Coming up for the NASCAR Cup Series will be a good one. Following the Easter Break, NASCAR will run under the lights Saturday night at Martinsville. It will be the first Saturday night race of the 2021 season. It will also be the first of two races at Martinsville Motor Speedway. This will surely be an action-packed night if the rain can hold off.
The Last Time NASCAR Was At Martinsville
The last time the NASCAR Cup Series went to Martinsville it was complete chaos. The race ended when Chase Elliott won and clinched a spot in the Championship Four. The race also ended with Kevin Harvick attempting to wreck Kyle Busch to gain the final spot in the Championship four. It did not work and Kevin Harvick’s dream season came to a very tough end. Chase Elliott led the most laps that race leading 236 of 500 laps.
Key Starting Position At Martinsville
Starting on the Busch Pole will be Joey Logano. Also on the front row will be Denny Hamlin. Starting in the third position will be William Byron. On the outside of row two will be the 12 of Ryan Blaney. Finishing off the top five will be Chase Elliott who won the last time NASCAR was at Martinsville.
Odds
Currently, Martin Truex Jr. is favored to win the race at +400. Martin Truex Jr won at Martinsville last season in the spring and he will look to do the same this weekend. The second-best odds to win at Martinsville will be Denny Hamlin at +500. The third best odds will be Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott at +600.
Rain Is Possible
Currently, the weather for Saturday does not look good. Rain is supposed to begin at 11 A.M. and it is not supposed to stop until Sunday morning. If the race is postponed to Sunday, the weather looks a bit more promising. Sunday will be 79 degrees and partly cloudy. It is safe to say Saturday’s race might have plenty of weather issues.
Race Info
Saturday night’s race is scheduled to begin at 7:30 P.M. Stage 1 will end at lap 130. The second stage will end at lap 260. Stage 2 will go 240 laps to the finish. Pit roads speed for Saturday will be 30 miles per hour. Saturday night’s race will be on Fox Sports 1 with coverage of the race. In Canada, the race can also be seen on TSN. Saturday nights radio broadcast will be back on the Motor Racing Network. Race coverage can also be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR channel 90.
What To Expect
Martinsville has always been known for hosting some of the best races of the year. This race will be no exception. On Saturday under the lights, we will see the best of the best beating and banging for a chance to win on the first Saturday night race of the year. Tempers and emotions will be high and it will surely be another unforgettable night at Martinsville Motor Speedway.
