2026 NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500

• Final race before Championship 4 — drivers punch their tickets to the title race
• NASCAR Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series settle their Championship 4 on Friday and Saturday
• First year of the new Chase format replacing the elimination-style playoff system
• Narrow racing groove and aggressive short-track style reward patience with physical racing
• $2 Martinsville hot dogs sold with mustard, chili, cole slaw, and onions

Best Way to Experience It

• Seats 30 rows up or higher offer the best view of all track action
• Frontstretch Blue Ridge Tower sections let you watch pit action and post-race burnouts
• Pre-Race Experience grants track access for driver introductions and NASCAR personality Q&A sessions

Good to Know

• General parking on speedway property is free
• Youth 12 and younger receive reduced Cup Series admission; youth 13-17 also receive discounts
• Soft-sided coolers up to 14x14x14 inches permitted
• Maximum two bags per person allowed; backpacks and fanny packs up to 18x18x14 inches
• Fall race weekend offers milder weather than the spring event

• Best fit if you value historic venues — oldest NASCAR race on schedule since 1949 inaugural season, only track hosting Cup Series races every year for 77 consecutive seasons, grandfather clock trophy tradition.
• Best fit if you enjoy championship finales — decisive Round of 8 elimination race determines final four drivers advancing to championship finale, penultimate playoff event with title implications, high-stakes drama.
• Best fit if you like passionate fan atmosphere — 44,000-capacity sellout crowds, $75 entry-level tickets, family-friendly environment with free parking, permissive cooler policies, accessible regional NASCAR gathering with $180M economic impact.
• Not ideal if you prefer open-wheel precision racing — 0.526-mile paperclip track forces constant braking, bumping, side-by-side racing through 500 laps, contact-heavy short track format prioritizes aggression over clean passing, dubbed "two drag strips with turnaround."