After 34 grueling races and eight playoff showdowns, the NASCAR season is down to its penultimate stop — the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. This elimination clash in the Round of 8 will serve as the final gatekeeper, deciding which four drivers punch their golden ticket to the Championship 4 in Phoenix.
Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe can already breathe easy, having locked in their spots with victories at Las Vegas and Talladega. But for Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson, life above the cut line is anything but comfortable, separated by just a single point and staring down a pack of hungry contenders.
Past Martinsville masters like William Byron, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott are all revving up for a shot at glory, each hoping to snag a win, a place in the title race, and one of those coveted Grandfather clocks that define triumph at the Paperclip.
Here is everything you need to know about the Martinsville playoff race, including the start time for the race.
What time does the NASCAR race start today?
- Track: Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia
- Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
- Time: 2:00 p.m. ET or 11:00 a.m. PT
- Length: 500 laps (263 miles) on the 0.526-mile oval
- Purse: $9,797,935
The Martinsville playoff race is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. ET or 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, October 26.
The race will be held at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Stage 1 ends at Lap 130. Stage 2 ends at Lap 260. Stage 3 ends at Lap 500.
What channel is NASCAR on today?
- TV Channel: NBC | TSN, RDS (Canada)
- Live stream: Fubo | TSN+ (Canada)
The Talladega playoff race is available for live TV broadcast on NBC in the United States. Streaming options are available on Fubo for fans in the US.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
NASCAR radio station for Martinsville playoff race
- Radio channel: SiriusXM channel 90
Listen to the 2025 Martinsville playoff race and every race of the NASCAR season on SiriusXM.
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Xfinity 500 starting lineup 2025
| Starting pos. | Driver | Car No. | Team |
| 1. | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
| 2. | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 3. | Chase Briscoe | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
| 4. | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet |
| 5. | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske Ford |
| 6. | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 7. | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing Toyota |
| 8. | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
| 9. | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske Ford |
| 10. | Zane Smith | 38 | Front Row Motorsports Ford |
| 11. | Chris Buescher | 17 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford |
| 12. | Josh Berry | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing Ford |
| 13. | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske Ford |
| 14. | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing Toyota |
| 15. | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet |
| 16. | Erik Jones | 43 | Legacy Motor Club Toyota |
| 17. | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | Kaulig Racing Chevrolet |
| 18. | Shane van Gisbergen | 88 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet |
| 19. | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 20. | John Hunter Nemechek | 42 | Legacy Motor Club Toyota |
| 21. | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
| 22. | Kyle Busch | 8 | Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet |
| 23. | Brad Keselowski | 6 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford |
| 24. | Noah Gragson | 4 | Front Row Motorsports Ford |
| 25. | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 26. | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet |
| 27. | Carson Hocevar | 77 | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 28. | Michael McDowell | 71 | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 29. | Cole Custer | 41 | Haas Factory Team Ford |
| 30. | Todd Gilliland | 34 | Front Row Motorsports Ford |
| 31. | Justin Haley | 7 | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 32. | Ryan Preece | 60 | RFK Racing Ford |
| 33. | Riley Herbst | 35 | 23XI Racing Toyota |
| 34. | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 35. | Ty Dillon | 10 | Kaulig Racing Chevrolet |
| 36. | Cody Ware | 51 | Rick Ware Racing Ford |
NASCAR point standings 2025
Below are the updated standings ahead of NASCAR at Martinsville.
| Rank | Driver | Points |
| 1 | Chase Briscoe | 4116 |
| 2 | Christopher Bell | 4107 |
| 3 | Kyle Larson | 4106 |
| 4 | Denny Hamlin | 4103 |
| 5 | William Byron | 4070 |
| 6 | Joey Logano | 4068 |
| 7 | Ryan Blaney | 4059 |
| 8 | Chase Elliott | 4044 |
| 9 | Tyler Reddick | 2270 |
| 10 | Bubba Wallace | 2236 |
NASCAR Cup Series playoff race schedule 2025
(All times Eastern)
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV/Winner |
| Oct. 26 | NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Martinsville | Martinsville Speedway | 2 p.m. | NBC, Fubo |
| Nov. 2 | NASCAR Cup Series Championship | Phoenix Raceway | 3 p.m. | NBC, Fubo |