2021 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500
# 2021 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500

The 2021 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on April 10 and 11th, 2021, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Contested over 500 laps on the 0.526 mi (0.847 km) paperclip-shaped short track, it was the eighth race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Report

### Background

Martinsville Speedway is an NASCAR-owned stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.

**Entry list**

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 53 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Joey Logano was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 5 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 8 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 9 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 10 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 11 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 13 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 15 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 16 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 25 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 26 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 27 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 53 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 34 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 36 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 37 | 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race

Denny Hamlin was awarded the pole. The race was postponed from Saturday to Sunday due to rain. Hamlin dominated and won both stages. Kurt Busch got into the wall after contact with Erik Jones while Aric Almirola spun into the wall after contact with Matt DiBenedetto. Brad Keselowski got into the wall along with Daniel Suárez, whose car caught fire. Keselowski again got into the wall along with Jones and Ross Chastain. Chris Buescher got turned and caused a huge stack up that collected Keselowski, DiBenedetto, Ryan Preece, Anthony Alfredo, Alex Bowman, and others. Martin Truex Jr. would outduel the dominant Hamlin and hold off Chase Elliott for his second win of the season.

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 130

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 130

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 240

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 7 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 56 |
| 2 | 5 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 49 |
| 3 | 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 52 |
| 4 | 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 42 |
| 5 | 19 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 38 |
| 6 | 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 33 |
| 7 | 23 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 31 |
| 8 | 13 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 32 |
| 9 | 9 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 28 |
| 10 | 12 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 29 |
| 11 | 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 500 | 46 |
| 12 | 22 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 25 |
| 13 | 15 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 500 | 24 |
| 14 | 18 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 23 |
| 15 | 6 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 22 |
| 16 | 25 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 500 | 21 |
| 17 | 27 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 20 |
| 18 | 26 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 500 | 19 |
| 19 | 8 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 499 | 18 |
| 20 | 31 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 499 | 17 |
| 21 | 21 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 498 | 17 |
| 22 | 37 | 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 494 | 15 |
| 23 | 33 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 493 | 14 |
| 24 | 29 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 493 | 13 |
| 25 | 28 | 53 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 492 | 0 |
| 26 | 35 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 492 | 11 |
| 27 | 24 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 491 | 10 |
| 28 | 32 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 490 | 0 |
| 29 | 36 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 478 | 0 |
| 30 | 16 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 403 | 7 |
| 31 | 14 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 387 | 6 |
| 32 | 11 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 386 | -5 |
| 33 | 10 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 385 | 12 |
| 34 | 20 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 384 | 13 |
| 35 | 30 | 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 383 | 0 |
| 36 | 17 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 382 | 1 |
| 37 | 34 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 374 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 18 among 7 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 15 for 102
* Red flags: 2 for 18 hours, 42 minutes and 31 seconds
* Time of race: 3 hours, 54 minutes and 25 seconds
* Average speed: 67.316 miles per hour (108.335 km/h)

## Media

### Television

Fox Sports covered their 21st race at the Martinsville Speedway. Mike Joy, nine-time Martinsville winner Jeff Gordon and 2018 Martinsville winner Clint Bowyer called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

FS1 :

| Booth announcers | Pit reporters | In-race analyst |
| - | - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer | Jamie Little Regan Smith | Larry McReynolds |

### Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle called the race in the booth as the cars raced down the frontstretch. Dave Moody called the race from atop the turn 3 stands as the field raced down the backstretch. Pit lane was manned by Steve Post and Kim Coon.

MRN :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle | Backstretch: Dave Moody | Steve Post Kim Coon |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Denny Hamlin | 379 |
| 1 | 2 | Martin Truex Jr. | 303 (–76) |
| 1 | 3 | Joey Logano | 302 (–77) |
| | 4 | Kyle Larson | 280 (–99) |
| 2 | 5 | Ryan Blaney | 272 (–107) |
| | 6 | William Byron | 270 (–109) |
| 2 | 7 | Chase Elliott | 260 (–119) |
| | 8 | Kevin Harvick | 253 (–126) |
| 2 | 9 | Brad Keselowski | 244 (–135) |
| | 10 | Christopher Bell | 217 (–162) |
| 2 | 11 | Kyle Busch | 212 (–167) |
| 1 | 12 | Austin Dillon | 209 (–170) |
| 1 | 13 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 202 (–177) |
| 3 | 14 | Chris Buescher | 192 (–187) |
| | 15 | Kurt Busch | 190 (–189) |
| 4 | 16 | Michael McDowell | 189 (–190) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| | Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| | 1 | Ford | 288 |
| 1 | 2 | Toyota | 287 (–1) |
| 1 | 3 | Chevrolet | 285 (–3) |
