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Hamlin out, Blaney, Byron in as NASCAR finalizes its Championship 4

Rod Mullins
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Blaney. Photo: NASCAR Images

Ryan Blaney won his way into the NASCAR Championship 4 on Sunday in Martinsville, and William Byron rode his six wins from earlier in the 2023 season in through the backdoor.

Blaney, Byron, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell will duel it out on Sunday in Phoenix for the 2023 Cup Series championship.

Chesterfield County native Denny Hamlin, undone by his early exit last week, finished third on Sunday in Martinsville, and was left on the outside looking in.

Rod Mullins breaks down the weekend in Martinsville, and gives us his favorite this coming Sunday in the Valley of the Sun.

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Rod Mullins

Rod Mullins

Rod Mullins covers NASCAR for Augusta Free Press. Rod is the co-host of the “Street Knowledge” podcasts focusing on NASCAR with AFP editor Chris Graham, and is the editor of Dickenson Media. A graduate of UVA-Wise, Rod began his career in journalism as a reporter for The Cumberland Times, later became the program director/news director/on-air morning show host for WNVA in Norton, Va., and in the early 1990s served as the sports information director at UVA-Wise and was the radio “Voice of the Highland Cavaliers” for football and basketball for seven seasons. In 1995, Rod transitioned to public education, where he has worked as a high school English, literature, and creative writing teacher.

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