Martinsville, Virginia – April 7, 2024
NASCAR Cup Series traveled to Martinsville, Virginia for the Cook Out 400 hosted by Martinsville Speedway. This event was the 8th points scheduled race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Season and scheduled for 400 laps, compared to 500 laps of previous years.
Race teams computing the “tire-fall off “ was an essential value determining pit service for future track position.
Cook Out 400 – Stage 1 Recap:
Previous year’s race winner Kyle Larson accelerated out of the post to control the early pace. Toyota’s Bubba Wallace contended with the pole sitter as an approaching William Bryon announced his presence rapidly approaching through the field. Kyle Larson rolled wide with preferred lane with Wallace contesting for the Stage win. Momentum carried Larson to a Stage 1 Checkers.
Cook Out 400 – Stage 1 Results:
1. Kyle Larson
2. Bubba Wallace
3. Chase Elliott
4. Chase Briscoe
5. Martin Truex Jr
6. Joey Logano
7. Denny Hamlin
8. William Byron
9. Josh Berry
10. Kyle Busch
Cook Out 400 – Stage 2 Recap:
Joey Logano’s 2 tire pit strategy awarded him the advantage out of Stage 2 pit service. Logano directed the pack until Christopher Bell’s untimely tie-rod issue. Timely for Logano wherein he could acquire equal pit service with others under Bell’s caution flag. With 12 circuit remaining to conclude Stage 2, Denny Hamlin worked race leader Joey Lugano’s rear-view mirror. Hamlin sharp-shot low past the Stage leader and took over the lead. Denny Hamlin guarded against approaching danger and collected the Stage 2 win at Martinsville.
Cook Out 400 – Stage 2 Results:
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Bubba Wallace
3. Kyle Larson
4. Chase Elliott
5. Joey Logano
6. Alex Bowma
7. Chase Briscoe
8. William Byron
9. Ross Chastain
10. Josh Berry
Cook Out 400 – Final Stage Recap:
Most Valuable driver Chase Elliott attempted to rebound his season and chose the high line to sweep by Stage winner Denny Hamlin for position. Both Elliott and Hamlin interchanged the lead as pit strategy came to the forefront. Willam Byron chanced his luck and pitted under green on Lap 297. This master plan recycled Byron to race lead on Lap 368 after other contending race team’s green flag pit-stopped. Joe Hunter Nemechek’s cut tire on Lap 398 introduces him into the safety barrier wall, welcoming an Overtime finale. Colligates William Byron and Chase Elliott out on an epic finish trading paint on a final dash for the Checkers. William Byron preserved his lead shielding of his aggressive teammate. William Byron won his 3rd race of the 2024 campaign at the Paperclip.
Cook Out 400 – Final Stage Results:
Pos | Driver
1. William Byron
2. Kyle Larson
3. Chase Elliott
4. Bubba Wallace
5. Ryan Blaney
6. Joey Logano
7. Tyler Reddick
8. Alex Bowman
9. Ryan Preece
10. Chase Briscoe
11. Denny Hamlin
12. Erik Jones
13. Todd Gilliland
14. Ross Chastain
15. Chris Buescher
16. Kyle Busch
17. Carson Hocevar
18. Martin Truex Jr
19. Ty Gibbs
20. Noah Gragson
21. Michael McDowell
22. Daniel Suarez
23. Austin Cindric
24. Brad Keselowski
25. Josh Berry
26. Kaz Grala
27. Josh Williams
28. Daniel Hemric
29. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
30. Justin Haley
31. Zane Smith
32. Corey LaJoie
33. Harrison Burton
34. Austin Dillon
35. Christopher Bell
36. John Hunter Nemechek
37. David Starr
NASCAR Cup Series
Points Standing
After Martinsville Race (Cook Out 400)
4/8/24
Pos | Driver / Points | Wins
1. Kyle Larson | 309 | 1 Win
2. Martin Truex Jr | -14
3. Denny Hamlin | -17 | 2 Wins
4. William Byron | -48 | 3 Wins
5. Ryan Blaney | -48
6. Chase Elliott | -51
7. Ty Gibbs | -55
8. Ross Chastain | -77
9. Tyler Reddick | -80
10. Alex Bowman | -82
11. Christopher Bell | -88 | 1 Win
12. Bubba Wallace | -93
13. Chris Buescher | -102
14. Joey Logano | -118
15. Kyle Busch | -120
16. Chase Briscoe | -121
17. Daniel Suarez
-131 | 1 Win
18. Brad Keselowski | -133
19. John Hunter Nemechek | -152
20. Erik Jones | -155
21. Austin Cindric | -162
22. Michael McDowell | -163
23. Josh Berry | -180
24. Todd Gilliland | -183
25. Carson Hocevar -184
26. Ryan Preece | -197
27. Ricky Stenhouse Jr | -199
28. Corey LaJoie | -204
29. Noah Gragson | -208
30. Daniel Hemric | -214
31. Austin Dillon | -216
32. Justin Haley | -224
33. Kaz Grala | -227
34. Harrison Burton | -237
35. Zane Smith | -242
36. David Ragan | -292
The NASCAR Cup Series travels to the Lone Star State for the annual Auto-Trader Echo Park Automotive 400 hosted by Texas Motor Speedway.
Sunday, April 14th, 2024
3 p.m. ET
(FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio 90)
