After what seems like an eternity on the mile-and-a-halfers, the NASCAR Sprint Cup takes on that paper clip track known as Martinsville- a traditional fan favorite.
This track and Talladega offer the best chance in the Chase of equalizing affairs. Yes, Jimmie Johnson is good here, but so are Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin. It’s not quite Bristol as we may remember it, but still, there’s something of a wild card potential here.
People love this place. Here’s hoping the fans get a good show Sunday.
TRACK FACTS
On September 25, 1949, Martinsville Speedway debuted for 
NASCAR Cup racing. NASCAR’s first champion, Red Byron won the "105 Miles at Martinsville" in an Oldsmobile owned by pioneer owner Raymond Parks.
The shortest track on the circuit measures .526 miles. Martinsville started out at an even half-mile, but was reconfigured to .525 in 1969. It’s a flatter track with 12 degrees banking in the turns. There’s no banking on the straights.
The front stretch measures 800 feet, the back stretch possesses the same measurement.
The grandstand seating capacity for Martinsville is 91,000.
TOP PERFORMERS
"The King" is the king of Martinsville. Richard Petty- with 15 wins- has more victories than any other.
Among active drivers, Jeff Gordon leads the way with seven. Jimmie Johnson has six, including the last two.
Gordon holds the record for the fastest race run here. In the September, 1996, running of the Hanes 500, Gordon ran a race speed of 82.223 miles per hour. It took 3 hours, 11 minutes, and 55 seconds.
Darrell Waltrip has earned the most poles with eight. Jeff Gordon is the leader among active drivers with seven.
"Smoke"- Tony Stewart ran the fastest qualifying lap, in preparation for the October, 2005, Subway 500. His time? 19.306 seconds, with a speed of 98.083 miles per hour.
The Most Lead Changes: 25- in the Sept. 28, 1980 Old Dominion 500 won by Dale Earnhardt. The Fewest: 1- that happened 4 times, the most recent being the April 9, 1961 Virginia 500 won by Fred Lorenzen.
The Fewest Cautions: 1- on 3 occasions, the last being the April 25, 1971 Virginia 500 won by Richard Petty. The Most: 19- in the October 21, 2007 Subway 500 won by Jimmie Johnson.
The record for race finishers is 42,done twice, the most recent in the April, 2007 race. Only 4 drivers finished the race won by Curtis Turner on May 6, 1951.
WHEN AND WHERE TO TUNE IN
SPEED’s NASCAR Raceday gets things going Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 11:00 AM Eastern, 8:00 AM Pacific. John Roberts, Kenny Wallace and Jimmy Spencer are your hosts.
ABC’s NASCAR Countdown, launches at 1:00 PM Eastern, 10:00 AM Pacific. Allen Bestwick, Brad Daugherty, Rusty Wallace and Tim Brewer provide the coverage from the studio.
The green flag waves for the race at 1:43 PM Eastern, 10:43 AM Pacific. Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Petree and Dale Jarrett announce trackside. Your pit reporters are Shannon Spake, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Vince Welch.
Listen for the race on MRN or Sirius XM Satellite radio.
FEARLESS FORECAST
Should I just get it over with and pencil in Jimmie Johnson to win it? Conventional wisdom says "Yes." On the other hand, folks who know me know that I am far from conventional and the possession of wisdom here by this observer is quite debatable.
There will be challengers. The toughest should come his teammates at Hendrick Motorsports. Jeff Gordon has become the most consistent driver not named Johnson since the Chase began, and he’s tasted success here, with an average finish of 6.8, second to J.J.’s 5.3 among active racers. For the record, it should be noted that HMS boys Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. possess finishing averages of 13.3, and "The Flying Wrinkle" scored 2 wins for Jack Roush when he had much fewer of them.
Outside the Hendrick group, there are other solid candidates. Tony Stewart (yes, I use the "outside" phrase loosely here) has a pair of wins at Martinsville and Denny Hamlin has also tasted victory on behalf of Joe Gibbs.
Venturing yet a bit further out, Clint Bowyer and Juan Pablo Montoya also have a track record for faring well. Thinking of Bowyer’s short track background, it makes sense. For Montoya, he’s got that gladiator mentality, and provided he doesn’t wreck himself out in the process, he’d be another guy you wouldn’t have a hard time picturing getting a little hawkish with the bumper.
If you wanted to go for an "Upset Special", another driver to think about is Ryan Newman. In 15 starts at Martinsville, "Rocket" has 5 top 5s and 7 top 10s.
I’d like to tell you we’ll have a different winner this week. I’d like to see one myself. On the other hand, if I am being intellectually honest, I’ve got to go with Jimmie Johnson to win Sunday. This pick is not made from the place of being fan, I’d pick Jeff Gordon or Juan Pablo Montoya if I were doing that. I’m just doing it out of honesty and a respect for Johnson’s prowess.
The race may not always be to the swift or the strong, but it’s a darn good way to bet. I’d never bet on a NASCAR race in a million years, but if I were betting on this one, I’d go with Jimmie Johnson.
PHOTO CREDITS- 24 and 11 racing, and 48 crossing the finish line by Nick Laham/ Getty Images for NASCAR. Fans at Martinsville Speedway by John Harrelson/ Getty Images.
Comments on this entry are closed.