Two Drivers, One Championship 4 Spot | 2025 NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville

The dominant early William Byron trying to get the lead back. We'll see what happens through this green flag pit cycle. So calm on the radio for William Byron. You see Ryan Blaney leaving pit road as well. He said from a balance standpoint, I don't need much. I just need the rears to last, Kim. Ryan Blaney saying I don't really have much for you, Jonathan. So no big handling issues. Just the rears gone at the end of that run. They'll take more in fuel. So while they're leaving at different times, they're on different laps, if that makes any sense. The 24 is now back on the racetrack. The 12 of Blaney rolling down the front stretch of pit road. Chaos is what we might be about to see. However, it's pretty clean up front with Ryan Blaney, William Byron, the two guys who have led the most laps today. Look at that start from Blaney. What a flyer. Back to green here in Martinsville. Racing for a berth in the championship four, the top two on track, top two in the race. They want that opportunity to race for a championship next weekend. Just looking back at the fourth car in shot, Josh Berry in that 21 Woodbrothers Ford, for the things that have happened to him today, where he's been in the wrong place at the wrong time and he's been a victim of a couple of times, his fortune has drastically changed. I would agree the same for Custer back there in the 41, running sixth. We've seen him around a couple times. William Byron has the freedom to do whatever he wants. Nobody is on his rear bumper. You can see him trying to open up his entry a little bit, stay out late, not be as low as the 12, try to turn right there, get a run on corner exit. But right now, the 12 of Blaney can defend it. Ryan Blaney, a two-time winner in the fall, William Byron, a two-time winner in the spring. They share that front row, and yet again, Blaney gets a brilliant restart. These two guys at the front know they need to win to get in to the championship four. It's all on the line. And if one of those two win, as you see in the points, that makes it a points battle between Larson and Bell. Byron is letting Blaney know it. He is getting the shot into the rear bumper. Each of the last two corners. And then there's a cluster of non-playoff drivers who they just want to simply win, like Ross Chastain, like Josh Berry. I want to do it clean, because if I get by him and there's traffic, by hitting him, he can turn around and do the exact same thing. But he sees right there the advantage he has. Is there an opportunity? He's going for it. William Byron on the inside. And he loosens up the 12 of Ryan Blaney and takes the race lead. But the 12 is still there. The 12 is still close enough to return the favor. It was an aggressive move. The 12 blocked. The 24 got into the curb. And basically, there was not enough room for a race car. Now, can the 12 get close enough to make the same shot? Front stretch. Turn one. Ty Dillon on the outside. And William Byron says, I've led 260 laps today. I'm not going to be denied a win here. I want to go to the championship four. He had a good run off of turn four. Right here. See the run? He had that forward momentum. And he saw it. Christopher Bell running 10th. Three up by entry. It's all entry. Four tires here, Marty. William Byron told Rudy Fugel, nothing new with the handling. Let's leave it alone. Don't make any changes. The 24 pit crew has not lost a spot on pit road all day long. Can they deliver on this final stop of the day? They do, indeed. Hold serve here on pit road. I will repeat, it is game on. Lights are on here in Martinsville. And they're racing to the end with 11 to go. Good restart. William Byron. A great restart by Blaney, though. But Byron's able to beat him to the corner. Wow. Look at that launch off turn two. William Byron. Ryan Blaney. Ross Chastain is the next one. But he's not one of those cars in contention to go to the championship four. Good adjustment by this 24 car. I feel like that 12 car for most of the day has had a little more takeoff speed. But right now, Byron's able to drive away from him. Frustratingly for Ryan Blaney. He is not close enough to William Byron. The laps are ticking by. Eight to go. Same frustration for the 20 of Bell. Seven points behind. You see Larson bottom left. Bell bottom right. Bell back in seventh. He just can't seem to break free. Kyle Larson will race for a championship if they stay as they are right now. He's seven points to the good. Seven laps to go. William Byron has never led this many laps at any track he has ever raced at. What a performance on a day when he needed to deliver the most. Is there anything that number 12 Ford for Team Penske can do? That last lap was definitely an advantage for Blaney. I don't know if it's enough. But he is faster. Will it work? The 24, we know, has short run speed. He sat on the pole. He was able to do it. The 9 has sent the 1 out of the way. Chase knows he has to be there. If the 12 can get to the 24, the 9 wants to be the next car in line. Great point. Game on. Two to go. There's one mile left. Before we're in championship mode. What a contrast from these two guys. One started on the pole. One started in 31st. And they're both racing for the win. They're both chasing a championship spot. One lap to go. Presented by Credit One Bank. And what a performance from the 24 and the 12. They've been in a league of their own. But William Byron has won two Daytona 500s. He's going to put today right up there with them. William Byron has got it! And by the way, with just one lap to go, William Byron is going to Phoenix! And has a chance to race for the championship!