Key Winners and Losers from the 2026 NASCAR Cup Penultimate Race at Martinsville

Martinsville Race Shakes Up 2026 NASCAR Cup Season Standings

The second-to-last race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup season at Martinsville brought plenty of drama over 500 laps, producing the season's 15th different winner without drastically changing the championship battle. With just one race left, Kyle Larson holds a commanding lead, while Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin trail by 67 and 70 points, respectively.

Though Larson had an imperfect day on the track, his closest competitors also stumbled, allowing Hendrick Motorsports to dominate with a 1-2 finish courtesy of teammates William Byron and Chase Elliott.

Winners and Losers from Martinsville

• Winner: William Byron Ends Winless StreakAfter a tough 2026 season for Byron and his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, the Martinsville race marked a turning point. Byron, who hadn't won since fall 2025 at this same track and had recently fallen to 14th in the standings, dominated by leading 362 of 500 laps. This is more laps led in this single race than he'd managed all season prior. The victory moved him up to ninth place in the standings, offering relief to Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle after a frustrating year.
• Loser: Joe Gibbs Racing Misses OpportunityLarson struggled at Martinsville, falling a lap behind early due to a no-stop strategy in Stage 1, yet his rivals failed to seize the chance. Both Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick failed to collect stage points, while Christopher Bell earned eight before being penalized for speeding. Bell and Hamlin collided following contact with Joey Logano, making it a messy outing. Hamlin managed to gain just three points on Larson, and Bell only seven. Post-race, Hamlin expressed doubt about their title chances, saying they missed a key opportunity.
• Winner: Kyle Larson Nears Third ChampionshipDespite a rocky day, Larson’s No. 5 team rebounded to finish ninth and stay on the lead lap. While he didn’t clinch the title early, earning just eight stage points next week would seal the championship during the final race. Larson and crew chief Daniels continue to perform impressively; avoiding an early exit next weekend will be critical.
• Loser: Joey Logano's Pit Road Issues End Title HopesLogano showed promise, even contending for the win late, but two costly pit stops derailed his race. One stop was needed to tighten a wheel, and another saw him accidentally pull a crew member out of the pit box. He finished 18th, effectively ending his championship bid. Still, he can finish as high as second in the final standings, which is notable given his team's struggles earlier this year.
• Winner: Shane van Gisbergen Impresses with Oval PerformanceWhile teammate Ross Chastain faced issues that dropped him out of the top ten, van Gisbergen made a remarkable climb from 29th on the grid to fifth place. This marks his third oval top-five finish in 2026, highlighting him as the biggest mover of the race. He hinted at significant off-season changes at Trackhouse Racing, suggesting potential growth for the No. 97 car on ovals.
• Loser: Ryan Preece’s Loose Wheel Spoils Strong RunPreece was having a standout race in the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford, leading 41 laps and comfortably inside the top five until Lap 226. A loose wheel caused a spin that ended his momentum, and he finished 28th, missing out on what could have been a great result for RFK Racing.
• Bonus Loser: Carson Hocevar Draws Criticism for On-Track ConductThe No. 77 team struggled with pace, and Hocevar spun alone during a green-flag pit cycle, prompting some suspicion about intent, which he denied. Later, he repeatedly brake-checked Austin Cindric, causing race-ending damage to Cindric’s Penske car despite them not racing for position. Hocevar’s post-race remarks rubbed former drivers Jeff Burton and Dale Jarrett the wrong way, sparking criticism over his attitude and racing behavior.

Race Highlights and Standings

• William Byron: Led 362 laps, 1st place
• Kyle Larson: Finished 9th, close to clinching title
• Shane van Gisbergen: Climbed from 29th to 5th
• Ryan Preece: Led 41 laps, finished 28th due to spin
• Joey Logano: Finished 18th after pit troubles

The Martinsville race solidified Larson’s lead but kept some suspense alive heading into the final event. With Hendrick Motorsports performing strongly and several contenders faltering, the championship looks likely to come down to Larson, but surprises remain possible.