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NASCAR Championship 4 Spots Hang in the Balance Ahead of Crucial Martinsville Showdown

With just one race left in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff schedule before the Championship 4 finale at Phoenix Raceway, competition for the remaining spots is heating up. Following this weekend’s 500-lap Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, two Championship 4 berths are still up for grabs, and for several drivers, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Team Penske’s Joey Logano and 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick have already clinched their Championship 4 spots with recent wins in the round of 8, taking victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway, respectively. However, a battle remains for the final two spots as the playoff grid heads to Martinsville’s 0.847-kilometer, four-turn oval.

Currently, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell leads the points standings with a 22-point advantage over William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports. Byron, however, holds a slim seven-point lead over teammate Kyle Larson, who is just below the cut line.

Given the tight standings, it’s no surprise that FanDuel Sportsbook has Logano, Reddick, and Bell pegged as co-favorites to win the 2024 championship, each listed at +340. Byron and Larson, who are potentially facing a close points battle to advance, follow at +600 and +750, respectively.

Meanwhile, three other championship contenders remain longshots – but their odds may be worth a closer look due to their track records at Martinsville. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, 18 points below the cut line, is listed at +2200. He has a history of success at Martinsville, having won there five times. Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, who trails by 38 points, is at +2500, and Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, 43 points behind, sits at +4000. Both Blaney and Elliott face what is essentially a must-win scenario to advance to Phoenix.