Playoff drivers fight to the wire for a championship berth
Relive the 2023 Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway that saw Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and William Byron claw for the final two spots in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway.
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00:00 >> A little bit of polite teamwork between Gibbs' teammates as the youngster Ty Gibbs
00:24 and the 54 gets a slow start allowing Truex to the bottom.
00:33 >> Still a fight for that second spot as Gibbs has the preferred line on the inside.
00:37 Denny Hamlin in the 11 trying to take that second spot away.
00:41 >> While the bottom is preferred you can make a little time up top.
00:44 The reason drivers are looking for the bottom is this is more work on that right rear tire
00:48 of the Hamlin.
00:49 That's the tire that gives up first.
00:51 Right here he turns in, everything is okay.
00:54 As the 11 goes back to the gas he has to work those outside tires a little harder on the
00:57 outside of the racetrack.
00:58 >> A new leader in martinsville.
01:01 Denny Hamlin was able to get by the 19 of martin Truex Jr.
01:04 There was a little bit of bumping and banging.
01:06 Martin Truex Jr.
01:07 Ended up in the high line and Denny dives down below.
01:10 >> Truex is having trouble with his car.
01:12 That usually means the car is getting tight on him.
01:15 As more rubber gets laid down on the track there's a huge shift towards getting tighter
01:19 and tighter.
01:20 Everybody is starting to move around on the racetrack looking for how to get their cars
01:23 to rotate.
01:24 We're also seeing a ton of rubber buildup on the bottom groove right here in turn three
01:29 and four.
01:30 It starts to stack up on top of the racetrack.
01:32 Drivers are trying to avoid that with the tires.
01:34 If your tires hit it you slide across the top of that.
01:37 You see that rubber stacking up, building up on top of that, right on that outside groove.
01:42 You'll want to run below, above or straddle that.
01:46 >> Denny Hamlin so strong.
01:47 One more lap here in stage one.
01:50 It's been 3,136 days since Denny's last of his five wins here.
01:56 That's eight years and seven months that the drought has been for Denny Hamlin as far as
02:02 the win.
02:03 He's doing everything he can here in stage one.
02:06 He's going to grab the most playoff points right there.
02:12 Stage points going to Denny Hamlin.
02:13 He'll win stage one.
02:15 That's eight stage win already this year.
02:18 Ryan Blaney is able to move to the outside.
02:22 He is going for the lead here at martinsville.
02:27 Blaney is going to take the lead away.
02:29 What does that do to the points?
02:31 Denny Hamlin now above the cut line but only by two.
02:35 William Byron is still below two points back.
02:37 >> I had Hamlin below the cut line.
02:39 I didn't think he had scored enough points.
02:41 >> William Byron has lost a few more spots on the racetrack.
02:45 All the way back to 22nd.
02:46 For that reason, Hamlin is in but only by two.
02:49 Even running second.
02:50 Byron all the way back at 22nd.
02:52 I think this is the time where they have to now have a clearer picture and say we have
02:58 got to find some points because it's the same issue with Truex who's running third.
03:02 He's only a couple points behind Byron.
03:04 >> He still hasn't cleared him yet, Jim.
03:07 Up into the racetrack.
03:08 They make contact.
03:09 An issue with the 12.
03:10 He got up the racetrack.
03:13 Let's see if he gets it right again.
03:15 More contact made.
03:17 Blaney might have an issue.
03:18 >> I think they're just banging into each other.
03:19 They're just racing.
03:20 >> I think Blaney's issue is just that short fuse.
03:21 He's always a guy that doesn't take much to get under his skin.
03:22 >> Blue with the yellow stripe flag being shown.
03:23 I'm sure he's not going to get it.
03:24 >> I think he's going to get it.
03:25 >> He's going to get it.
03:26 >> He's going to get it.
03:27 >> He's going to get it.
03:28 >> He's going to get it.
03:29 >> He's going to get it.
03:30 >> He's going to get it.
03:31 >> He's going to get it.
03:32 >> He's going to get it.
03:33 >> Blue with the yellow stripe flag being shown.
03:38 I'm sure he didn't want to see that.
03:41 That's the move over flag.
03:44 >> The 20 car down here in the corner.
03:46 Let's see.
03:47 A little bit of contact right there.
03:49 Just gets Ryan turned around.
03:51 >> Chris Rebell may not have raced with Ryan Newman enough to know that Ryan Newman is
03:55 not going to let him live that down.
03:58 >> He'll come back to haunt him at some point.
04:07 >> Here they come to pit road.
04:10 >> Ryan Blaney said tell the 45 my bad.
04:12 The rears are gone away.
04:13 Didn't mean to get into him.
04:14 They need a change on this car going free at the end.
04:18 >> For Christopher Bell, your top right of your screen, too tight.
04:20 It started coming to him halfway through the run.
04:23 He just cannot get off the corners.
04:25 >> He's going to stop and put four fresh Goodyear tires in there.
04:29 >> They asked him how much he needs.
04:31 Not a ton.
04:32 You see the adjustment in the right.
04:35 They also said don't get too close to the wall.
04:39 >> Great shot of martin Truex Jr.
04:41 Coming into his pit stall.
04:42 He said he can't get the car pointed in the center.
04:44 It just washes up.
04:45 He said I need my turn back.
04:47 Now it's up to the pit crew.
04:48 They came in third.
04:49 You see one car flash by, two cars flash by.
04:50 They hold serve here.
04:51 A bit of a dry race.
04:55 Truex got a spot there on pit road with those two new pit crew members.
05:00 >> And that number one pit stall very important.
05:02 How about Hamlin's 11 team?
05:04 Got him in front of Blaney.
05:05 >> A huge news for the 19.
05:07 That number one stall doesn't mean you can't speed.
05:11 He got a speeding penalty coming off of pit road.
05:15 So martin Truex Jr.
05:16 Will have to serve that penalty.
05:18 >> We've seen this before.
05:19 He's in the first stall available to use.
05:23 Which is really what used to be pit stall two.
05:25 You see when he leaves, he stays pretty far left of the 12.
05:28 Which is fine.
05:29 That's how I would want my driver to leave.
05:31 But you have to adjust your speed.
05:32 This is the 19 pit stall.
05:34 So as we widen out a little bit, the yellow line to the right way up here, this is the
05:40 pit speed line.
05:41 The other line is a little bit in front of his box here.
05:43 You see that makes a wedge, right?
05:46 So it's much farther out here.
05:47 So pit road speed is calculated on kind of this arc.
05:50 So it's perfectly fine if Truex goes straight out like this.
05:54 That's what I would want him to do.
05:55 You just have to adjust your speed a little bit.
05:58 >> Hamlin.
05:59 And Blaney making up the front row.
06:03 25 to go in stage 2.
06:06 35.
06:07 35 laps remaining here as Hamlin is able to clear that 12 of Blaney.
06:12 Now we'll see how hard he fights back.
06:15 >> Look at the inside.
06:18 Blaney as they go into three.
06:22 Blaney to his inside.
06:23 Fight is on between the 11 and 12.
06:26 >> A little contact right there.
06:29 11 up the racetrack.
06:31 More contact here on turn two.
06:39 >> Up the racetrack goes the 11.
06:41 The 12 taking advantage.
06:43 He'll take the lead.
06:45 >> Getting back to the inside here.
06:48 Down the front straightaway.
06:49 What a race.
06:50 >> Tries to cross over.
06:51 Blaney trying to hold his position on the outside.
06:52 These two have been the class of the field today.
06:53 >> Look at the difference.
06:54 As soon as Hamlin is not behind him.
06:55 Blaney is.
06:56 Then it's tied in points.
06:57 That's how important this lead is.
06:58 It keeps shifting on your bottom left.
06:59 >> William Byron's got a lot of room.
07:00 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:01 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:02 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:03 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:04 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:05 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:06 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:07 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:13 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:14 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:15 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:16 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:17 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:18 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:19 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:20 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:21 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:22 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:23 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:24 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:25 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:26 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:27 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:28 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:29 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:30 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:31 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:33 >> Up the racetrack he goes.
07:34 Now they're going to cross over again.
07:35 Denny trying to get under him off the corner.
07:36 Right on that back bumper.
07:37 >> Blaney's locked him.
07:38 >> Oh, man.
07:39 >> Up the racetrack.
07:40 The 12 goes.
07:41 It opens the door.
07:42 Once again for the 11.
07:43 But then closes it again.
07:44 >> Last lap of stage 2.
07:45 >> See briscoe a little up the racetrack there.
07:46 Hamlin running in that second spot.
07:47 But Blaney is going to try to grab these ten points.
07:48 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:49 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:50 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:51 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:52 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:53 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:54 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:55 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:56 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:57 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:58 >> He's got a lot of room.
07:59 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:00 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:01 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:02 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:03 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:04 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:05 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:06 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:07 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:08 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:09 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:10 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:11 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:12 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:13 >> He's got a lot of room.
08:15 >> He will win the stage.
08:16 Hamlin grabbing second.
08:17 Green flag back in the air as we're underway with the final stage.
08:24 Blaney on the inside.
08:25 Hamlin fighting on that outside.
08:26 New players into the picture as contact is made.
08:27 Into turn three.
08:28 Blaney is able to hang on to it but Hamlin already roughing him up.
08:40 >> He was trying to get in behind the 12 and misjudged it.
08:46 It took a while for the 12 to settle down.
08:49 >> We've seen the frustration out of Blaney.
08:52 >> I think it's a simple mistake by Denny.
08:55 Obviously a lot on the line here.
08:59 It's a game of inches.
09:00 Just misjudged it.
09:01 Now Denny is under attack.
09:02 We've got a spin.
09:03 >> Spin going through three and four.
09:04 The 15.
09:05 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:06 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:07 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:08 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:09 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:10 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:11 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:12 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:13 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:14 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:15 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:16 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:17 >> He's got a lot of room.
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09:21 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:22 >> He's got a lot of room.
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09:24 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:25 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:26 >> He's got a lot of room.
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09:29 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:30 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:31 >> He's got a lot of room.
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09:33 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:34 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:35 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:36 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:37 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:38 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:39 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:40 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:41 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:42 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:43 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:44 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:45 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:46 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:47 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:48 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:49 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:50 >> He's got a lot of room.
09:51 >> He's got a lot of room.
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10:00 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:01 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:02 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:03 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:04 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:05 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:06 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:07 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:08 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:09 >> He's got a lot of room.
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10:11 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:12 >> He's got a lot of room.
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10:24 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:25 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:26 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:27 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:28 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:29 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:30 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:31 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:32 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:33 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:34 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:35 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:36 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:37 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:38 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:39 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:40 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:41 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:42 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:43 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:44 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:45 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:46 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:47 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:48 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:50 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:51 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:52 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:53 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:54 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:55 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:56 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:57 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:58 >> He's got a lot of room.
10:59 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:00 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:01 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:02 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:03 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:04 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:05 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:06 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:07 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:08 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:09 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:10 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:11 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:12 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:13 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:14 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:15 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:16 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:17 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:18 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:19 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:20 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:21 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:22 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:23 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:24 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:25 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:26 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:27 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:28 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:29 >> He's got a lot of room.
11:31 >> Unlike in other tracks, you're not going to coast around.
11:34 If it stumbles and runs out, you're out.
11:38 >> Blaney right on the back bumper of Michael Mcdowell.
11:41 This time by one lap to go.
11:44 Presented by credit one bank.
11:50 Half a mile of fuel is what Ryan Blaney needs.
11:54 Less than that now.
11:56 As he works his way through the final turns.
11:59 Ryan Blaney is going to win his way into the championship for he wins at martinsville.
12:05 >> Yeah, baby.
12:07 Let's go, fellas.
12:09 Let's go.
12:11 Awesome job, man.
12:13 Let's go race for a championship.
12:15 So proud of everybody, man.
12:17 Good job.
12:23 >> Let's go win a championship.
12:25 >> Yes, sir.
12:26 Yes, sir.
12:27 Let's go, boys.