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Photos from Controversial Weekend in Martinsville
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Photos from Controversial Weekend in Martinsville

This past weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Martinsville Speedway featured a little bit of everything: full-contact racing, great storylines, NASCAR Playoff drama, and even some controversy at the finish.

We’ve become accustomed to telling stories and conveying messages through the art of the written word each week during the NASCAR season, but this time we decided to shake things up a bit.

Last weekend two talented photographers Aaron Giffin (Racing Across America on SI) and Tyson Gifford (TobyChristie.com) was at Martinsville Speedway and captured hundreds of clear images of the racing action around the half-mile paperclip.

So, instead of a scripted story about last weekend’s events, we’ll let some of his best photos tell the story of Sunday’s XFINITY 500, the final race of the semifinal round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

NASCAR NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Martinsville Speedway

Nick Sanchez is set to race in Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Martinsville Speedway. /Aaron Giffin

NASCAR NASCAR Truck Series Christian Eckes Martinsville Speedway

Christian Eckes suffered a burnout after winning Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Martinsville Speedway, locking him into Championship 4. /Aaron Giffin

NASCAR NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Martinsville Speedway

Christian Eckes interacts with fans after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Martinsville Speedway on Friday. /Aaron Giffin

NASCAR NASCAR Xfinity Series National Debt Relief 250 martinsville speedway

View of spectators standing at sunset at Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event in Martinsville. /Tyson Gifford

NASCAR NASCAR Xfinity Series National Debt Relief 250 Martinsville Speedway

Anthony Alfredo, Parker Kligerman and Myatt Snider are vying for a top-10 finish in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Martinsville. /Tyson Gifford

NASCAR NASCAR Xfinity Series Martinsville Speedway

Aric Almirola celebrates with his children Alex and Abby after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday. /Tyson Gifford

NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Martinsville Speedway XFINITY 500

Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 14 driver Chase Briscoe qualified for Sunday’s XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway. /Aaron Giffin

NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway

Chris Buescher, driver of the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford Mustang, is preparing to compete in the XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway. /Tyson Gifford

NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway XFINITY 500

Overview of the NASCAR Cup Series field race in Turn 3 at Martinsville Speedway. /Tyson Gifford

NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway XFINITY 500

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of JTG Daugherty Racing’s No. 47 Chevrolet, competes in the XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway. /Tyson Gifford

NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway

A pair of fans watch from the Turn 1 stands as cars race in the XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway. /Tyson Gifford

NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway XFINITY 500

William Byron, Ryan Blaney and others watch the bright sunset in Turn 4 of the XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway. /Aaron Giffin

NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series XFINITY 500 Martinsville Speedway

Justin Haley, driver of Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Optic Gaming/Gainbridge Chevrolet Camaro, competes in the XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway. /Aaron Giffin

NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series XFINITY 500

The right front brakes of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet driven by Shane Van Gisbergen shine brightly in the final stages of the XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway. /Aaron Giffin

NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series XFINITY 500 Martinsville Speedway

The right front brake rotors shine on the No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro driven by Daniel Hemric, a race car dirty with excess rubber from a worn Goodyear tire. /Aaron Giffin

NASCAR NASCAR Cup SERIES Martinsvilel Speedway XFINITy 500

Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Team Penske, takes the checkered flag in the XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway. /Aaron Giffin

NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway

A mafia-like crowd stands around Christopher Bell, driver of the #20, waiting to find out which driver will take last place in Championship 4. /Tyson Gifford

NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway

Ryan Blaney celebrates on the roof of his No. 12 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse after winning the XFINITY 500 and advancing to the Championship 4. /Tyson Gifford

NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway

‘GO BLANEY!’ The message left by a fan at the start-finish line at Martinsville Speedway is covered in confetti from the post-race celebrations of Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 team. /Tyson Gifford