Comments from eliminated NASCAR playoff drivers after Martinsville

Following the Xfinity 500 Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, the NASCAR Cup Series playoff field was chopped from eight to four drivers.

Here is a breakdown of how each eliminated driver fared at the Virginia short track.

Christopher Bell (-7 points)

Bell started the race third in the standings, 37 points ahead of the cutline.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver started the race 12th, finishing Stage 1 eighth and Stage 2 third.

Despite picking up 11 points, Bell’s seventh-place effort was not enough to advance to the Championship 4 for a second consecutive season.

“We just weren’t strong enough at Martinsville this weekend,” Bell said. “We practiced in the teens, we qualified in the teens, and kind of raced back there most of the day. I feel content with the results.

“I think the four going there are legitimate contenders. Whoever the champion is, it’s going to be well-deserved. The 20 team wasn’t good enough.”

Joey Logano (-49 points)

Logano started the race sixth in the standings, 38 points ahead of the cutline.

Logano, the defending series champion, qualified fourth for the race, finishing Stage 1 in second. Yet, his eighth-place finish was not enough to give the three-time champion a chance to defend his 2024 title.

“Bummed. I don’t know if there’s another word for it,” Logano said. “I’m just bummed that one of us didn’t make it. Everyone works hard enough to deserve to be there.

“We just couldn’t get the job done today, or really the last three races. That’s what it comes down to. The four there deserve to be there. That’s how I always look at it and this year we didn’t deserve to be there.

Ryan Blaney (-57 points)

Blaney started the race seventh in the standings, 47 points behind of the cutline.

Blaney was the lowest-starting playoff driver in 31st, but managed to climb inside the Top-10 by the end of Stage 1.

Despite leading twice for 177 laps, the 2023 series champion was shut out of a Championship 4 appearance for a third straight season with his second-place finish behind Byron.

“(Byron) was just a little better than us at the end,” Blaney said. “I seemed to lose a little bit rear drive quicker than he did. He was able to keep it longer than me. That’s how he got the lead.

“Thought I got a good restart, the last one. Kind of entered up top, tried to carry speed, and he just motored right around me on the bottom. Pretty impressive.

“Just proud of the effort. A shame we’re not going to Phoenix as part of the Championship 4. We’ll be doing the best we can to finish the year out strong.

Chase Elliott (-63 points)

Elliott started the race eighth in the standings, 62 points ahead of the cutline.

The 2020 series champion, who was in a must-win position, finished the race third. Elliott has not advanced to the Championship 4 since 2022.

“I’m proud of that and the fight all day today and throughout the week, Elliott said. “The effort everybody at Hendrick Motorsports put into these cars and just trying to bring our very best here, I thought we did that.

“Unfortunately, we just came up short. But fortunately, we got two cars into the Championship Four and hopefully one of them can get it done.”