The NASCAR Cup Series is on a short track for the first time this season with the Cook Out 400 on March 29 at Martinsville Speedway.
The half-mile paper clip has not produced the best racing in the Next Gen era, but increased horsepower this season could help the race quality.
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Last week, Tyler Reddick won at Darlington for his fourth victory of the season out of six overall. He is aiming to become the first driver with 10+ wins in a Cup Series season since Kyle Larson in 2021.
Denny Hamlin is the defending race champion and on the pole. Keep an eye on William Byron, who won at Martinsville last fall and has won two of the last four races at track.
Follow along with the Tennessean’s race updates below:
NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville live updates, highlights, live leaderboard for the Pennzoil 400
LIVE LEADERBOARD: Full field leaderboard of NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Bob’s Discount Furniture Toyota, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Bob’s Discount Furniture Toyota, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Bob’s Discount Furniture Toyota, and William Byron, driver of the #24 Cincinnati Chevrolet, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Bob’s Discount Furniture Toyota, and William Byron, driver of the #24 Cincinnati Chevrolet, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Bob’s Discount Furniture Toyota, and William Byron, driver of the #24 Cincinnati Chevrolet, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Clay Campbell, Martinsville Speedway President speaks during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, signs autographs for NASCAR fans during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #7 Group 1001 Chevrolet, (C) speaks to Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Kroger/Thomas’ High Protein Ford, (L) during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Hardee’s Toyota, signs autographs for NASCAR fans during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Bob’s Discount Furniture Toyota, signs autographs for NASCAR fans during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 UniFirst Chevrolet, signs autographs for NASCAR fans during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 DEWALT Toyota, signs autographs for NASCAR fans during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Kroger/Thomas’ High Protein Ford, signs autographs for NASCAR fans during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride The ‘Dente Chevrolet, signs autographs for NASCAR fans during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Choice Privileges Chevrolet, greets NASCAR fans during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride The ‘Dente Chevrolet, signsgreets NASCAR fans during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: NASCAR Cup Series driver, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at the LEGO City NASCAR Kid Zone prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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NASCAR Martinsville race best pictures from Cook Out 400
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – MARCH 29: NASCAR Cup Series driver, Noah Gragson at the LEGO City NASCAR Kid Zone prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Dominant Denny Hamlin wins Stage 2 at NASCAR Martinsville race
Denny Hamlin has swept the two stages and led 176 laps in the Cook Out 400 at the NASCAR Martinsville race. The only thing left to see is if Hamlin can win the race.
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Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs finished second. Joey Logano was third, Ryan Blaney was fifth and William Byron was fifth.
1. Denny Hamilin
2. Ty Gibbs
3. Joey Logano
4. Ryan Blaney
5. William Byron
6. Austin Cindric
7. Tyler Reddick
8. Shane van Gisbergen
9. Kyle Larson
10. Josh Berry
Denny Hamlin still dominant, but what happened to William Byron?
Denny Hamlin has already 154 laps and is the leader in Stage 2. But William Byron, who is the only other driver to lead, is in sixth. Hamlin leads Ty Gibbs by 1.345 seconds.
Denny Hamlin wins Stage 1
Denny Hamlin, the polesitter for the NASCAR Martinsville race has won Stage 1 and led all but six laps. It marks Hamlin’s first stage win of the 2026 NASCAR season.
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1. Denny Hamlin
2. William Byron
3. Josh Berry
4. Ty Gibbs
5. Austin Cindric
6. Shane van Gisbergen
7. Joey Logano
8. Ryan Blaney
9. Tyler Reddick
10. Ryan Preece
Denny Hamlin regains lead Lap 45
Denny Hamlin regained the lead on Lap 45, letting William Byron hold the lead for just five laps. Hamlin has now also put Kyle Busch a lap down.
William Byron takes lead on Lap 40
William Byron has passed Denny Hamlin on Lap 40 in the NASCAR Martinsville race. Hamliin is second. Josh Berry is third.
Denny Hamlin on the pole; full NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville starting lineup
The top 10:
1. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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2. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
3. Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Racing Ford
4. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
5. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet6. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
7. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
9. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford10. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Find the full starting lineup here.
More: NASCAR Martinsville qualifying results, Denny Hamlin on the pole as starting lineup set
NASCAR race radio coverage: How to listen to NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville
The Cook Out 400 will be aired on the radio by the Motor Racing Network. MRN has affiliates all across the country, and their feed can also be streamed on NASCAR.com as well as the NASCAR app. The race can also be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
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NASCAR Martinsville TV schedule, start time
Green Flag Time: Approx. 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 29
Track: Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile oval) in Martinsville, Virginia
Length: 400 laps, 210.4 miles
Stages: 80 laps, 100 laps, 220 laps
TV coverage: FOX Sports 1
Streaming: Watch FREE on Fubo; FOX One app; HBO MAX app for in-car cameras (subscription required); NASCAR.com and SiriusXM on Channel 90 for audio (subscription required)
The Cook Out 400 will be broadcast nationally on FS1. Other streaming options for the race include HBO MAX for in-car cameras for each driver.
Recent NASCAR Cup Series winners at Martinsville
2025 spring: Denny Hamlin
2024 spring: William Byron
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville live updates, highlights, leaderboard
