Joey Logano in, tension for seven others in title qualifier

Joey Logano is in an enviable place.

As the only driver who already has secured a spot in the championship finale of NASCAR’s Cup Series next weekend, he’ll enter Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway with a head start on preparations for the finale at Phoenix Raceway.

Seven others, however, will duel for the last three spots on the oldest and shortest circuit in the premier series, a 0.526-mile oval. Passing was difficult in the spring, and contact is a given and likely moreso with the highest of stakes on the line.

“It’s a super tight battle for everybody, so when it comes down to the end of the race — we’ve seen it so many times — whether it’s for the win or it’s for that one point that they need coming off turn four, we’ve seen some big moments here where desperate people do desperate things and this is a track where the desperate people have an opportunity to do a desperate thing,” Logano, the 2018 champion, said. “I’m glad I’m not a part of that.”

Chase Elliott is the only other former champion still in the mix for this year’s title. He is third in points, eight behind Ross Chastain and six ahead of Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron, who won at Martinsville in the spring. Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell and Chase Brisco complete the field of contenders, with Hamlin possibly having an advantage.

He has won five times at Martinsville but not since 2015, and Logano, Elliott and Byron have won more recently at the track. Byron will be trying to become the first driver to win both races in a season at Martinsville since Hamlin in 2010.

Chase Briscoe is last among the eight contenders for the championship, 63 points behind leader Logano. He pretty much needs to win at Martinsville to make the title round.

He’s not quite sure how that will affect his driving until the race is underway.

“I think it’s hard to say what you’re willing to do sitting here versus when you’re in the moment,” Briscoe said Saturday. “The emotions and adrenaline, everything is totally different than when you’re sitting here. … I don’t know what you’re willing to do. I think it’s different for everybody, and until you’re in that moment, it’s hard to say. We’ve just got to go try to get a win.”

Martinsville is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and track president Clay Campbell couldn’t be happier to be the last stop on the race to the championship final.

Like Richmond, which hosted its second weekend under delightful weather conditions, rather than sweltering heat typical of Virginia in mid-August, the forecasts for Sunday suggest it will be a good day to sit in the stands and celebrate the anniversary.

“I love where I’m at,” Campbell said of the speedway’s spot on the schedule. “Right now we’re in the 60s, around 70 degrees. So it’s a beautiful time for our area. And, you know, to be the penultimate race, I think it’s I think it’s a great time of the year.”