NASCAR Cup Series points leader Kyle Larson delivered a blunt assessment during Saturday practice at Martinsville Speedway on October 31, 2026, describing his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet as cars that “sucks” ahead of the Xfinity 500. Yahoo Sports reported the defending champion’s stark review as he faces a 73-point lead in the Chase.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Kyle Larson carries immense risk for fantasy lineups at Martinsville given his 29th-place practice speed and historical struggles on the 0.526-mile oval.
- Rival contenders like Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell present safer fantasy floors following Larson’s visible handling issues on the track.
Struggles on the Clock at Martinsville Speedway
Larson ranked 29th on the practice speed chart with a best lap of 19.970 seconds during the 50-minute session at the Virginia track. He sat 0.370 seconds slower than the fastest driver, Ryan Preece, who clocked 19.600 seconds. With roughly 33 minutes complete in the session, Larson dropped as low as 27th overall and 30th in 10-lap average speed after completing 88 laps.
Is Kyle Larson heading to Martinsville with the Championship all but decided or is the door still open? pic.twitter.com/ViTgmjFaF8
The 0.526-mile paperclip-shaped oval demands heavy braking and precision through tight corners. Larson previously noted after his 2023 victory at the venue that the track does not suit his driving style. His spring setup suffered from loose corner entry and poor rear grip on exit, issues his team worked to resolve heading into the weekend.
| Driver | Car Number | Team | Best Practice Lap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Preece | – | – | 19.600 sec |
| Kyle Larson | #5 | Hendrick Motorsports | 19.970 sec |
Championship Scenarios and Recent Form
Larson holds a 73-point advantage over Denny Hamlin, with Christopher Bell sitting 74 points back and Chase Briscoe trailing by 79. Leaving Martinsville with a 77-point margin also clinches the title.
The team’s weekend difficulties mirror radio complaints from October 18 at Phoenix Raceway, where Larson reported no grip or turn before a flat right-front tire triggered a crash into the wall. That incident left him 34th and 31 laps down, shrinking his lead over Bell to five points prior to Talladega. He rebounded on October 25 at Talladega Superspeedway by winning a photo finish over teammate William Byron.
Support Races and Friday Night Action
Away from the Cup garage, Friday night at Martinsville featured the National Debt Relief 250 for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Newslocker.com reported that Carson Kvapil secured his third career series victory after leading a race-high 121 of 250 laps from the pole position. JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier finished as the runner-up, taking the series point lead from Jesse Love, who placed 30th.
Kvapil’s win delivered a historic Martinsville grandfather clock trophy to veteran crew chief Rodney Childers. Meanwhile, Sammy Smith triggered an early multi-car incident that disrupted the O’Reilly Series event. The main Xfinity 500 Cup Series race gets underway at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
