Logano's 650th Start Headlines Martinsville's Championship Weekend

Joey Logano will reach a major career milestone this weekend as he makes his 650th NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway, the shortest track on the calendar and the stage for a decisive weekend in the championship race. The Team Penske driver arrives 100 points behind leader Kyle Larson, who took a 73-point advantage into the weekend after his dramatic last-lap win at Talladega, the first drafting-track victory of his career. Larson is chasing back-to-back titles, a feat no Hendrick Motorsports driver has managed since Jimmie Johnson's five straight from 2006 to 2010. His closest challengers know Martinsville well: Denny Hamlin, 74 points back, is the most successful active driver at the half-mile track with six wins, while Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe sit 79 and 74 points adrift respectively, and Ryan Blaney is 106 back. Practice begins Saturday ahead of qualifying, with Sunday's Xfinity 500 set to shape the final four. The Truck and O'Reilly series also race at Martinsville, making it a full weekend of short-track drama.