman spins on Turn 4. Nimble effort by the others to avoid him.

2:39 p.m.: Denny Hamlin gets hit with a penalty for speeding off pit road and drops to the back of the pack.

2:36 p.m.: Cars are starting to pit. Here’s what the race out of pit road looks like.

2:34 p.m.: The competition caution has arrived with Elliott, Larson, Truex, Keselowski and Kyle Busch rounding out the top-five.

2:32 p.m.: And just like that, Chase Elliott takes the lead from Larson with two laps to go until the competition caution.

2:30 p.m.: Larson’s led 51 of 52 laps so far with 8 laps to go before the competition caution.

2:25 pm.: Blaney struggling here early and reporting major problems with his car, specifically the steering. Been passed several times and made contact several times as well.

2:23 p.m.: 30 laps in and Larson has the lead followed by Truex, Elliott and Keselowski.

2:22 p.m.: Good news upcoming for Denny Hamlin potentially, with the competition caution approaching.

2:10 p.m.: Denny Hamlin, who’s won here five times, is starting in 37th place after failing inspection twice this morning. Hamlin has a 31 point lead for fourth.

2:04 p.m.: Engines are fired and things are about to get interesting.

2:01 p.m.: Action slated to get underway in about 10 minutes. Here’s a look at the points race heading in.

NASCAR start time today

• Time: 2 p.m. ET (TV time)
• TV channel: NBC (TSN5 in Canada)
• Live stream: NBC Sports.com | NBC Sports App | Peacock | fuboTV (7-day free trial)
• Radio: MRN

The green flag for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race on Martinsville Speedway’s 0.526-mile short track is scheduled to drop at 2:12 p.m. ET Sunday. The track has lights, so the race can finish after sunset if there is a delay.

Weather conditions should ensure an on-time start. The National Weather Service forecast for Ridgeway, Va., where Martinsville Speedway is located, is for mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 65 degrees. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph, however.

NASCAR playoff standings

The bubble drivers figure to produce the most drama Sunday. Positions 4 through 7 are separated by six points. Kyle Busch is in the No. 4 spot but he’s just one point ahead of Ryan Blaney, the first driver out at the moment. The live standings will be volatile.

Elliott (34 points) and Hamlin (32 points) come into the race with sizable leads over Blaney as they sit in second and third in the standings, respectively. 

Aside from the closeness of the standings, there’s another reason the four drivers below can have hope: A playoff driver who wins a race in the Round of 8 automatically qualifies for the Championship 4 race Nov. 7 at Phoenix Raceway. Problem is, only Larson has won a race thus far in the Round of 8.

x-Advanced to Championship 4 race.

NASCAR starting lineup at Martinsville

Here is the complete starting lineup for Sunday’s playoff race at Martinsville Speedway, the Xfinity 500.