Ryan Blaney Wins At Martinsville To Qualify For The NASCAR Cup Series Final

By Gary Gastelu |

Oct 29, 2023

(NASCAR)

Ryan Blaney ruined Aric Almirola’s retirement party.

The Team Penske driver won the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday to book his ticket to the NASCAR Cup Series championship final four at Phoenix.

On Saturday, @Aric_Almirola announced he won't be returning to Stewart-Haas as he evaluates his racing future.

He's out front with less than 85 laps remaining! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/YyxAEEIAI8
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 29, 2023

Almirola, who announced his retirement from full-time racing at the end of this season, was on the verge of a Cinderella finish after taking the lead from Chase Elliott with 89 laps to go, but was passed by Blaney on lap 477 of the 500-lap race and had to settle for second in his penultimate Cup Series race.

Dang!! A runner up finish in my last race at @martinsvilleswy with the 10 team and @stewarthaasracing,” Almirola posted to X after the race. “Really wanted that for my guys and this @smithfieldbrand team. Weâ€™re finishing the season as strong as ever.”

Ryan @Blaney TAKES THE LEAD!

Less than 20 laps remain on @NBC! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/GhP3A6T9th
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 29, 2023

Blaney will be racing for the title against Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson, who won the past two races, and William Byron, whose 13th place finish at Martinsville was enough to keep him above the cutline.

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Third place finisher Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Tyler Reddick and Chris Beuscher failed to advance out of the round of eight.

The NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 5.