They’ll be racing at the “Grandaddy of them all,” Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Cool Relief 500. This is just one of those tracks that harkens to NASCAR’s roots, back when darn near every track was short, and most of them were unpaved.
Making the leaderboard here cements your place among the legends. Just look at the top five list: Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Fred Lorenzen, Cale Yarborough, Geoff Bodine, and yes, the vaunted Jimmie Johnson. It’s long straightaways and sharp turns make for interesting racing, because you’ve got to know your stuff to make the brakes hold up, and negotiate the tight corners. You win here, and you’ve done something.
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. Johnson won here last spring, while it was Denny Hamlin taking the second race at Martinsville in 2009.
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
NASCAR Raceday kicks the day’s TV coverage off at 10 am Eastern, 7 am Pacific. John Roberts, Kenny Wallace and Kyle Petty anchor the show.
NASCAR Pre-race on FOX, follows at 12 pm Eastern, 9 am Pacific. Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond star from the “Hollywood Hotel.”
Green flag for the race drops at 1:13 pm Eastern, 10:13 Pacific. Mike Joy, Larry Mc Reynolds and Darrell Waltrip call the race from the booth with the venerable Dr. Dick Berggren, Krista Voda, Matt Yocum and Steve Byrnes reporting from the pits.
You can hear the race broadcast on radio on MRN- the Motor Racing Network and XM Sirius Satellite radio.
WHO WILL WIN
There are actually a number of racers on the circuit that I think make fine candidates to win at any short track, given their backgrounds. There’s no doubt running at the bullring in Vegas honed Kurt Busch’s penchant for winning at Bristol. Clint Bowyer has a good short track resume from his days in Kansas. In spite of his low key demeanor off the track, Matt Kenseth has demonstrated he is not shy about contact on the track.
At a flat track, a guy like Denny Hamlin comes to mind. Hamlin also represents a contingent of drivers with ties to Virginia, providing incentive to put on a good show for the homeys. Jeff Burton and Elliott Sadler have also called Virginia home. While Hamlin, like Burton, has looked sharp in practice sessions, he starts deeper in the field, given his misfortunes so far in 2010. You also can’t help but think the announcement he is having knee surgery to fix that bum ACL will provide more distraction than a driver wants.
Jamie Mc Murray paced the field in Happy Hour. Joining him at, or near the top of the practice charts are some of the usual suspects- ones who will also benefit from favorable positions on the starting grid. Juan Pablo Montoya, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. have also enjoyed good lap times- along with Jimmie Johnson. Tony Stewart is also showing signs of life.
When it really comes to whittling down to a winner, you’ve got to look at the guys who not only run well in practice, but also ejoy a good starting spot, coupled with the equipment to hold up. That’s why though Marcos Ambrose has run well in practice, I’d label him more of a dark horse.
I really think this race comes down to the guys at Hendrick, even though I wouldn’t easily dismiss the Richard Childress boys, JPM, or even Kenseth. While sentiment may go towards the 7-time winner Gordon, still in search of career win 83 that would tie him with Cale Yarborough, though it’d be a nice Cinderella to have Dale, Jr. win it, though Mark Martin could make the Geritol set proud, I’ve gotta go with “The Shark.”
Who? Jimmie Johnson. My good friend Shorty from Let’s Go Racing Fans coined the monicker. You see, he’s like that shark in the movie Jaws. You’re out there minding your own business, life is good, and suddenly, he comes out of nowhere gets you! “Jaws “ would make a great nickname for Jimmie if Cale hadn’t pinned on Darrell Waltrip so many years ago, for very different reasons.
Shorty’s right, Jimmie Johnson is as inescapable as a Great White out on the open seas. He’s not been great in practice compared to others, but does it really matter? The dude’s up on the second row to start the race. You can be assured Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth won’t surrender easily, but Johnson will be there in their face all day.
Look at this way: if you’re a Johnson fan, you love it. I am giving the man his due. If you find yourself frustrated by the champion’s dominance, look at it this way: I may have jinxed him. Especially if I handicap this race like I did my March Madness bracket.
{ 2 comments }
Jim,
It looks like the mayhem has already started. I think that everyone has a right to be on the track, especially a team fighting to stay in the top 35, near the end of happy hour. For Stewart to have intentionally crunched Kuapvil’s car seemed like a very cheap shot to me. I understand payback, but first you gotta be wronged. Stewart was just peeved, & cost both teams unnecessary work.
I would to see the Dinger win today as he has run very well and a win is close! As far as the bump from Tony, I think he is by FAR the most aggroant driver that ever hit the track. And moody like a….well just a really moody person. I hate to say this but I love it when somone has a run in with Tony! The sparks always fly and Tony is always right! By the way, the seats are empty due to the economy, not anything to do with the great racing. Until someone solves the jobs problems, the seats will get emptier. (Is that aword?) Anyways, great read and enjoy the race. It looks like they will get most of it in today. By By wing! Missed you! NOT
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