NASCAR Cup - Martinsville

The Cook Out 400 brings NASCAR Cup Series racing to Martinsville Speedway for the spring race weekend in 2026. This event marks one of two NASCAR Cup Series races held at this historic Virginia facility during the season. Martinsville Speedway stands as the shortest track on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule and holds the distinction of hosting Cup Series races every year since the division began in 1949.

Martinsville Speedway Track Information

Martinsville Speedway sits in Ridgeway, Virginia, near the city of Martinsville. The track measures 0.526 miles in length, making it the most compact circuit in the NASCAR Cup Series. The facility features a paperclip-shaped oval configuration that creates unique racing conditions. The turns feature 12 degrees of banking, while the straightaways remain flat with no banking. Two 800-foot straightaways connect the tight turns at each end of the facility.

Track Surface and Layout

The racing surface at Martinsville Speedway combines two materials. Asphalt covers the straightaways and upper lanes of the corners. Concrete forms the lower lanes of the corners. This dual-surface configuration adds another variable for teams and drivers to consider. The compact nature of the track requires pit facilities on both straightaways rather than a single pit road.

Racing Characteristics

The tight quarters and flat turns at Martinsville Speedway create close-quarters racing. The short track demands constant braking and acceleration. Contact between cars occurs regularly as drivers compete for position. The paperclip shape requires different racing lines and strategies compared to larger oval tracks. Drivers must master brake management and precise car control to succeed at this facility.

Martinsville Speedway History

H. Clay Earles founded Martinsville Speedway in 1947. The facility hosted its first NASCAR Cup Series race in 1949 and has maintained that tradition every year since. Workers paved the track with asphalt in 1955, modernizing the racing surface. NASCAR owns the facility, with Clay Campbell serving as track president. The speedway underwent major expansion during the 1990s and has received consistent improvements over the decades. Lights were installed in 2017, adding night racing capability.

Track Capacity and Amenities

Martinsville Speedway seats approximately 44,000 fans. The facility has evolved over time to balance capacity with fan experience. The speedway maintains its reputation as a family-friendly venue while offering modern amenities for race attendees.

What Makes Martinsville Unique

Several factors distinguish Martinsville Speedway from other NASCAR Cup Series venues. The paperclip shape earned the track its "Paperclip" nickname. The facility holds the record for hosting Cup Series races every year since 1949, a streak no other track can match. Martinsville Speedway is famous for its red hot dogs, which have become part of the race day tradition for many fans. The track maintains a philosophy of continuous improvement established by founder H. Clay Earles and continued by his grandson.

The 2026 Cook Out 400

The Cook Out 400 serves as the spring NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway in 2026. The race weekend includes practice and qualifying sessions on Saturday, followed by the main event on Sunday. The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series also competes during the weekend. This spring race provides teams an early-season opportunity to compete on the shortest and most demanding track in the series. The fall race weekend later in 2026 will feature playoff implications, but the spring event offers its own significance in the season-long championship battle.

Martinsville Speedway challenges every aspect of NASCAR Cup Series competition. The short track rewards driver skill, team preparation, and strategic decisions. Fans can expect close racing and frequent position changes throughout the Cook Out 400. The combination of track history, unique layout, and demanding racing conditions makes this event a significant point in the NASCAR Cup Series season.