Overview
- Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe are locked into the Championship 4, with Christopher Bell holding a 37-point cushion and Kyle Larson next in line.
- The Xfinity 500 at Martinsville will set the final two Phoenix berths under the win-and-you’re-in format, leaving William Byron (-36), Joey Logano (-38), Ryan Blaney (-47) and Chase Elliott (-62) needing a victory or major help.
- Briscoe said on the Dale Jr. Download he does not want a Penske car at Phoenix given the team’s three-year run of victories there and confirmed he will prepare and race for the Martinsville win.
- He added that a Martinsville win by himself or Hamlin would effectively secure Bell’s advancement, underscoring Joe Gibbs Racing’s push to control the final playoff spots.
- On their podcasts, Hamlin urged Elliott, Blaney, Logano and Byron to treat the week as a must-win effort and highlighted Blaney, Byron and Elliott as threats, while Kevin Harvick echoed the must-win message and noted Penske’s strong Martinsville form.