Martinsville 101: Trends to watch, tire info, rule changes
Back to the asphalt the NASCAR Cup Series goes as the circuit returns to Virginia at Martinsville Speedway. The historic venue that many refer to as “The Paperclip,” NASCAR’s shortest track on the regular-season schedule has created some of racing’s most iconic and dramatic moments.
Ahead of Sunday’s NOCO 400 (3 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), check out some trends to watch for the race, notable moments from the track and the Goodyear tire info.
CHASE ELLIOTT RETURNS
Hendrick Motorsports announced on Wednesday that the 2020 Cup Series champion will return to the No. 9 Chevrolet after missing the last six races due to a broken left leg suffered while snowboarding. In Elliott’s absence, Xfinity Series regular Josh Berry filled in the car while IMSA driver Jordan Taylor piloted the No. 9 at Circuit of The Americas.
Elliott has received a medical waiver from NASCAR, and with the top 30 in points rule out for 2023, there’s only one thing the 27-year-old Georgia native needs to do to reach the postseason — win.
MORE: How Elliott can make the 2023 playoffs
📉 TRENDS TO WATCH 📈
— The last seven short-track races have been won by seven different drivers.
— Denny Hamlin has never gone nine races into a season without a top-five finish.
— The driver who led the most laps won twice in the last seven short-track races.
— The pass for the win came in the final eight laps in two of the last three Martinsville races.
NOTABLE MOMENTS 🎥
1987: Darrell Waltrip moves Terry Labonte, Dale Earnhardt on final lap | WATCH
2015: Gordon wins 93rd and final Cup race | WATCH
2018: Logano moves Truex in final corner to reach Championship 4 | WATCH
2022: Ross Chastain’s ‘Hail Melon’ move secures Champ. 4 berth | WATCH
ON-TRACK SCHEDULE 🗓️
Saturday, April 15
— 4:35 p.m. ET: Practice (FS2)
— 5:20 p.m. ET: Qualifying (FS2)
Sunday, April 16
— 3 p.m. ET: NOCO 400 (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
MORE: Full weekend schedule at Martinsville
RULE CHANGES/GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES 🛞
The updated short-track package that debuted in March at Phoenix Raceway will be used at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, along with the wet-weather equipment added at specific tracks such as the Virginia short track.
Last season’s miraculous effort from Ross Chastain will be the one and only time that move will be made as NASCAR banned any ‘Hail Melon-esque’ moves for the future.
The GEICO Restart Zone returned to its 2022 dimensions after it was extended for the first five races of this season.
The Cup Series will run the same tire code that was used at Martinsville last fall and is the only track where these specific codes are run. Each team will have one set of tires for practice, one set for qualifying and seven additional sets for the race.
In the event of a lost wheel that is contained to pit road, the offending team will be subject to a pass-through penalty under green-flag conditions. If the infraction occurs during a caution period, the offending team will restart at the tail end of the field.
If the wheel breaks free outside of pit road, the new rules guidelines mandate a two-lap penalty, plus a two-race suspension for two crew members. Each penalty is series-specific: Violations in one series will not impact those crew members‘ eligibility to participate in other series.
RELATED: See rules changes for 2023
FAN REWARDS 🫵
Fans can get in on the action all season long with NASCAR Fan Rewards, a free program that rewards fans for participating in the action when they watch races and play NASCAR Fantasy.
There‘s no cost to join. Fans must be 18 years or older to participate in the program.
Earn points by checking into a race from home or at the track, setting your Fantasy Live lineup, making purchases on the NASCAR.com shop and more. Points can be redeemed for race tickets, merchandise and VIP experiences at the track, including pace car rides and waving the green flag at qualifying.
FANTASY LIVE 🏆
Want to manage a team and race your way to the top of the leaderboards? Check out NASCAR Fantasy Live, which is open now. The free-to-play game lets you choose your drivers each week and show off your crew-chief instincts by garaging a driver by the end of Stage 2, and there is a $25,000 prize for the winner.
How to play: Fantasy Live | Set up a team today!
ALSO ON NASCAR.COM 💻
Get additional camera views by logging on to NASCAR Drive, where each week, in-car cameras will be available — as well as a battle cam and an overhead look.
NASCAR has partnered with LiveLike to add fan engagement to the NASCAR Mobile App. Log in to the mobile app during the race for polls, quizzes, the cheer meter and more — and see instant results from NASCAR fans like you.
