Joey Logano in, 緊張 for seven others in 肩書を与える qualifier
Joey Logano is in an enviable place.
As the only driver who has already 安全な・保証するd a 位置／汚点／見つけ出す in the 選手権 finale of NASCAR's Cup Series next 週末, he'll enter Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway with a 長，率いる start on 準備s for the finale at 不死鳥／絶品 Raceway.
Seven others, however, will duel for the last three 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs on the oldest and shortest 回路・連盟 in the 首相 series, a 0.526-mile oval. Passing was difficult in the spring and 接触する is a given, and likely moreso with the highest of 火刑／賭けるs on the line.
"It´s a 最高の tight 戦う／戦い for everybody, so when it comes 負かす／撃墜する to the end of the race we´ve seen it so many times, whether it´s for the 勝利，勝つ or it´s for that one point that they need coming off turn four, we´ve seen some big moments here where desperate people do desperate things and this is a 跡をつける where the desperate people have an 適切な時期 to do a desperate thing," Logano, the 2018 支持する／優勝者, said. "I´m glad I´m not a part of that."
Chase Elliott is the only other former 支持する／優勝者 still in the mix for this year's 肩書を与える. He's third in points, eight behind Ross Chastain and six ahead of Hendrick Motorsports チーム仲間 William Byron, who won at Martinsville in the spring. Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell and Chase Brisco 完全にする the field of 競争相手s, with Hamlin かもしれない having an advantage.
He's won five times at Martinsville, but not since 2015, while Logano, Elliott and Byron have all won more recently at the 跡をつける. Byron will be trying to become the first driver to 勝利，勝つ both races in a season at Martinsville since Hamlin in 2010.
Joey Logano, 権利, 会談 with Ryan Blaney, left, before practice for the NASCAR 自動車 race at Martinsville Speedway, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Martinsville, Va. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
CHASING THE WIN
Chase Briscoe is last の中で the eight 競争相手s for the 選手権, 63 points behind leader Logano. He pretty much needs to 勝利，勝つ at Martinsville to make the 肩書を与える 一連の会議、交渉／完成する.
He's not やめる sure how that will 影響する／感情 his 運動ing until the race is 進行中で.
"I think it´s hard to say what you´re willing to do sitting here versus when you´re in the moment," Briscoe said in the マスコミ 中心 on Saturday. "The emotions and adrenaline, everything is 全く different than when you´re sitting here. ... I don´t know what you´re willing to do. I think it´s different for everybody and until you´re in that moment it´s hard to say. We´ve just got to go try to get a 勝利，勝つ."
75 AND COUNTING
Martinsville is celebrating its 75th 周年記念日, and 跡をつける 大統領，／社長 Clay Campbell couldn't be happier to be the last stop on the race to the 選手権 final.
Like Richmond, which hosted its second 週末 under delightful 天候 条件s, rather than sweltering heat typical of Virginia in 中央の-August the 予測（する）s for Sunday 示唆する it will be a good day to sit in the stands and celebrate the 周年記念日.
"I love where I'm at," Campbell said of the speedway's 位置／汚点／見つけ出す on the schedule. "権利 now we´re in the 60s, around 70 degrees. So it´s a beautiful time for our area. And, you know, to be the penultimate race, I think it´s I think it´s a 広大な／多数の／重要な time of the year."
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Joey Logano walks 負かす／撃墜する 炭坑，オーケストラ席 road before NASCAR 自動車 race practice at Martinsville Speedway, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Martinsville, Va. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
