MARTINSVILLE RACE REVIEW

Date: 4-9-2022.
Name of the race: Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400.
Track: Martinsville Speedway.
Laps: 403.
Pole winner: Chase Elliott.
Outside pole: Aric Almirola.
Stage 1 winner: Chase Elliott.
Stage 2 winner: Chase Elliott.
Stage 3 winner (won the race): William Byron.
Top 5: William Byron, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, and Ross Chastain.
FYI: Lights. Camera. Action! Yes, folks that is right, the first night race of the season finally fell upon us. Anticipation was in the air to see the best drivers battle on the track for the coveted grandfather clock. Mother Nature had other plans and decided to rain (literally) on race fans' parade with downpours, snow, and sleet as well (I should know because I was literally in attendance for the race XD). After a weather delay that felt like years, the green flag finally flew, and Hendrick Motorsport once again flexed its muscle by completely obliterating the field. William Byron led a race-high 212 laps, and his teammate Chase Elliott led 185 laps. It looked like a walk in the park for the powerhouse, which was very true, to the point where the team hit a milestone of leading over 10,000 laps at the paper clip. Things got much more interesting when a late-race caution occurred, and it bunched up the field causing Hendrick to worry a bit. In overtime, Byron pulled away, but Joey Logano looked like he could steal the win away from the team. William luckily remained calm and pulled away to his second victory of the season and his first at the track. In his post-race interview, he dedicated the victory to his mom who during the Martinsville spring weekend in 2021 suffered a mini-stroke and was then diagnosed with brain cancer later. His mom was in attendance at the race, and it meant the world to Byron to have one of his biggest supporters there cheering him on and she has been doing good according to her son. Good for you William! 
Next race: Bristol dirt race on Easter Sunday night (4-17-2022).