Xfinity 500

William Byron delivered a must-win performance at the most pressure-packed moment of the 2025 season, leading 304 of 500 laps and holding off Ryan Blaney by 0.717 seconds to win the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway and clinch the final spot in the Championship 4. Byron made the decisive move with 43 laps remaining, tagging Blaney in the left rear entering Turn 1 and seizing the bottom lane to take the lead -- a classic Martinsville bump-and-pass that will be replayed for years.

Blaney, who led 177 laps himself, had one final chance after a Lap 484 caution set up a late restart. His crew gambled on four fresh tires, but Byron's track position proved insurmountable as he pulled away over the final 11 laps. Blaney's runner-up finish was not enough to advance on points, and the 2023 champion was eliminated from title contention alongside Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and Joey Logano.

The Championship 4 was set: Kyle Larson secured his berth with a steady fifth-place finish, joining Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, and Byron for the title showdown at Phoenix Raceway. Byron's third win of the season came at the most critical juncture, and his 304 laps led marked the most dominant short-track performance of the entire 2025 campaign. Chase Elliott finished third, but it was not enough to keep his championship hopes alive in what proved to be one of the most dramatic penultimate races in playoff history.