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Xfinity 500
Xfinity 500
Xfinity 500
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Xfinity 500
NASCAR Cup Series
VenueMartinsville Speedway
LocationRidgeway, Virginia, United States
Corporate sponsorXfinity[1]
First race1949
Distance263 miles (423 km)
Laps500
Stages 1/2: 130 each
Final stage: 240
Previous namesUnnamed/Unknown (1949–1955)
Old Dominion 400 (1956)
Sweepstakes 500 (1957)
Old Dominion 500 (1958–1982, 2001–2002)
Goody's 500 (1983–1995)
Hanes 500 (1996–1997)
NAPA Autocare 500 (1998–2000)
Subway 500 (2003–2007)
Tums QuikPak 500 (2008)
Tums Fast Relief 500 (2009–2012)
Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 (2013–2015)
Goody's Fast Relief 500 (2016)
First Data 500 (2017–2019)
Most wins (driver)Jeff Gordon
Richard Petty
Darrell Waltrip
Jimmie Johnson (6)
Most wins (team)Hendrick Motorsports (19)
Most wins (manufacturer)Chevrolet (33)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt
Concrete (turns)
Length0.526 mi (0.847 km)
Turns4

The Xfinity 500 is a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. The race is traditionally held in the fall and has been run in every NASCAR Cup Series season, starting with the sixth event in the inaugural 1949 season, making it the oldest NASCAR race on the schedule. It is currently the ninth race of ten in the Cup Series playoffs, and the final race of the Round of 8.[2] Since 2015, NBC has held the broadcast rights for the final 20 races of the season, including this race. William Byron is the defending winner of the event.

Prior to lights being installed, the race started at 1:30 p.m. Eastern, generally the earliest start time among the playoff races on the schedule, in an attempt to finish the race before darkness. Following a series of incidents involving both the October Late Model race and the NASCAR Cup races in the 2010s, most notably both fall 2015 races that ended in near-darkness, the track added lights for the 2017 season.[3] The NASCAR Cup Series fall race now finishes at night, and the Late Model race is held at night. The Tums sponsorship returned in 2008, as their Goody's Powder brand sponsored the race from 1983 to 1995 and returned as a sponsor for the spring race in 2007. Tums and Goody's sponsored the fall race through 2016. As per Martinsville tradition, the winner of this race receives a custom-built grandfather clock.[4]

Past winners

[edit]
Year Date No. Driver Team Manufacturer Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph) 		Report Ref
Laps Miles (km)
1949 September 25 22 Red Byron Raymond Parks Oldsmobile 200 100 (160.934) Report [5]
1950 October 15 92 Herb Thomas Herb Thomas Plymouth 200 100 (160.934) Report [6]
1951 October 14 7 Frank Mundy Ted Chester Oldsmobile 200 100 (160.934) Report [7]
1952 October 19 92 Herb Thomas Herb Thomas Hudson 200 100 (160.934) 2:06:10 47.556 Report [8]
1953 October 13 80 Jim Paschal George Hutchens Dodge 200 100 (160.934) 1:47:07 56.013 Report [9]
1954 October 17 42 Lee Petty Petty Enterprises Chrysler 165* 82.5 (132.770) 1:51:07 44.547 Report [10]
1955 October 16 30 Speedy Thompson Carl Kiekhaefer Chrysler 200 100 (160.934) 1:40:40 Report [11]
1956 October 28 502 Jack Smith Carl Kiekhaefer Dodge 400 200 (321.868) 3:16:17 61.136 Report [12]
1957 October 6 49 Bob Welborn Bob Welborn Chevrolet 500 250 (402.336) 3:58:00 63.025 Report [13]
1958 October 12 22 Fireball Roberts Frank Strickland Chevrolet 350* 175 (281.635) 2:43:11 64.344 Report [14]
1959 September 27 4 Rex White Rex White Chevrolet 500 250 (402.336) 4:07:56 60.5 Report [15]
1960 September 25 4 Rex White Rex White Chevrolet 500 250 (402.336) 4:08:11 60.439 Report [16]
1961 September 24 8 Joe Weatherly Bud Moore Engineering Pontiac 500 250 (402.336) 3:59:40 62.586 Report [17]
1962 September 23 29 Nelson Stacy Holman-Moody Ford 500 250 (402.336) 3:44:18 66.874 Report [18]
1963 September 22 28 Fred Lorenzen Holman-Moody Ford 500 250 (402.336) 3:42:16 67.486 Report [19]
1964 September 27 28 Fred Lorenzen Holman-Moody Ford 500 250 (402.336) 3:42:49 67.32 Report [20]
1965 September 26 26 Junior Johnson Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 500 250 (402.336) 3:43:41 67.056 Report [21]
1966 September 25 28 Fred Lorenzen Holman-Moody Ford 500 250 (402.336) 3:36:50 69.177 Report [22]
1967 September 24 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Plymouth 500 250 (402.336) 3:35:30 69.605 Report [23]
1968 September 22 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Plymouth 500 250 (402.336) 3:47:56 65.808 Report [24]
1969 September 28 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Ford 500 250 (402.336) 3:57:37 63.127 Report [25]
1970 October 18 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Plymouth 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:38:16 72.235 Report [26]
1971 September 26 71 Bobby Isaac Nord Krauskopf Dodge 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:33:59 73.681 Report [27]
1972 September 24 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Plymouth 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:45:02 69.989 Report [28]
1973 September 30 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Plymouth 480* 252 (405.554) 3:48:51 68.631 Report [29]
1974 September 29 52 Earl Ross Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:58:03 66.232 Report [30]
1975 September 28 71 Dave Marcis Nord Krauskopf Dodge 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:27:47 75.819 Report [31]
1976 September 26 11 Cale Yarborough Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 340* 178.5 (287.267) 2:22:15 75.37 Report [32]
1977 September 25 11 Cale Yarborough Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:34:40 73.447 Report [33]
1978 September 24 11 Cale Yarborough Junior Johnson & Associates Oldsmobile 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:18:54 79.185 Report [34]
1979 September 23 28 Buddy Baker Ranier-Lundy Chevrolet 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:29:40 75.119 Report [35]
1980 September 28 2 Dale Earnhardt Rod Osterlund Racing Chevrolet 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:46:07 69.654 Report [36]
1981 September 27 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Buick 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:44:57 70.089 Report [37]
1982 October 17 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Buick 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:41:05 71,315 Report [38]
1983 September 25 3 Ricky Rudd Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 262.5 (422.452) 3:27:16 76.134 Report [39]
1984 September 23 11 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:28:55 75.532 Report [40]
1985 September 22 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:43:13 70.694 Report [41]
1986 September 21 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 500 263 (423.257) 3:35:32 73.191 Report [42]
1987 September 27 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:26:31 76.41 Report [43]
1988 September 25 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:30:26 74.988 Report [44]
1989 September 24 17 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:26:15 76,571 Report [45]
1990 September 23 11 Geoffrey Bodine Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 500 263 (423.257) 3:26:35 76,386 Report [46]
1991 September 22 33 Harry Gant Leo Jackson Racing Oldsmobile 500 263 (423.257) 3:31:42 74.535 Report [47]
1992 September 28 15 Geoffrey Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 500 263 (423.257) 3:29:13 75.424 Report [48]
1993 September 26 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford 500 263 (423.257) 3:32:57 74,102 Report [49]
1994 September 25 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 500 263 (423.257) 3:24:34 77.139 Report [50]
1995 September 24 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:33:24 73.946 Report [51]
1996 September 22 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:11:54 82.223 Report [52]
1997 September 28 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 500 263 (423.257) 3:35:57 73.072 Report [53]
1998 September 27 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford 500 263 (423.257) 3:35:08 73.35 Report [54]
1999 October 3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:38:07 72.347 Report [55]
2000 October 1 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 500 263 (423.257) 3:33:39 73.859 Report [56]
2001 October 15* 32 Ricky Craven PPI Motorsports Ford 500 263 (423.257) 3:28:19 75.75 Report [57]
2002 October 20 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford 500 263 (423.257) 3:31:23 74,651 Report [58]
2003 October 19 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:53:14 67.658 Report [59]
2004 October 24 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:58:43 66.103 Report [60]
2005 October 23 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:46:25 69.695 Report [61]
2006 October 22 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:44:00 70.446 Report [62]
2007 October 21 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 506* 266.156 (428.336) 3:59:45 66.608 Report [63]
2008 October 19 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 504* 265.104 (426.643) 3:29:29 75.931 Report [64]
2009 October 25 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 501* 263.526 (424.103) 3:34:44 73.633 Report [65]
2010 October 24 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 500 263 (423.257) 3:40:20 71.619 Report [66]
2011 October 30 14 Tony Stewart Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:49:52 68.648 Report [67]
2012 October 28 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:23:09 77.677 Report [68]
2013 October 27 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:44:21 70.337 Report [69]
2014 October 26 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:43:07 70.725 Report [70]
2015 November 1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:46:35 69.643 Report [71]
2016 October 30 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:20:55 78.54 Report [72]
2017 October 29 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 505* 265.63 (427.49) 3:32:47 74.902 Report [73]
2018 October 28 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 500 263 (423.257) 3:29:32 75.31 Report [74]
2019 October 27 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 500 263 (423.257) 3:29:09 75.448 Report [75]
2020 November 1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:40:27 71.581 Report [76]
2021 October 31 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 501* 263.526 (424.103) 3:42:48 70.968 Report [77]
2022 October 30 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 500 263 (423.257) 3:24:18 77.239 Report [78]
2023 October 29 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 500 263 (423.257) 3:29:43 75.244 Report [79]
2024 November 3 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 500 263 (423.257) 3:28:31 75.677 Report [80]
2025 October 26 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 263 (423.257) 3:33:59 73.744 Report [81]
  • 1954 & 1958: Race shortened due to darkness.
  • 1967–1970: Richard Petty went on to win 4 consecutive Martinsville Fall Races in this time frame. He would become the first of only 2 drivers in the track's history, and the only driver in the history of the Fall Race, to win the same Martinsville event 4 years in a row. Rusty Wallace would accomplish this feat in the spring race from 1993–1996.
  • 1973 & 1976: Race shortened due to rain.
  • 2001: Race postponed from Sunday to Monday due to rain.[82]
  • 2007–2009, 2015, 2017, and 2021: Race extended due to NASCAR overtime.

Track length notes

[edit]
  • 1949–1968: 0.5-mile course
  • 1969, 1984–present: 0.526-mile course
  • 1970–1983: 0.525-mile course

Multiple winners (drivers)

[edit]
# Wins Driver Years Won
6 Richard Petty 1967–1970, 1972–1973
Darrell Waltrip 1981–1982, 1984, 1987–1989
Jeff Gordon 1996, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2013, 2015
Jimmie Johnson 2004, 2006–2008, 2012, 2016
3 Fred Lorenzen 1963–1964, 1966
Cale Yarborough 1976–1978
Dale Earnhardt 1980, 1985, 1995
2 Herb Thomas 1950, 1952
Rex White 1959–1960
Geoffrey Bodine 1990, 1992
Rusty Wallace 1986, 1994
Ricky Rudd 1983, 1998
Denny Hamlin 2009–2010
Tony Stewart 2000, 2011
Ryan Blaney 2023–2024

Multiple winners (teams)

[edit]
# Wins Team Years Won
19 Hendrick Motorsports 1987–1989, 1996, 1999, 2003–2008, 2012–2016, 2020–2021, 2025
9 Junior Johnson & Associates 1965, 1974, 1976–1978, 1981–1982, 1984, 1990
7 Petty Enterprises 1954, 1967–1970, 1972–1973
6 Joe Gibbs Racing 2000, 2009–2010, 2017, 2019, 2022
4 Holman-Moody 1962–1964, 1966
Team Penske 1994, 2018, 2023, 2024
3 Richard Childress Racing 1983, 1985, 1995
2 Herb Thomas 1950, 1952
Carl Kiekhaefer 1955–1956
Rex White 1959–1960
Bud Moore Engineering 1961, 1992
Nord Krauskopf 1971, 1975
Roush Racing 1997, 2002

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

[edit]
# Wins Manufacturer Years Won
33 Chevrolet 1957–1960, 1974, 1976–1977, 1979–1980, 1983–1985, 1987–1989, 1995–1996, 1999, 2003–2008, 2011–2016, 2020–2021, 2025
17 Ford 1962–1966, 1969, 1990, 1992–1994, 1997–1998, 2001–2002, 2018, 2023, 2024
6 Plymouth 1950, 1967–1968, 1970, 1972–1973
5 Toyota 2009–2010, 2017, 2019, 2022
4 Oldsmobile 1949, 1951, 1978, 1991
Dodge 1953, 1956, 1971, 1975
3 Pontiac 1961, 1986, 2000
2 Chrysler 1954–1955
Buick 1981–1982

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Xfinity 500

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from Grokipedia
The Xfinity 500 is an annual 500-lap stock car race in the , contested over 263 miles on the 0.526-mile paperclip-shaped short track at in . Held traditionally in the fall as the penultimate event of the season, it serves as the decisive Round of 8 elimination race in the , determining the drivers who advance to the championship finale at . Currently sponsored by (a brand), the race emphasizes close-quarters racing on the flat, high-banked oval, often producing dramatic finishes through side-by-side battles and strategic cautions. The event traces its roots to the inaugural fall race at Martinsville on September 25, 1949, won by Red Byron in a stock car that completed 200 laps on the then-dirt surface; the track was paved in 1955, and the distance extended to 500 laps starting in 1956. Martinsville Speedway, opened in September 1947 by founder H. Clay Earles as one of NASCAR's earliest venues, remains the shortest and among the oldest continuously operating tracks on the Cup Series schedule, hosting two races annually since 1953. Over its history, the fall race has seen numerous sponsor changes, including stints with Goody's (1983–1995, 2006–2016), First Data (2017–2019), and Xfinity beginning in 2020, reflecting evolving corporate partnerships in NASCAR. A hallmark of the Xfinity 500 is the presentation of a custom to the victor—a tradition initiated in 1964 when track president Clay Earles sought a unique, timeless trophy inspired by the region's clockmaking heritage in the nearby Appalachians; the first recipient was . This iconic award, crafted by Ridgeway Clocks until 2024 and by Hermle North America starting in 2025 following the company's closure, symbolizes the race's enduring legacy and is displayed prominently in winners' homes, with 62 clocks awarded in the fall event alone through 2025. The race has produced legendary performances, including Richard Petty's four consecutive victories from 1967 to 1970 and Darrell Waltrip's record six fall wins; among active drivers, leads with six overall Martinsville triumphs, two in the fall edition. Known for its intensity on the narrow .526-mile layout, the Xfinity 500 frequently features aggressive passing maneuvers and has decided playoff fates in overtime finishes, as seen in William Byron's dominant 2025 victory that clinched his championship berth.

Race overview

Venue and track

, situated in , serves as the permanent venue for the Xfinity 500. The facility was constructed in 1947 by H. Clay Earles on a site he developed to promote , opening as a dirt track that September with an initial capacity of 750 seats and drawing over 9,000 spectators for its inaugural event. The track's first NASCAR-sanctioned race occurred on July 4, 1948, marking the beginning of its long association with the series; it remains the oldest continuously operating NASCAR venue. The track itself is a compact 0.526-mile (0.847 km) oval, renowned for its "paperclip" configuration that includes two flat, 800-foot straights connected by tight, 11-degree banked turns measuring 588 feet each. Its surface combines asphalt on the straights with in the turns—a implemented in to mitigate rapid wear from the intense cornering—and was last comprehensively repaved in 2004 following surface damage during a race. The venue accommodates approximately 55,000 spectators in its grandstands, suites, and viewing areas, though historical attendances have occasionally exceeded 70,000 during peak periods in the sport's growth. As one of NASCAR's premier short tracks, is characterized by its demanding layout, which promotes frequent cautions and close-quarters bumping due to limited passing opportunities and the need for precise throttle control in the shallow-banked corners. In , the installation of an advanced LED lighting system—comprising around 750 fixtures—enabled full night racing capability, ensuring events like the Xfinity 500 conclude under controlled illumination rather than fading twilight.

Format and distance

The Xfinity 500 is run over a fixed distance of 500 laps on the 0.526-mile (0.847 km) short track, equating to a total of 263 miles (423 km). The event follows NASCAR's racing format, divided into three segments: Stage 1 spans the first 130 laps, Stage 2 covers laps 131 through 260 (another 130 laps), and the Final Stage encompasses the remaining 240 laps to complete the race. The top 10 drivers receive stage points at the end of Stages 1 and 2, with 10 points for first place down to 1 point for 10th, plus an additional playoff point for the stage winner if applicable. Cautions prompt double-file restarts, a rule NASCAR introduced across the Cup Series in where the leader selects their preferred lane (inside or outside), the second-place driver lines up beside them in the opposite lane, and remaining lead-lap cars alternate behind the front two—for a more competitive resumption. At Martinsville, this procedure heightens the intensity on the tight confines of the paperclip-shaped , where positioning is crucial during the single-lap restart zone. Tire regulations allocate teams approximately 10 sets of Goodyear Eagle short-track radials for the race, including a mix of prime (standard compound) and option (softer compound) tires—such as five sets of primes and three sets of options in recent configurations—to manage wear on the abrasive surface. For the 2025 event, Goodyear debuted a new softer left-side compound paired with the standard right-side tire to enhance tire wear and passing opportunities. Typical pit strategies emphasize four-tire changes under caution to maximize grip, balanced against track position, while fuel rules permit about 18 gallons per fill-up, yielding runs of 170-190 laps under green-flag depending on management. The race generally spans 3 to 4 hours, influenced by the number of cautions, with an average completion time around 3 hours and 27 minutes based on historical data. Late cautions in the Final Stage trigger green-white-checkered finishes, a procedure in place since 2004 that restarts the race for two additional laps (green for the restart, white for the final lap, checkered to end), with unlimited attempts to ensure a green-flag conclusion.

History

Inception and early years

The Xfinity 500 traces its origins to the inaugural Strictly Stock season in , when hosted its first premier series event on September 25. This race, then known simply as the Martinsville Speedway event and contested over 200 laps on the half-mile dirt oval for a total of 105 miles, was won by driving a modified owned by Raymond Parks. As the sixth of eight races in NASCAR's debut season, it helped solidify the series' focus on near-stock production cars and drew an initial crowd of approximately 10,000 spectators, many from the local community. The event evolved in the early amid NASCAR's growth, with the track remaining a dirt surface until it was paved with asphalt in to reduce dust and improve racing conditions. By 1957, the fall race distance increased to 500 laps—approximately 263 miles—earning it the name Martinsville 500, a designation that reflected the track's emerging status as a test on the short . This change marked a key milestone, extending the challenge for drivers and teams while accommodating the paved layout's faster speeds. Key victories in the late 1950s highlighted emerging talents and manufacturer rivalries, including Glenn "Fireball" Roberts' first win at the track in the 1958 Old Dominion 500 driving a Chevrolet, showcasing his aggressive style on the tight turns. Chevrolet claimed its inaugural Martinsville triumph in 1957 with , while Ford secured its first in 1964 via Fred Lorenzen's victory in the Old Dominion 500, intensifying the decade-long battles between the two American automakers for supremacy in NASCAR's premier division. Early races primarily attracted regional audiences, with paid attendance around 6,000 to 10,000 in the , fostering a grassroots community around in southern . By the 1960s, as gained national visibility through television broadcasts and stars like , the event transitioned to broader prominence, drawing larger crowds and symbolizing the sport's shift from local spectacles to a major American motorsport tradition.

Major changes and developments

The fall race at , known as the 500 since 2020 under 's brand sponsorship, has undergone several sponsorship transitions that reflect evolving corporate partnerships in . It was previously titled the 500 from 2017 to 2019, marking a multiyear deal with the payment processing . Before that, Goody's returned as sponsor from 2013 to 2016 (as the Goody's Headache Shot 500 in 2013–2015 and Goody's Fast 500 in 2016), following the TUMS Fast 500 from 2009 to 2012 and TUMS QuikPak 500 in 2008. The Subway 500 name was used from 2003 to 2007 through sponsorship by the fast-food chain, preceded by the Old Dominion 500 (2001–2002), NAPA Autocare 500 (1998–2000), 500 (1996–1997), and the original Goody's 500 from 1983 to 1995 under Goody's Headache Powder. These changes have helped maintain the race's prominence as a late-season staple, with the entitlement aligning it with broader media rights under . Format evolutions have aimed to enhance competition and viewer engagement. introduced double-file restarts for the Cup Series in 2009, starting at and applying to all tracks including Martinsville, where lead-lap cars line up side-by-side on the front rows to create more intense battles upon returning to green-flag racing. In 2017, stage racing was implemented across the series, dividing races into three segments with points awarded at the end of the first two stages (typically at 25% and 50% of the distance), encouraging strategic pit stops and aggressive driving without altering the overall distance. At Martinsville, these stages conclude around laps 130 and 260 for the 500-lap event, adding layers of scoring opportunities beyond the final finish. Facility upgrades have modernized the half-mile short track while preserving its paperclip-shaped layout. In 2017, Martinsville installed a $5 million LED lighting system, becoming the first major U.S. motorsports venue to do so, which enables night racing and improves broadcast quality for evening events. The track's turns, paved with since 1976 for increased grip compared to asphalt straights, received a partial resurfacing in 2004 after debris-related damage during a race, though no full repave has occurred since. These enhancements support safer, more consistent racing conditions amid the facility's annual hosting since 1949. Scheduling and environmental factors have occasionally influenced the event. The fall race shifted to its current October slot in 1971 to better align with the championship calendar and avoid late-season conflicts, establishing it as a key playoff precursor. Rain has led to delays rather than full postponements in most cases, such as the 2004 Subway 500, where qualifying was pushed back 30 minutes and the start delayed due to wet conditions, but the race completed the same day under partly cloudy skies. Notable on-track incidents include multiple tire failures during the 2001 Checker Auto Parts 500 (fall race), prompting to review tire compounds and allocation rules for short tracks to mitigate heat-related blowouts. A poignant moment came in 2015, when Jeff Gordon secured his ninth and final career win at Martinsville in the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500, clinching a spot in the Championship 4 during his retirement season and marking an emotional farewell performance at the track where he held the record for most victories.

Role in championship playoffs

The Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway has been integral to the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs since the introduction of the Chase for the Championship in 2004, serving as the sixth race in the 10-race format during its early years from 2004 to 2010. This positioning placed it midway through the playoff bracket, where drivers vied for points to secure championship contention after the regular season concluded. With the playoff format's evolution in 2011, the race shifted to the seventh playoff event until 2016, and from 2014 to 2016, it marked the opener for the Round of 8; in 2017–2019, it was the elimination race for the Round of 12. By 2017, under the current elimination-style structure, it became a pivotal Round of 8 contest, specifically the elimination race concluding that round in most seasons since 2020, heightening its stakes as one of three races determining advancement to the Championship 4. Strategically, the Xfinity 500 offers significant points potential—up to 60 for the winner plus stage bonuses—in the high-pressure elimination environment of the Round of 8, where drivers must accumulate enough to surpass cutlines or risk season-ending ouster. Its short-track demands often lead to intense, bumper-to-bumper racing that can produce championship-deciding moments, such as Joey Logano's controversial final-lap pass on Martin Truex Jr. in 2018, which clinched Logano's spot in the Championship 4 and propelled him toward his first title. Jimmie Johnson's dominance during the Chase era further underscores its impact, with the seven-time champion securing seven playoff wins at Martinsville from 2006 to 2016, contributing to his five consecutive titles between 2006 and 2010 by bolstering his points leads in critical mid-playoff stages. Notable playoff outcomes at the Xfinity 500 highlight its unpredictability and influence on title odds, including the race's overtime extension to 501 laps, where Alex Bowman's victory amid late cautions shuffled the Round of 8 standings and helped determine the final Championship 4 entrants, with and advancing on points despite not winning. Since the 2017 format, winners of this race have advanced to the Championship 4 approximately 70% of the time, often dramatically shifting elimination scenarios and elevating underdogs' title prospects through bonus points and stage wins. In the 2025 season, held on October 26 as the Round of 8 elimination race, William Byron's dominant victory—leading 304 laps and earning maximum points—secured his berth in the Championship 4 while eliminating rivals like Ty Gibbs and Martin Truex Jr., directly influencing the final playoff standings ahead of the November 9 title race at Phoenix Raceway. This outcome exemplified the race's role in culminating the grueling playoff push, with Byron joining Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, and Kyle Larson as the locked-in finalists vying for the championship.

Past winners

Track length variations

Martinsville Speedway, the venue for the Xfinity 500, opened in 1947 as a dirt oval track measuring approximately 0.5 miles in length. The track was fully paved with asphalt in 1955, at which point its official length was established at 0.526 miles, a measurement that has been consistently used by since then. has conducted periodic re-measurements over the decades, confirming the 0.526-mile length without any alterations to the core layout. While the official track length has remained unchanged, minor reconfigurations have occurred to maintain the surface and improve safety. In 1976, the turns were repaved with —a novel approach at the time—which provided greater durability but did not modify the measured distance, though it may have subtly influenced the effective due to the material's grip characteristics. Another significant update came in 2004, when the entire track was repaved following the dislodging of concrete chunks during a race; this project ensured the 12-degree banking in the turns was preserved without impacting the overall length. The Xfinity 500, like its historical predecessors at the track, has maintained a fixed distance of 500 laps—totaling 263 miles—since 1955, providing a consistent challenge that contrasts with variable-length events at other NASCAR venues. This standardization has allowed for predictable strategies centered on endurance and tire management on the short oval. However, weather conditions have occasionally necessitated lap reductions; for instance, the 1995 spring race (then known as the Hanes 500) was shortened to 356 laps due to rain delays and darkness. Such interruptions highlight the track's vulnerability to environmental factors while underscoring the race's enduring format as a 500-lap test of consistency.

Multiple winners by drivers

Several drivers have achieved multiple victories in the Xfinity 500, the fall race at , with four legends tying for the most at six wins each. dominated the event in its early decades, securing his six triumphs between 1967 and 1973, including four consecutive wins from 1967 to 1970. followed suit in the , also with six victories from 1981 to 1989. and extended this legacy into modern eras, each earning six wins—Gordon from 1996 to 2015, and Johnson from 2004 to 2016—highlighting their mastery of the short track during pivotal playoff moments. The following table lists all drivers with two or more Xfinity 500 victories, sorted by number of wins, including the years of their successes:
WinsDriverYears Won
61967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973
61981, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989
61996, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2013, 2015
62004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2016
31976, 1977, 1978
31963, 1964, 1966
31980, 1985, 1995
21950, 1952
21959, 1960
21983, 1998
2Geoffrey Bodine1990, 1992
21986, 1994
22000, 2011
22009, 2010
22023, 2024
These victories reflect era-specific dominance, with Petty's successes anchoring NASCAR's growth in the and , Waltrip's in the competitive 1980s, and Gordon and Johnson's in the 1990s through 2010s amid evolving car designs and playoff formats. The record for most consecutive wins is four, set by from 1967 to 1970, with holding three straight from 2006 to 2008 as another benchmark of sustained excellence. The most recent winner, William Byron in 2025, marked his first Xfinity 500 triumph while competing for .

Multiple winners by teams

Hendrick Motorsports holds the record for the most victories in the Xfinity 500, with 19 wins since the team's inception in 1984. The organization's dominance is highlighted by a remarkable run of success in the mid-2000s and , including six consecutive victories from 2003 to 2008 driven by and , underscoring their strategic mastery at the short track. Junior Johnson & Associates follows with 9 wins, often led by drivers such as and , demonstrating the impact of independent operations before the rise of multi-car powerhouse organizations. has 6 wins, primarily through in the late 1960s and early 1970s. has amassed 6 victories since its formation in 1992, with notable contributions from , , and others in the playoff era, benefiting from the team's expansion and engineering advancements. Richard Childress Racing has 3 wins, primarily through drivers like , who secured triumphs in 1985 and 1995, and in 1983, reflecting the team's early prowess in short-track racing.
WinsTeamYears Won
191987, 1988, 1989, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2025
9 & Associates1965, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1990
61967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973
62000, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2022
41994, 2018, 2023, 2024
31983, 1985, 1995
This table lists teams with three or more wins in the Xfinity 500, drawing from historical records up to the 2025 event.

Wins by manufacturer

Chevrolet holds the record for the most victories in the Xfinity 500 with 33 wins as of the 2025 edition of the race. This dominance is particularly pronounced in the , where Chevrolet has secured 22 victories since 1972, reflecting its engineering advantages on the short, flat track configuration of . Historically, the early years of the race saw a variety of manufacturers competing, with no single brand establishing clear supremacy until the . Ford captured six consecutive wins from 1962 to 1966, marking an early surge during the pre-1972 manufacturer wars when diverse American automakers vied for success in NASCAR's era. Plymouth enjoyed a strong period, winning five times between 1950 and 1972, often powered by Petty's driving prowess. achieved four victories in the same timeframe, contributing to the competitive landscape before the field narrowed in later decades. The entry of in 2007 introduced a new dynamic to the hybrid era, with the Japanese manufacturer breaking through for its first Xfinity 500 win in 2009 via . Toyota has since added four more triumphs (totaling five), demonstrating adaptability on the paperclip-shaped oval despite Chevrolet's sustained lead. Ford remains the second-most successful brand overall, with 17 wins, including recent playoff-era successes in 2023 and 2024.
WinsManufacturerNotable Years and Eras
33Chevrolet1957–1960; 1974–present dominance; 1995–2008 streak (14 wins); 2012–2016, 2020–2021, 2025
17Ford1962–1966 (six straight); 1990–1994; 1997, 2002, 2018, 2023–2024
5Plymouth1950, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972; pre-1972 era
52009, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2022; modern era since 2007 debut
The table above summarizes manufacturers with five or more wins across the 77 races held from 1949 to 2025, highlighting key periods of success without exhaustive year-by-year listings.

References

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