NASCAR Qualifying at Martinsville: Schedule, Broadcast Details, and Playoff Implications

The NASCAR Cup Series is set to take on Martinsville Speedway this weekend, with qualifying sessions held on Saturday, November 2, 2024. The qualifying event is crucial as it determines the starting lineup for the Xfinity 500, the final race before the Championship 4 decider at Phoenix Raceway next Sunday.

The qualifying session is scheduled to start at 2:05 PM ET and will be available to watch exclusively on the NBC Sports App. Radio coverage will also be provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

This weekend’s event at Martinsville Speedway is particularly significant as it serves as the cutoff race for the Championship 4. Drivers such as Christopher Bell and William Byron are currently above the cut line, but others like Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott need strong performances to secure their spots in the championship round.

The qualifying format at Martinsville involves single-car, two-lap qualifying attempts, with the order determined by a four-variable formula introduced by NASCAR in 2020. The fastest drivers from each group will advance to the second round, which is also group-based following a mid-season rule change.

Track position is highly important at short tracks like Martinsville, especially in the Next Gen era, making the qualifying session a key factor in determining the outcome of the race. The Xfinity 500 itself will be broadcast live on NBC starting at 2:00 PM ET on Sunday, November 3.