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This week the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will have to manage their fenders and tempers to have a shot at winning the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Any time NASCAR goes short trackin’ there is the likelihood that cars will get together on the track. This can be the result of an accident, frustration from a slower car holding another driver up and tempers hitting the boiling point resulting is a “payback” on the track.
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Since the track length does not rely on aerodynamics, some damage does not necessarily mean the end of the chance to win. However, major damage can send a car to the garage and end the day prematurely. Little room to race and pass often result in that premature end for many drivers at Martinsville.
Here’s a look at the specifics for Martinsville Speedway and the STP 500.
Martinsville Speedway Data
Track Size: 0.526-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 12 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 12 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 0 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 0 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 800 feet
Backstretch Length: 800 feet
STP 500
Season Race #06 of 36 (03-25-18)
Race Length: 500 laps / 263 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 130 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 240 laps
Now let’s look at the drivers that have been able to manage their fenders and tempers the best in their careers racing at Martinsville Speedway.
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Martinsville
Jimmie Johnson…………………… 115.8
Denny Hamlin………………………. 106.2
Kyle Busch…………………………. 102.6
Brad Keselowski……………………. 96.0
Kevin Harvick………………………… 93.7
Joey Logano………………………… 92.0
Clint Bowyer…………………………. 89.4
Ryan Newman……………………….. 85.8
Jamie McMurray…………………….. 84.7
Chase Elliott…………………………. 83.7
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2017 races (25 total) among active drivers at Martinsville Speedway.
![Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/380/2018/03/21182857/ms2_mencs_actionshot_10.29.17.jpg)
Jimmie Johnson has not had a stellar start to the 2018 NASCAR season. However, with nine career wins at Martinsville, this might be the week that he gets things back on track for the season.
Denny Hamlin has had a decent start to the season, but has not managed to score the win yet though he has been a contender multiple times this season. Perhaps this will be the weekend he is able to close the deal and get another win to add to his five career victories at the track.
The “Busch Brothers” are the only other active drivers to have multiple Martinsville wins on their respective resumes. Both Kurt and Kyle have two wins each at the track with Kyle’s second win coming in the fall of 2017 (the last time the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series raced at the track).
Kevin Harvick won three races in a row this season. Last week at Auto Club Speedway in California his chance to make it four in a row was ended early in the race due to an accident on the track. Kevin has a single win at Martinsville during his career. Although it won’t be consecutive wins, you know he wants to get his second win at the track and tally four wins out of six races to start the 2018 NASCAR season.
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Brad Keselowski is the defending winner of the 2017 STP 500, which is his only Martinsville win in NASCAR’s top division to date.
Ryan Newman is the only other active driver to have won at Martinsville Speedway and will be looking to take a second Grandfather Clock trophy home.
![Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/380/2018/03/21182534/mencs_ms_greenflag_040217.jpg)
More times than not tempers are a factor in who has a chance to win and who heads to the hauler early when NASCAR goes short trackin’. We will find out which drivers get put on which list when the green flag waives Sunday, March 25th at 1 PM central time (2 PM eastern time) to start the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens