Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation Chevrolet, raced to the checkered flag winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 30, 2014 in Martinsville, Virginia. [Credit: Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images]
by Dan Margetta and John Wiedemann
The glitz and glamour of the west coast are in the past as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads back east for some down-home, close quarters, no frills short track racing with the STP 500 Sunday afternoon at the Martinsville Speedway.
STP 500 Martinsville Speedway 263 miles (500 laps) Sunday, March 29 1 pm ET FOX Sports 1, 11:30 am ET
MRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90
Martinsville is a flat half mile paper clip shaped bullring that is extremely hard on brakes and its tight turns virtually guarantee fender rubbing action.The “toughness” of the drivers will be tested this week as after 500 laps around Martinsville, it is nearly impossible to escape without wrinkled fenders or tire marks on the cars. Tempers should heat up as well and here are some drivers to watch as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to some grass roots old school short track racing in the STP 500 at the Martinsville Speedway…
Jeff Gordon (Dan Margetta)
Jeff Gordon’s bad luck has to end sometime and a trip to Martinsville could be just what the doctor ordered to turn around his misfortunes. Gordon has conquered Martinsville eight times and has finished in the top five in over half of his starts. This week Jeff Gordon will be piloting the same chassis he drove to a second place finish here last fall and he is listed at 5-1 odds to win. Martinsville is the track Jeff Gordon has adapted to the best in his career as evidenced by his average finishing position of 6.8 in 44 starts. While being stuck with some bad luck mojo so far in 2015, Martinsville could be the equalizer that finally turns Jeff Gordon’s season around and he’s a strong candidate to pick up career victory number 9 at the paper clip bullring.
Jimmie Johnson (John Wiedemann)
With the highest driver ranking at Martinsville, Jimmie Johnson is the prohibitive favorite this weekend. Top results, other than his victory at Atlanta, have been a struggle for Johnson to obtain this season. Johnson had a solid top five run going for him at California until the late caution flags dropped him in the standings. Once again he recovered, this time to a ninth place finish. Still looking for one of those dominating days from start to finish, Johnson could find that at Martinsville where he has won eight times. A win this weekend would move him above teammate Jeff Gordon to the top of the all time win list at the short track.
Kurt Busch (DM)
By all rights, Kurt Busch should have went ballistic last week after an untimely “debris” caution cost him a sure victory and a spot in this season’s Chase for the Sprint Cup. In the past, it was the kind circumstances that would have sent Busch over the edge and likely ruined is performances for the next several weeks. However, Busch took the set back in stride and sure seems focused and intent on getting back to victory lane, something he did in this race a year ago. He’s listed at generous 18-1 odds for this week and has had two top five results in his two starts since his return from suspension. Busch and crew chief Tony Gibson have become a formidable combination and Martinsville is place where the duo should shine. After coming so close last week, Kurt Busch has something to prove this week and Martinsville suits his driving style perfectly as he looks to ride his current wave of momentum into victory lane.
Kevin Harvick (JW)
This weekend could be the toughest of all for Kevin Harvick to add to “The Streak” of top two finishes. Harvick’s stats at Martinsville don’t look very promising. Harvick finishes 33rd last season at Martinsville in the Chase. Rebounding at the following race with a second place finish at Texas, Harvick started “The Streak” last season. In races at Martinsville, Harvick has only led just over 2% of the laps he has run and has an average finish of 15th. The stats don’t look good but this is a new season and just like last weekend, when late in the race it looked like the streak would be ended Harvick powered back to the front, the #4 could finish in the top two again. If Harvick unloads from the truck and has a quick car in the early practices, throw out the stats. The odds are against “The Streak” this weekend but don’t count out Harvick and wait to see where his is when the checkers wave.
Ryan Newman (DM)
After finishing strong last season, Ryan Newman has been quietly clicking off top five results this season and he has a history of performing well on flat tracks like Martinsville. Newman scored his Martinsville victory in 2012 and he finished a strong third here last fall. He’s listed at 25-1 odds to win which seems high considering his past flat track performances. Newman seems to hang around on the lead lap until the later stages where he charges toward the front when it counts the most. He hasn’t won in over a year but don’t be surprised if Newman suddenly appears in victory lane on Sunday.
Denny Hamlin (JW)
Right behind those top two Hendrick Motorsports drivers in the driver ranking is another driver who has had much success at Martinsville, hometown driver Denny Hamlin. Hamlin has four wins at the paperclip track, two in the spring and two in the fall. Hamlin’s last Martinsville wins were a sweep of the races in 2010. With fourteen top ten finishes, nine top fives, three poles and an average finish of 8.7 Hamlin is sure to be at the front.
Tony Stewart (DM)
Tony Stewart’s dismal start to the season has produced some whispers questioning his ability to return from the adversity he faced over the past two years. While he is listed at 40-1 odds to win this week, Martinsville is the place where those questions should be answered as Stewart has three career victories here and his fourth place finish last fall was his best performance since returning to action. Stewart showed some of the feistiness we are accustomed to seeing from him in a post-race dust up with Martin Truex Jr. after last weekend’s race in California and a strong Martinsville race on Sunday could quiet the naysayers. If “Smoke” is truly back, Martinsville is the place he should really shine and a Tony Stewart victory on Sunday would be extremely popular and comforting with not only fans but with “racers” everywhere.
Chase Elliott (JW)
One driver that everyone will have an eye on this weekend is Chase Elliott. Bill’s son will be trying to make his first Sprint Cup Series start. 46 drivers are entered this weekend so the first thing to check off the list is making the field through qualifying. Running a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet should help the youngster make the field and then it is on to the race. Big things are expected of Chase as he gets some experience before taking over Jeff Gordon’s ride next season and the expectations and spotlight will be on him immediately. Elliott’s experience at Martinsville includes two Camping World Truck Series races in 2013 where he finished sixth and twentieth. I predict a good day for Elliott and a solid top 15 run.