2021 Xfinity 500

{{short description|NASCAR Cup Series race}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox NASCAR race report

| Type = CUST

| Description = Race 35 of 36 in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series

| Race Name = Xfinity 500

| Details ref = {{cite web |title=2021 schedule |url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-cup-series/2021-nascar-cup-series-schedule/ |website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site |accessdate=September 27, 2021}}{{cite web|title=Martinsville Speedway|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/martinsville-speedway.html|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=September 27, 2021|date=January 3, 2013|archive-date=April 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425205616/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/martinsville-speedway.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Entry List|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2021/10/27/2021-35cup-entry-1.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=October 25, 2021|date=October 25, 2021}}{{cite web|title=Starting Lineup|url=https://m.nascar.com/news-media/2021/10/27/kyle-larson-wins-busch-pole-award-for-martinsville-playoff-race/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=October 27, 2021|date=October 27, 2021}}{{cite web|title=Xfinity 500 Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2021/nascar-cup-series/xfinity-500/stn/results/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=October 31, 2021|date=October 31, 2021}}{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2021/10/31/2021-35cup-points.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=October 31, 2021|date=October 31, 2021}}

| Fulldate = {{Start date|2021|10|31}}

| Year = 2021

| Image = Martinsville Speedway track map.png

| Caption =

| Location = Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia

| Course_mi = .526

| Course_km = .847

| Distance_laps = 501

| Distance_mi = 263.526

| Distance_km = 424.103

| Scheduled_laps = 500

| Scheduled_mi = 263

| Scheduled_km = 423.5

| Weather =

| Avg = {{convert|70.968|mph|km/h}}

| Pole_Driver = Kyle Larson

| Pole_Team = Hendrick Motorsports

| Grid_from_prev_perf = yes

| Most_Driver = Chase Elliott

| Most_Team = Hendrick Motorsports

| Most_laps = 289

| Car = 48

| First_Driver = Alex Bowman

| First_Team = Hendrick Motorsports

| Network = NBC

| Announcers = Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

| Ratings =

| Radio = MRN

| Booth_Ann = Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace

| Turn_Ann = Dave Moody (Backstretch)

}}

The 2021 Xfinity 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 31, 2021, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Contested over 501 laps—extended from 500 laps due to an overtime finish, on the .526 mile (.847 km) short track, it was the 35th race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the ninth race of the Playoffs, and final race of the Round of 8. Alex Bowman moved Denny Hamlin during the closing laps to earn his fourth win in 2021, as well as his sixth overall.

Report

=Background=

File:Martinsville Speedway, September 2011 overview.JPG, the track where the race was held.]]

File:2021 Xfinity 500 program cover.jpeg

Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At {{convert|0.526|mi|km}} in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track is also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948. Along with this, Martinsville is the only NASCAR oval track on the entire NASCAR track circuit to have asphalt surfaces on the straightaways, then concrete to cover the turns.

{{clear}}

==Entry list==

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

00Quin HouffStarCom RacingChevrolet
1Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
5Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFord
7Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
8Tyler ReddickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
14Chase Briscoe (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord
15Garrett Smithley (i)Rick Ware RacingChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
37Ryan PreeceJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
38Anthony Alfredo (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
41Cole CusterStewart-Haas RacingFord
42Ross ChastainChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Erik JonesRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Cody Ware (i)Petty Ware RacingChevrolet
52Josh Bilicki (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
53Joey Gase (i)Rick Ware RacingChevrolet
66Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyota
77Justin Haley (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet
78B. J. McLeod (i)Live Fast MotorsportsFord
99Daniel SuárezTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet
colspan="4"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2021/10/27/2021-35cup-entry-1.pdf Official entry list]

Qualifying

Kyle Larson was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula. This was the final round that it was scheduled, but NASCAR made a change at Bristol in March when the formula was used when rain cancelled qualifying.

=Starting Lineup=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

1

| 5 || Kyle Larson || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet

2

| 9 || Chase Elliott || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet

3

| 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota

4

| 19 || Martin Truex Jr. || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota

5

| 22 || Joey Logano || Team Penske || Ford

6

| 2 || Brad Keselowski || Team Penske || Ford

7

| 18 || Kyle Busch || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota

8

| 12 || Ryan Blaney || Team Penske || Ford

9

| 4 || Kevin Harvick || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford

10

| 1 || Kurt Busch || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet

11

| 24 || William Byron || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet

12

| 20 || Christopher Bell || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota

13

| 48 || Alex Bowman || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet

14

| 3 || Austin Dillon || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet

15

| 17 || Chris Buescher || Roush Fenway Racing || Ford

16

| 42 || Ross Chastain || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet

17

| 23 || Bubba Wallace || 23XI Racing || Toyota

18

| 8 || Tyler Reddick || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet

19

| 34 || Michael McDowell || Front Row Motorsports || Ford

20

| 99 || Daniel Suárez || Trackhouse Racing Team || Chevrolet

21

| 21 || Matt DiBenedetto || Wood Brothers Racing || Ford

22

| 14 || Chase Briscoe (R) || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford

23

| 10 || Aric Almirola || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford

24

| 41 || Cole Custer || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford

25

| 47 || Ricky Stenhouse Jr. || JTG Daugherty Racing || Chevrolet

26

| 37 || Ryan Preece || JTG Daugherty Racing || Chevrolet

27

| 6 || Ryan Newman || Roush Fenway Racing || Ford

28

| 43 || Erik Jones || Richard Petty Motorsports || Chevrolet

29

| 7 || Corey LaJoie || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet

30

| 78 || B. J. McLeod (i) || Live Fast Motorsports || Ford

31

| 51 || Cody Ware (i) || Petty Ware Racing || Chevrolet

32

| 38 || Anthony Alfredo (R) || Front Row Motorsports || Ford

33

| 52 || Josh Bilicki (i) || Rick Ware Racing || Ford

34

| 53 || Joey Gase (i) || Rick Ware Racing || Chevrolet

35

| 77 || Justin Haley (i) || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet

36

| 00 || Quin Houff || StarCom Racing || Chevrolet

37

| 15 || Garrett Smithley (i) || Rick Ware Racing || Chevrolet

38

| 66 || Timmy Hill (i) || MBM Motorsports || Toyota

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2021/10/27/2021-35cup-lineup.pdf Official starting lineup]

Race

=Stage Results=

Stage One

Laps: 130

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

19Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet10
25Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet9
319Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota8
424William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet7
52Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord6
618Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota5
73Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4
848Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3
922Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord2
1010Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2021/10/31/2021-35cup-results.pdf Official stage one results]

Stage Two

Laps: 130

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

19Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet10
248Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet9
324William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet8
419Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota7
511Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota6
610Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord5
720Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota4
82Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord3
918Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota2
101Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2021/10/31/2021-35cup-results.pdf Official stage two results]

=Final Stage Results=

Stage Three

Laps: 240

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! Grid

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Laps

! Points

11348Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50152
2718Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50142
362Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord50143
4419Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota50148
51124William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50147
62310Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord50137
7101Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet50131
82843Erik JonesRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet50129
91517Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord50128
10522Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord50129
11812Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord50126
1294Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord50125
13143Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50128
1415Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50132
152121Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord50122
1629Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50141
171220Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50124
18188Tyler ReddickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet50119
192547Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet50118
203238Anthony Alfredo (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord50117
21297Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet50116
222214Chase Briscoe (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord50115
232441Cole CusterStewart-Haas RacingFord50114
24311Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50119
251723Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota50112
261934Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord49911
271642Ross ChastainChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet49810
282099Daniel SuárezTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet4989
293078B. J. McLeod (i)Live Fast MotorsportsFord4960
303151Cody Ware (i)Petty Ware RacingChevrolet4950
313577Justin Haley (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet4920
32276Ryan NewmanRoush Fenway RacingFord4915
333715Garrett Smithley (i)Rick Ware RacingChevrolet4900
343600Quin HouffStarCom RacingChevrolet4833
353352Josh Bilicki (i)Rick Ware RacingFord4830
362637Ryan PreeceJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet4141
373866Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyota2060
383453Joey Gase (i)Rick Ware RacingChevrolet100
colspan="8"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2021/10/31/2021-35cup-results.pdf Official race results]

=Race statistics=

  • Lead changes: 15 among 7 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 15 for 91
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 42 minutes and 48 seconds
  • Average speed: {{convert|70.968|mph|km/h}}

Media

=Television=

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, 1997 race winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and 2014 race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Dillon Welch handled the pit road duties from pit lane. Rutledge Wood handled the features from the track.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan="3"|NBC
Booth announcersPit reportersFeatures reporter
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dave Burns
Parker Kligerman
Marty Snider
Dillon Welch
Rutledge Wood

=Radio=

MRN covered the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and 7 time Martinsville winner Rusty Wallace had the call for MRN when the field raced down the front straightaway. Dave Moody covered the action for MRN when the field raced down the backstraightway into turn 3. Steve Post and Kim Coon covered the action for MRN from pit lane.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan="3"|MRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Backstretch: Dave MoodySteve Post
Kim Coon

Standings after the race

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Drivers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
! Pos

! Driver

! Points

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| Kyle Larson

| style="text-align:center;"| 5,000

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Chase Elliott

| style="text-align:center;"| 5,000 (–0)

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 3

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Martin Truex Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"| 5,000 (–0)

style="background:#D4AF37;"

|align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 4

| Denny Hamlin

| style="text-align:center;"| 5,000 (–0)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 5

| Brad Keselowski

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,323 (–2,677)

align="left"| 10px 3

| style="text-align:center;"| 6

| Kevin Harvick

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,318 (–2,682)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 7

| Ryan Blaney

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,308 (–2,692)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 8

| Joey Logano

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,308 (–2,692)

align="left"| 10px 5

| style="text-align:center;"| 9

| Kyle Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,285 (–2,715)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 10

| William Byron

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,280 (–2,720)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 11

| Kurt Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,274 (–2,726)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 12

| Christopher Bell

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,251 (–2,749)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 13

| Tyler Reddick

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,232 (–2,768)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 14

| Alex Bowman

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,221 (–2,779)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 15

| Aric Almirola

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,184 (–2,816)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 16

| Michael McDowell

| style="text-align:center;"| 2,139 (–2,861)

class="sortbottom"

!colspan="9"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2021/10/31/2021-35cup-points.pdf Official driver's standings]

{{col-2}}

;Manufacturers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
! Pos

! Manufacturer

! Points

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| Chevrolet

| style="text-align:center;"| 1,296

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Toyota

| style="text-align:center;"| 1,204 (–92)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Ford

| style="text-align:center;"| 1,203 (–93)

class="sortbottom"

  • Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.

{{col-end}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = NASCAR Cup Series

| Monsteryear = 2021

| Previous_race = 2021 Hollywood Casino 400

| Next_race = 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race

}}

{{2021 NASCAR Cup}}

Xfinity 500

Xfinity 500

Category:NASCAR races at Martinsville Speedway

Xfinity 500