Denny Hamlin has to get over being spun by Alex Bowman(Photo: Getty Images)
From a fan’s perspective, having the final cutoff race of the season at the Martinsville Speedway provides for great excitement and entertainment. From a competitor’s perspective, having that final cutoff race on the paper clip shaped half-mile track must be a gut wrenching experience.
Martinsville is a track where virtually anything can and does happen. And, it’s almost a certainty that sheet metal is going to be wrinkled, feelings are going to be hurt, and tempers are going to reach the boiling point on that short track in such a high pressure situation.
Once a driver and team have cleared the Martinsville hurdle and made it into the finale at Phoenix Raceway with a chance to win the NASCAR Cup Series title, the real challenge could well be letting go of the emotions that were stirred during and after the 500 laps on the Virginia track. But for those four teams who did survive the ‘Round of 8’, Martinsville has to quickly become a thing of the past.
Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. have to place full focus on Sunday’s ‘Cup Series Championship Race’ and not on whatever issues they may have encountered during last week’s affair. Whether they ran well, ran badly, wrecked, got wrecked, or anything else, the Championship 4 can’t dwell on the past.
But the beauty of Martinsville is that it does in fact create situations that drivers and crews can’t help but dwell on. Hamlin felt as if he was wronged by Alex Bowman. Truex had to survive getting forced into the outside wall. Larson did not run particularly well in the second half of the race and was called for speeding on pit road more than once. Elliott believed he was taken out by a reckless Brad Keselowski.
That’s all over now. A driver may advance to the finals out of Martinsville but they don’t win the championship there. Engaging in battles on Twitter or within the media will not win a title. Phoenix is the place to claim the coveted trophy and not the place to right a perceived wrong.
As was said earlier, the excitement and entertainment value of Martinsville is high for fans. The frustration level is high for competitors. It is the perfect place for a NASCAR Playoffs cutoff race and the perfect place to leave holding a grudge.
But now, it’s time to win a championship.
Richard Allen is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association
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