MARTINSVILLE, Va. — The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series resumes competition Saturday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway with the NFPA 250.
Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill is the defending race winner, leading only the last lap of overtime to claim the win last Spring after that day’s most dominant driver – now a NASCAR Cup Series rookie – Connor Zilisch spun on the last regularly-scheduled lap resulting in an overtime restart. Zilisch had started from pole position and led 100 of the opening 250 laps.
Taylor Gray’s 87 laps out front were second to Zilisch, and the 21-year-old Gray answered that production later in the year scoring his first series victory the following October race at Martinsville.
Three other championship contenders own Martinsville clocks, including last week’s Darlington winner, JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier (2023), Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brandon Jones (2022) and Sam Hunt Racing’s Harrison Burton (2020).
The 2024 series champion Allgaier holds a 52-point edge over last year’s champ, Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love atop the standings. JR Motorsports’ Carson Kvapil (-84), Haas Factory Team’s Sheldon Creed (-88) and Love’s teammate Hill (-96) round out the top-five atop the standings.
JR Motorsports has won the last four races (with three different drivers) and a victory Saturday would mark the second longest streak of wins for a team in series history. Joe Gibbs Racing won six consecutively in 2008.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Practice & Kennametal Pole Qualifying at Martinsville is scheduled for Friday at 4:30 p.m.
