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Ryan Blaney wins the NASCAR Cup playoff elimination race at Martinsville Speedway, securing a spot in the Championship 4 for the first time in his career. Blaney took the lead from Aric Almirola with 22 laps to go and maintained his position to the finish line. Almirola finished second. The drivers advancing to the Championship race are Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, and William Byron. Denny Hamlin, Chris Buescher, Martin Truex Jr., and Tyler Reddick have been eliminated from the playoffs.
Here they are! The #NASCARPlayOffs final 4️⃣ Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell were already locked in, with Ryan Blaney and William Byron doing enough in Martinsville to secure the two remaining spots. Who will take the title at Phoenix Raceway this Sunday? 🏆️ https://t.co/zuPkSIyGRM
Ryan Blaney will race for his first Cup championship after qualifying for NASCAR's title-deciding finale with a Sunday win at Martinsville Speedway. https://t.co/uK9viHeM4q
Ryan Blaney has made the Champ 4 for the first time after making the Round of 8 five times. What that accomplishment means to him: https://t.co/6qcTCwPWcQ
Ryan Blaney claims Championship 4 spot with emphatic victory at Martinsville https://t.co/OK5SUibYbi
Ryan Blaney passed Aric Almirola to secure a timely #NASCAR Cup playoff victory at Martinsville that secures him a berth in next weekend's Championship 4 showdown 🏁 He'll go for the title against Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell and William Byron ⬇️ https://t.co/wv4GcASmdB
Ryan @Blaney and @WilliamByron advance to the #Championship4 for the first time in the #NASCAR Cup Series careers! 👏 https://t.co/Ji2w6pW1OB
These four drivers will fight for the 2023 #NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix: @KyleLarsonRacin @CBellRacing @Blaney @WilliamByron #NASCARPlayoffs 🏆 https://t.co/Ff41rNkPXX
Blaney win at Martinsville. Almirola 2nd. Drivers advancing to the Championship race: #5-Kyle Larson, #12-Ryan Blaney, #20-Christopher Bell, #24-William Byron Eliminated from the Playoffs: #11-Denny Hamlin, #17-Chris Buescher, #19-Martin Truex, Jr, #45-Tyler Reddick
🏁 Ryan @Blaney domination 🕰️ He wins at @MartinsvilleSwy to punch his #Championship4 ticket. @WilliamByron finishes 13th, -1 lap, but advances by 8 points over @dennyhamlin, who finishes 3rd. ❌ Hamlin, @MartinTruex_Jr, @TylerReddick, @Chris_Buescher all eliminated.
NEWS: @Blaney wins Sunday's NASCAR Cup playoff elimination race at @MartinsvilleSwy - clinching a spot in the #Championship4 for the first time in his career.
2 to go. Blaney leads Almirola
10 to go. Blaney continues to expand his lead. He's now 1.2 second ahead of Almirola
Just 15 laps remaining. Blaney leads Almirola -.9 second Hamlin -6 seconds
Blaney closing in on lapping Byron but it won't matter: he's 6 points ahead of Hamlin, who can only gain 1 more spot before leading. 15 laps to go @MartinsvilleSwy.
Ryan Blaney has qualified for the Round of 8 five times in his #NASCAR Cup Series career. Never has he advanced to the #Championship4 in the #NASCARPlayoffs. He leads at Martinsville with 20 laps to go.
Ryan @Blaney TAKES THE LEAD! Less than 20 laps remain on @NBC! #NASCARPlayoffs https://t.co/GhP3A6T9th
Blaney takes the lead.
Back comes @Blaney! The No. 12 takes the lead away from @Aric_Almirola with 20 to go! #NASCARPlayoffs https://t.co/jllXIGk2pf
20 to go and Blaney now pulling away. Ahead of Almirola by a half second. Hamlin up to 3rd.
Blaney takes the lead from Almirola with 22 laps to go at Martinsville! #NASCAR
Blaney takes the lead from Almirola with 22 to go.
Ryan Blaney to the lead with 23 laps to go at Martinsville
And there it is: @Blaney passes @Aric_Almirola for the lead with 22 laps to go. He's setting sail. Hamlin P3 but still -5 behind Byron.
Blaney has caught Almirola for the lead, and he is alongside him. #NASCAR
25 to go. Blaney has caught Almirola. Hamlin runs P4 but needs to win if Byron stays P16 (+6 now).
25 laps to go for @Aric_Almirola. But @Blaney is THERE. Only a car length or two. No. 12 is only 1.2 secs behind him. Byron up to 16th, +6 above Hamlin.
Blaney has caught Almirola. #NASCAR
30 to go. Almirola's lead over Blaney is down to 1 second. Then Elliott Hamlin and Logano.
35 to go: Blaney into 2nd-place. Runs a bit over 2 seconds behind Almirola for the lead. Can he get there? Hamlin still -3 below Byron on points.
Blaney moves to second behind Almirola. He's 3 seconds back.
Blaney moves to second, 3.3 seconds behind Almirola.
50 to go. Hamlin inching forward in 5th, but is still 5 points back of Byron, who is holding serve in 19th. Almirola leads Elliott by 4+ secs, Blaney by 6+ with time winding down.
50 to go ... Almirola Elliott Blaney LaJoie Hamlin Jones Briscoe Logano Larson Bell Buescher 18th-Byron 19th-Truex
As Almirola continues leading, Hamlin is falling back a tad. Now 2nd on the cars that took 4 tires and sits -8 below the cut to Byron. No. 24 runs 18th, but it may be enough. DH told "still a lot to play out here."
Blaney has gotten by both Hamlin and Buescher over the last handful of laps.