Best Martinsville moments from the Round of 8

It is often said in racing that short tracks bring about short tempers. There is no better race to describe this adage than NASCAR’s fall trip to Martinsville Speedway.

With the threat of elimination on the line, drivers are willing to push the envelope and create some incredible moments for the fans to enjoy. Here are some of the best in recent memory.

2015: Kenseth Takes Out Logano

Joey Logano was having a championship-caliber season in 2015. Unfortunately, he angered the wrong people.

Logano and Matt Kenseth collided at Kansas a few weeks prior, essentially eliminating Kenseth from playoff contention.

Kenseth’s car was damaged in the Martinsville race and had nothing to lose. Logano was the leader at the time, so Kenseth waited and then drove him into the wall to the cheers of the crowd.

The Cambridge, Wis. driver received a two-race suspension for his action, but I think he got his message across.

2017: Hamlin and Elliott Get Together

Chase Elliott is NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver. Denny Hamlin is quite the opposite. These two coming together would be quite the reaction.

Hamlin found the back bumper of Elliott with a handful of laps to go, sending the race to overtime. Kyle Busch took the win.

The crash took Elliott out of contention to point his way into the Championship 4 but he would get his revenge. He made contact with Hamlin in the final race of the Round of 8 in Phoenix and ruined Hamlin’s chances to compete for a title as well.

NASCAR has always been in favor of payback, and this was one of its quintessential moments.

2021: Bowman Spoils the Party

Denny Hamlin secured two wins in the 2021 NASCAR Playoffs and looked primed to finally win his first championship. That is until Alex Bowman came along.

The two were battling throughout the evening, but Bowman became a bit too restless behind the No. 11 car. The Hendrick Motorsports driver sent Hamlin spinning into Turn 3 late in the race, much to the delight of the fans in attendance.

Bowman went on to win the race even though he was eliminated the round before. Hamlin finished 24th but ultimately had enough points to advance to the Championship 4 where he would fall short of Kyle Larson because of a late caution.

After the race, Hamlin drove to stop Bowman from doing his burnout. In the ensuing post-race interview, Hamlin called Bowman a “hack” to a chorus of boos from the crowd. It was a classic short-track feud with everything on the line.

2022: The Hail Melon

Denny Hamlin found himself as a part of another dramatic Martinsville finish. Do you notice a trend by now?

Ross Chastain found victory lane twice in his breakout 2022 campaign, but he was facing elimination at Martinsville. He needed a miracle to make it through, and he found a way.

On the final lap, Chastain held the throttle open and ripped the car around the barriers at full speed, passing enough cars to advance. The move was dubbed the “Hail Melon” as a tribute to Chastain’s roots as a Florida watermelon farmer.

Christopher Bell won the race in a must-win scenario, and Chastain knocked Hamlin out of the Playoffs with the move. Chastain would end up finishing 3rd at Phoenix and 2nd in the championship.

Will another moment of Martinsville magic happen this year? Tune in to NBC on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m., to find out.

Jack Rachinsky is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jjr6682@psu.edu.