NASCAR will start the Round of Eight on the short track of Martinsville Speedway where mayhem is often the word of the day. Will the driver that survives what could be a melee in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 be a contender or a spoiler?
Following last week’s race at Talladega the field of championship contenders were cut to eight. Those remaining drivers on the Chase Grid still have a shot at winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. Any of those drivers that win a race in three races in the Round of Eight will automatically earn a contender’s spot in the final race of the year, the Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway November 20th. All of the points for those eight drivers have been set at 4,000 for the start of this round. So, while points are important, the win is paramount.
Unlike in other sports, the drivers who are still in the playoffs for NASCAR will still have to contend with the other “non-playoff teams” during competition. That means one of those teams could act as spoiler by winning the race and keeping every contender from earning the automatic advance. It also means that one of those non-contenders could cause a situation that could ruin the day for a contender or contenders.
NASCAR Sprint Cup short track racing is fast and furious. The drivers have to be up on the wheel to not only driver their own cars well, but be ready to react quickly to situations that unfold around them to avoid calamity. The drivers will also have to be on the top of their game mentally to keep their tempers in check and remain focused from start to finish to avoid making a mental mistake that leads to a physical mistake to ruin their day. The cars run inches apart front-to-back and side-by-side pretty much all race. So the opportunity for disaster is there lap-after-lap.
Which drivers are the best at performing at Martinsville? Let’s take a look.
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Martinsville
Jeff Gordon – 119.5
*Jimmie Johnson – 117.8
*Denny Hamlin – 108.1
*Kyle Busch – 98.8
Tony Stewart – 96.0
*Kevin Harvick – 95.4
Clint Bowyer – 90.2
Brad Keselowski – 89.7
*Joey Logano – 89.1
*Matt Kenseth – 87.1
(* = Chase Contender)
(NOTE: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2016 races {23 total} among active drivers at Martinsville Speedway)
Jeff Gordon could be called one of the “Masters of Martinsville.” Jeff’s nine career wins is only bested on the all-time wins list at Martinsville by “King Richard Petty” (15 wins). Jeff won this race last year. That was expected to be his final Martinsville race before he retired at the end of the season. However, since he is filling in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. for this race, he has a chance to bring his Martinsville win total to an even 10.
Jimmie Johnson could also fall in the “Masters” list since he has eight career wins at Martinsville. If Jimmie can find a way to match Jeff on the total wins list, he would also lock his place in the final four with a chance to win his 7th Sprint Cup Championship.
Denny Hamlin could get the chance to race for his first championship if he can add to his five career Martinsville wins this weekend.
Tony Stewart was eliminated from the Chase Grid early in the playoffs. However, he has three wins at Martinsville and could do what Jeff Gordon did last year and win his final Martinsville race before he retires from driving at the end of the season.
Kurt Busch has the chance to gain that automatic advance to the final four by winning his third race at Martinsville this weekend. That would give him the chance to win his second championship in NASCAR’s top division.
Ryan Newman and Bobby Labonte are non-contenders with a single win at Martinsville that I’m sure would love to add a second grandfather clock trophy to their collection.
Championship contenders Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch each has a single win at Martinsville and could double that total and earn that spot in the final four with a win this weekend. If Kevin wins this weekend he would have the chance to win his second championship in three years and second Sprint Cup title of his career.
Kyle was the winner of the 2016 April race at Martinsville and could sweep the track for 2016 with another win. He is also the defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion and could win his second championship if he advances to the final four.
When the NASCAR Sprint Cup series gets to beatin’, bangin’, bumpin’ and leanin’ on each other when it goes short trackin’ it typically leads to excitement, drama and dreams crushed along with sheet metal. What will be the story of the day this time?
We will all find out when the NASCAR Sprint Cup green flag waives to start the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway Sunday, October 30th starting at 12 noon central time (1 pm eastern time).
By: Buck Stevens
