Bluegrass Sports Nation

Denny Hamlin revives season with Victory at Martinsville Speedway!

Martinsville, Virginia – March 30, 2025 – Anthony Holbrook

NASCAR Cup Series travels to Martinsville, Virginia for the Cook Out 400 hosted by Martinsville Speedway.  This event will be the 8th points scheduled race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Season and scheduled for 400 laps, compared to 500 laps of previous years. 

Race teams computing the “tire-fall off “will be essential value determining pit service for future track position. Christopher Bell with Chase Elliott riding shotgun lead a pack of short track enthusiasts displaying their skill at the Paperclip.

Cook Out 400 – Stage 1 Recap:

Christopher Bell tangles Chase Elliott’s progression early in Stage 1.  Elliott will score to the lead within 25 laps of the initial green flag.

Chris Buescher’s real estate issue with Carson Hocevar sends Buescher out of control and into pits for repair.   Many teams dive in for service during yellow flag activities.

Cup Champ Joey Logano advances closer to the front, opting out of pit service under caution.

Joey Logano’s strategic plan sets up Stage 1 Checkers at the Clip.

Cook Out 400 – Stage 1 Results:

1. Joey Logano

2. Alex Bowman

3. AJ Allmendinger

4. Brad Keselowski

5. Erik Jones

6. John Hunter Nemechek

7. Ryan Preece

8. Chase Elliott

9. Denny Hamlin

10. Cole Custer

Cook Out 400 – Stage 2 Recap:

Unpredicted electrical issues hampers Burt Meyers invites a decisive caution flag for teams to utilize, as 55 laps remaining in Stage 2.

Denny Hamlin rumbles with Bubba Wallace to control the pace.   Hamlin attends the preferred lane, separating himself from Wallace.  Denny Hamlin cruses to a Stage 2 Win at Martinsville!

Cook Out 400 – Stage 2 Results:

1. Denny Hamlin

2. Chase Elliott

3. Bubba Wallace

4. Ty Gibbs

5. Chase Briscoe

6. Ryan Blaney

7. Ross Chastain

8. Christopher Bell

9. Kyle Larson

10. Tyler Reddick

Cook Out 400 – Final Stage Recap:

Drivers Ethanol Aggression tends to provoke multi-car collisions as prevalent in the Final Stage.

Season veteran Denny Hamlin avoids numerous skirmishes between determined competitors and their unpredictable missions.

Denny Hamlin sets target on Christopher Bell on Lap 380.   Hamlin overtakes Bell for the lead onward to his first Win of the 2025 Nascar Cup Season Playoff campaign..

Cook Out 400 – Final Stage Results:

Pos | Driver

1. Denny Hamlin

2. Christopher Bell

3. Bubba Wallace

4. Chase Elliott

5. Kyle Larson

6. Ross Chastain

7. Ryan Preece

8. Joey Logano

9. Chase Briscoe

10. Todd Gilliland

11. Ryan Blaney

12. Michael McDowell

13. Ty Gibbs

14. Tyler Reddick

15. Ty Dillon

16. Zane Smith

17. Kyle Busch

18. Austin Dillon

19. Carson Hocevar

20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr

21. Daniel Suarez

22. William Byron

23. AJ Allmendinger

24. Erik Jones (DQ)

25. Chris Buescher

26. John Hunter Nemechek

27. Brad Keselowski

28. Alex Bowman

29. Justin Haley

30. Noah Gragson

31. Cody Ware

32. Riley Herbst

33. Josh Berry

34. Cole Custer

35. Shane van Gisbergen

36. Casey Mears

37. Burt Myers

38. Austin Cindric

NASCAR Cup Series

Points Standing

After Martinsville Race (Cook Out 400)

3/30/25

Pos | Driver / Points | Wins

1. William Byron | 259 | 1 Win

2. Kyle Larson | 243 | 1 Win

3. Chase Elliott | 227

4. Christopher Bell | 224 | 3 Wins

5. Alex Bowman | 224

6. Denny Hamlin | 218 | 1 Win

7. Tyler Reddick | 213

8. Bubba Wallace | 208

9. Joey Logano | 199

10. Ryan Blaney | 193

11. Chris Buescher | 177

12. Chase Briscoe | 169

13. Ross Chastain | 169

14. Ryan Preece | 165

15. Michael McDowell | 159

16. Kyle Busch | 150

17. John Hunter Nemechek | 148

18. AJ Allmendinger | 148

19. Josh Berry | 147 | 1 Win

20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 146

21. Daniel Suarez | 125

22. Todd Gilliland | 125

23. Zane Smith | 124

24. Austin Cindric | 122

25. Ty Dillon | 117

26. Justin Haley | 114

27. Austin Dillon | 114

28. Carson Hocevar | 113

29. Erik Jones | 108

30. Brad Keselowski | 102

31. Ty Gibbs | 99

32. Noah Gragson | 90

33. Riley Herbst | 89

34. Shane van Gisbergen | 80

35. Cole Custer | 62

36. Jimmie Johnson | 34

The NASCAR Cup Series travels to Darlington Raceway for the Goodyear 400:       

Sunday, April 6, 2025

3 p.m. ET     

(FS1, MRN, SIRIUSVM,  NASCAR Radio 90)

Exit mobile version