Xfinity 500 2026

Martinsville Speedway was founded in 1947 by H. Clay Earles and is one of the oldest active racetracks on the NASCAR calendar. The first event took place on September 7, 1947, a race for modified stock cars that was held even before NASCAR’s official founding. Then, on July 4, 1948, the first race sanctioned by NASCAR followed, before the track hosted a Cup Series race for the first time in 1949.

From this early connection, a close partnership between the speedway and the sanctioning body quickly developed. Martinsville remains the only track to have continuously hosted NASCAR Cup Series races every year since the division’s inception. The Xfinity 500 has been part of the regular schedule since 1949, while the second Cup weekend, the Cook Out 400, has been on the calendar since 1950.

The layout is considered one of the most distinctive in all of motorsports: At just 0.847 kilometers long with four tight turns, the track is often described as a paperclip because of its characteristic shape. The turn radii are only around 57 meters, with banking angles at a moderate 12 degrees, which forces long, flat straightaways and extremely tight, slow corners. This combination ensures constant contact between vehicles and makes braking power and patience crucial success factors.

Ross Chastain holds the track record, setting the fastest lap ever recorded on the short oval in 2022 with a time of 0:18.845. At the 2025 Xfinity 500, William Byron secured victory and joined the long list of notable winners who have celebrated success in Virginia. For the 2026 edition, the combination of tradition, tight racing, and tactical finesse should once again provide thrilling battles under the paperclip trophy.