Everything you need to know about the First Data 500.

The first of three races in the semifinal round of the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series playoffs takes the green flag on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. The First Data 500 begins at 3 p.m. ET, with NBCSN providing broadcast coverage.

A victory by any of the eight title-eligible drivers would automatically advance him to the one-race championship Nov. 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Those still vying for the championship are: Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott.

Johnson is both the defending Martinsville race winner and series champion. Keselowski won at the half-mile Virginia track in the spring, while Busch, Harvick, and Hamlin have won races here previously.

Truex enters the semifinal round as the No. 1 seed, holding a 27-point advantage over the No. 2 seed Busch and coming off a come-from-behind victory last week at Kansas Speedway. The win was Truex’s series-best seventh of the season overall and third in the postseason.

Martinsville schedule and how to watch

Practices

Session 1: Saturday, 11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Session 2: Saturday, 4:00 p.m. - 4:55 p.m.
TV/streaming: NBCSN (session 1 stream) (session 2 stream)

Qualifying

Time: Sunday, 12:05 p.m.
TV/streaming: NBCSN (live stream)

First Data 500

Time/green flag: 3 p.m/3:13 p.m.
Distance/laps: 263 miles/500 laps
TV/streaming: NBCSN (live stream)

What to watch for at Martinsville:

A breakdown of the semifinal playoff round and which four drivers will advance to the championship final:

And those still in title contention comprise a stacked field featuring a who’s who of NASCAR’s best. The participants are: every series champion since 2012 (Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski); two young talents regarded as future superstars (Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott); the best active driver yet to win a championship (Denny Hamlin); and the 2017 regular-season points champion (Martin Truex Jr.), whose superiority has often been overwhelming.

Does Jimmie Johnson need a win Sunday if he’s to win the championship this season?

While the question may be outlandish, it is not wrong to suggest that the reigning champ is facing a must-win at Martinsville. For the majority of the regular season, Johnson’s No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team struggled. Conventional wisdom suggested Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus would turn on the performance come the playoffs, much like they had in so many years — including last year when Johnson won his record-tying seventh title despite not consistently having the fastest car.

But this postseason, the No. 48 team is still largely lagging behind the Toyotas of Truex and Busch and the Fords of Keselowski and Harvick. Johnson’s best path to an eighth championship is by winning, and there is no better track for him to do so than Martinsville. Unlike Texas and Phoenix where aerodynamics and horsepower factor significantly into the outcome, Martinsville is regarded as a track where the driver is the primary difference-maker.

Martinsville qualifying results:

This section will be updated immediately after qualifying is held.

Martinsville starting lineup:

This section will be updated immediately after qualifying is held.

Martinsville results:

This section will be updated immediately after the conclusion of the race on Sunday.