High Emotion Permeates the 2019 NASCAR Playoffs

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 27: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2019, in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – That Martin Truex Jr. led a race-best – and career-high – 464 of 500 laps last Sunday en route to his series-leading seventh Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season cannot be lost in the post-race shoving fracas that took place between his fellow Playoff contenders Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano at Martinsville Speedway.

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Martin Truex Jr. Advances to the Championship Final Four with Martinsville Win

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 27: Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2019, in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

Only two more races of the Round of 8 are left to run before the final four drivers do battle for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship crown. On Sunday afternoon, Martinsville Speedway was the first race of this round. Several drivers held a lot of promise heading into Sunday’s race with many drivers believing that Martinsville Speedway is the track to win and punch their ticket to the season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway.

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For Logano and Hamlin, Feelings are Hurt, but Not Playoff Hopes

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 27: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, and their crews have an altercation on pit lane following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2019 in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Joey Logano had hoped to settle his differences with Denny Hamlin with a conversation.

Instead, the discussion turned physical, as Hamlin and Logano—and their respective crews—battled briefly on pit road after Sunday’s First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

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Altercation with No. 10 Car Spins Kyle Busch, Starts Major Wreck

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 27: Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Halloween Toyota, are involved in an on-track incident during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2019 in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Aric Almirola and Kyle Busch were battling for the seventh position in Sunday’s First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway, and they weren’t doing each other any favors.

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Kyle Larson Happy to Hold Serve with Ninth-Place Finish

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 27: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Clover Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2019, in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

With a car that wasn’t handling particularly well at a track that isn’t one of his best, Kyle Larson nevertheless engineered a ninth-place finish in Sunday’s First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway and left the track in seventh place in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings.

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