The paper clip-shaped Martinsville Speedway played host to the first short track weekend of 2025. Amidst the tempers, beating, banging and care center confrontations of the weekend, some teams took advantage and had a successful weekend.
Trucks | Boys and Girls Club of The Blue Ridge 200
Andres Perez (#77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet): Perez, the 2024 ARCA Menards Series Champion has had a rough start to his rookie season in trucks. The Mexico City native had a strong showing in Martinsville though, driving his #77 Spire entry to a 7th place finish. This was Perez’s best finish since placing 14th in Daytona.
Perez was a consistent contender in the ARCA series the past few seasons driving for REV Racing, and is a Driver for Diversity success story.
Lawless Alan (#1 TRICON Garage Toyota): A former full-time Truck series driver, Alan moved to the ARCA Menards Series in 2025, but has a limited truck schedule planned with TRICON Garage. Alan’s first 2025 start came in Martinsville in the #1 truck, where he finished 10th after starting 9th.
Alan has 77 career truck starts to his credit with various teams, with Martinsville being his best result since a fifth place finish at Talladega in 2024.
Justin S. Carroll (#90 Terry Carroll Motorsports Toyota): Returning to the Truck Series in 2025, Justin S. Carroll had a career day in Martinsville for his family-owned team as well himself. Making their second start this season, Carroll drove his black and red Toyota to a career best truck finish of 18th.
Carroll, who has several CARS Tour and ARCA starts also has a dozen Truck Series starts to his credit dating back to 2023. Carroll’s best finish prior to Martinsville was a 23rd in Kansas in 2023.
Xfinity | U.S. Marine Corps 200
Brennan Poole (#44 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet): A long-time series competitor, Poole had one of his best career results in Martinsville last weekend. Starting in 29th, Poole survived the carnage of the event, placing 4th in his Chevrolet. Poole could be on pace for a career season in 2025, but time will tell.
Martinsville was a definite highlight for Poole, as it was one of his best performances since being a development driver for Chip Ganassi in 2017.
Dean Thompson (#26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota): Series rookie contender Thompson had another strong finish Saturday, as the SHR driver drove his Supra to 6th place after starting 12th. While the finishes have been a bit of a roller coaster for Thompson and crew, Martinsville was Thompson’s second top ten finish this season in seven races thus far.
Kris Wright (#5 Our Motorsports Chevrolet): Returning to the Xfinity Series this season after a full ARCA slate in 2024, Wright and his #5 Chevrolet have made the highlight reel for the wrong reasons this season. Martinsville was quiet, solid run for Wright though, capturing a career first top ten in the Xfinity Series.
Wright has 23 career series starts dating back to 2021, with a previous best finish of 17th at Watkins Glen in 2021.
Cup | Cook Out 400
Bubba Wallace (#23 23XI Racing Toyota): Wallace and his 23XI crew could be on pace for a competitive year in 2025, with Martinsville adding to that trend of all places. Starting in the top ten, the McDonald’s-backed Toyota came home 3rd for yet another happy meal result. This was Wallace’s second straight top five finish as well.
In addition to the 3rd at Homestead, Wallace and crew also earned an 9th place finish in Atlanta.
Todd Gilliland (#34 Front Row Motorsports Ford): While Gilliland is not typically known for being a short-track racer, Martinsville was surprisingly nice to Gilliland. Starting his #34 Ford in in 25th, Gilliland drove a solid race and earned his second top 10 of 2025.
A long time FRM driver, Gilliland moved into the team’s #34 entry this season. While the season has not gone quite as planned, Gilliland has scored two other top fifteen finishes, as well as a top ten at Circuit of the Americas.
Ty Gibbs (#54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota): While Gibbs’ teammates have gotten off to a strong start in 2025, Gibbs and his #54 crew have been somewhat left in the dust so far. Martinsville was a welcome respite for the JGR driver, starting and finishing in the 13th. This was Gibbs best result since the season-opener in Daytona, where he finished 16th.
Gibbs’ performance has been called into question a bit this season, with several finishes even outside the top twenty, along with two DNFs.
