STP 500
Martinsville Speedway
By Richard Tix
This is the first NASCAR break of 2016 and we couldn't have headed into it with any more momentum. Auto Club Speedway was a blast and the other four races were also fantastic. Now the question is, can NASCAR keep its momentum and will this momentum mean anything?
With NASCAR heading to Martinsville it is almost impossible to think the run will stop here. Martinsville is a NASCAR track with tons of history and a large handful of great finishes. From Richard Petty and then Darrell Waltrip making their mark's here to Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson trying to take dominance during their era, the Grandfather clock has always been a trophy most drivers want to get.
A new era is about to begin as Jeff Gordon steps away from full time racing. Gordon left as a 9 time winner at Martinsville which is good enough for third all time and one more then Jimmie Johnson. This new era will either be completely taken over by Jimmie Johnson or someone else will challenge him and slow his dominance down. That driver could be Denny Hamlin or maybe someone new might step from the shadows. One thing is for sure, short track racing at Martinsville Speedway is one you do not want to miss!
**This section is just a quick look at some of Cup drivers latest finishes. This is not a tool for fantasy purposes and NBTW only is looking at end results. No deep statistic's are involved, but rather it is just a quick way to get ready for the race and get caught up on who has finished well at each track**
The Good
- Dale Earnhardt Jr- Martinsville had been one of Juniors best tracks that he didn't have a win at, that was until 2014. He has eight top 10's (including a win and five top 5's) in the last 11 Martinsville starts.
- Jimmie Johnson- With Jeff Gordon gone JJ is the remaining King of Martinsville, the "Master of the Clock." However, his time could be coming to pass the baton. His last three finishes have been 12th, 35th, and 32nd.
- Denny Hamlin- Speaking of passing the baton, could Denny be up next? He already has five career wins here and just won again in 2015 (Spring Race). To go with five wins, he has 11 top 5's and 16 top 10's in 20 career starts.
- Extra Credit- Matt Kenseth
The Middle
- Clint Bowyer- Want a consistent driver who should finish top 15, most likely close to the top 10, but not a top 5? Well Bowyer might be your guy. He has 12 top 10's in 20 career races but only four of those were top 5's and he has yet to win a Grandfather Clock.
The Bad
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr- Six races is enough to get a feel on a driver at a track. So far, the feeling isn't good for Ricky. He only has one top 15, two top 25's, and two top 30's. That's not what you want to see.
- Kyle Larson- It has only been four starts for Larson, and Martinsville isn't the easiest track to adjust to, but he only has one top 20 so far and two races better than 30th.
- Paul Menard- Menard is the best option if you're look at past career here, but he has also has the most experience so the others may catch up. Menard only has one top 10 in 17 career starts and six top 15's.
About the Track
Track Stats- 8 straight Chevy wins here at Martinsville before Denny Hamlin won in 2015. 9 of the last 10 have been Chevy.
- Other then Denny Hamlin (Toyota) Chevy has won 18 straight races. That's 18 of the past 23 races. If you add in Rusty Wallace's win in 2004 (Dodge) its 20 of the past 26.
- The race has been won from the Pole 4 times in the last 15 races. 0 times in the last 5 races.
- Most cautions was 21 in 2007 for 127 laps.
- The farthest back a winner has started from was 36th (Kurt Busch) in 2002 (10/20/2002). Kurt won in 2014 after starting 22nd (3/30/2014) and Dale Jr won after starting 23 (10/26/14)
- Since 2003 Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, or Denny Hamlin have won 18 of 25 races.
- Since 2003 Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, or Denny Hamlin have won 19 of 26 races.
- Richard Petty has the most career Martinsville wins: 15 to go along with 30 top 5's and 37 top 10's.
- Darrell Waltrip has the most career pole awards at Martinsville with 8.
Track Info
- Surface
- Asphalt/Concrete
- Length
- .526 miles
- Banking
- Turns- 12 degrees
- Straights- 0 degrees
Martinsville
Speedway
|
|||||
Race
|
Date
|
Cars
|
Winner(s)
|
St
|
Make / Model
|
1949-06
|
9/25/1949
|
15
|
Red Byron
|
3
|
'49 Oldsmobile
|
1950-04
|
5/21/1950
|
25
|
Curtis Turner
|
'50 Oldsmobile
|
|
1950-17
|
10/15/1950
|
21
|
Herb Thomas
|
19
|
'50 Plymouth
|
1951-08
|
5/6/1951
|
35
|
Curtis Turner
|
7
|
'50 Oldsmobile
|
1951-34
|
10/14/1951
|
23
|
Frank Mundy
|
3
|
'51 Oldsmobile
|
1952-05
|
4/6/1952
|
22
|
Dick Rathman
|
9
|
'51 Hudson
|
1952-31
|
10/19/1952
|
29
|
Herb Thomas
|
2
|
'52 Hudson
|
1953-11
|
5/17/1953
|
35
|
Lee Petty
|
'53 Dodge
|
|
1953-36
|
10/18/1953
|
26
|
Jim Paschal
|
'53 Dodge
|
|
1954-12
|
5/16/1954
|
24
|
Jim Paschal
|
'53 Oldsmobile
|
|
1954-36
|
10/17/1954
|
44
|
Lee Petty
|
1
|
'54 Chrysler
|
1955-15
|
5/15/1955
|
27
|
Tim Flock
|
4
|
'55 Chrysler
|
1955-42
|
10/16/1955
|
28
|
Speedy Thompson
|
17
|
'55 Chrysler
|
1956-18
|
5/20/1956
|
35
|
Buck Baker
|
1
|
'56 Dodge
|
1956-54
|
10/28/1956
|
40
|
Jack Smith
|
23
|
'56 Dodge
|
1957-17
|
5/19/1957
|
24
|
Buck Baker
|
14
|
'57 Chevrolet
|
1957-49
|
10/6/1957
|
40
|
Bob Welborn
|
2
|
'57 Chevrolet
|
1958-12
|
4/20/1958
|
47
|
Bob Welborn
|
20
|
'57 Chevrolet
|
1958-49
|
10/12/1958
|
40
|
Fireball Roberts
|
4
|
'57 Chevrolet
|
1959-13
|
5/3/1959
|
40
|
Lee Petty
|
24
|
'57 Oldsmobile
|
1959-41
|
9/27/1959
|
47
|
Rex White
|
14
|
'59 Chevrolet
|
1960-10
|
4/10/1960
|
37
|
Richard Petty
|
4
|
'60 Plymouth
|
1960-40
|
9/25/1960
|
31
|
Rex White
|
2
|
'60 Chevrolet
|
1961-13
|
4/9/1961
|
27
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
2
|
'61 Ford
|
1961-18
|
4/30/1961
|
30
|
Junior Johnson
|
17
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1961-47
|
9/24/1961
|
29
|
Joe Weatherly
|
4
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1962-15
|
4/22/1962
|
32
|
Richard Petty
|
7
|
'62 Plymouth
|
1962-50
|
9/23/1962
|
37
|
Nelson Stacy
|
3
|
'62 Ford
|
1963-19
|
4/21/1963
|
33
|
Richard Petty
|
8
|
'63 Plymouth
|
1963-48
|
9/22/1963
|
36
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
2
|
'63 Ford
|
1964-19
|
4/26/1964
|
33
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
1
|
'64 Ford
|
1964-56
|
9/27/1964
|
40
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
1
|
'64 Ford
|
1965-12
|
4/25/1965
|
36
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
2
|
'65 Ford
|
1965-50
|
9/26/1965
|
37
|
Junior Johnson
|
3
|
'65 Ford
|
1966-14
|
4/24/1966
|
40
|
Jim Paschal
|
1
|
'66 Plymouth
|
1966-46
|
9/25/1966
|
40
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
2
|
'66 Ford
|
1967-14
|
4/23/1967
|
37
|
Richard Petty
|
2
|
'67 Plymouth
|
1967-45
|
9/24/1967
|
40
|
Richard Petty
|
5
|
'67 Plymouth
|
1968-12
|
4/28/1968
|
40
|
Cale Yarborough
|
3
|
'68 Mercury
|
1968-44
|
9/22/1968
|
40
|
Richard Petty
|
6
|
'68 Plymouth
|
1969-16
|
4/27/1969
|
40
|
Richard Petty
|
6
|
'69 Ford
|
1969-46
|
9/28/1969
|
40
|
Richard Petty
|
6
|
'69 Ford
|
1970-18
|
5/31/1970
|
39
|
Bobby Isaac
|
2
|
'69 Dodge
|
1970-45
|
10/18/1970
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
4
|
'70 Plymouth
|
1971-15
|
4/25/1971
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
3
|
'71 Plymouth
|
1971-41
|
9/26/1971
|
30
|
Bobby Isaac
|
1
|
'71 Dodge
|
1972-10
|
4/30/1972
|
36
|
Richard Petty
|
3
|
'72 Plymouth
|
1972-27
|
9/24/1972
|
36
|
Richard Petty
|
4
|
'72 Plymouth
|
1973-09
|
4/29/1973
|
34
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'71 Mercury
|
1973-26
|
9/30/1973
|
36
|
Richard Petty
|
6
|
'73 Dodge
|
1974-09
|
4/28/1974
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
'74 Chevrolet
|
1974-27
|
9/29/1974
|
30
|
Earl Ross
|
11
|
'72 Chevrolet
|
1975-09
|
4/27/1975
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
6
|
'74 Dodge
|
1975-24
|
9/28/1975
|
30
|
Dave Marcis
|
7
|
'74 Dodge
|
1976-09
|
4/25/1976
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1976-25
|
9/26/1976
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-09
|
4/24/1977
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-25
|
9/25/1977
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1978-09
|
4/23/1978
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1978-25
|
9/24/1978
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
6
|
Oldsmobile
|
1979-09
|
4/22/1979
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1979-26
|
9/23/1979
|
30
|
Buddy Baker
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
1980-09
|
4/27/1980
|
32
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1980-27
|
9/28/1980
|
31
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
1981-09
|
4/26/1981
|
31
|
Morgan Shepherd
|
12
|
Pontiac
|
1981-26
|
9/27/1981
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Buick
|
1982-08
|
4/25/1982
|
31
|
Harry Gant
|
3
|
Buick
|
1982-27
|
10/17/1982
|
31
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
3
|
Buick
|
1983-07
|
4/24/1983
|
32
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1983-25
|
9/25/1983
|
29
|
Ricky Rudd
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1984-08
|
4/29/1984
|
31
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1984-25
|
9/23/1984
|
31
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-08
|
4/28/1985
|
30
|
Harry Gant
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-23
|
9/22/1985
|
31
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
11
|
Chevrolet
|
1986-08
|
4/27/1986
|
31
|
Ricky Rudd
|
4
|
Ford
|
1986-24
|
9/21/1986
|
30
|
Rusty Wallace
|
8
|
Pontiac
|
1987-08
|
4/26/1987
|
31
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-24
|
9/27/1987
|
31
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
14
|
Chevrolet
|
1988-08
|
4/24/1988
|
32
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
14
|
Chevrolet
|
1988-24
|
9/25/1988
|
32
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
20
|
Chevrolet
|
1989-08
|
4/23/1989
|
32
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
10
|
Chevrolet
|
1989-24
|
9/24/1989
|
32
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1990-08
|
4/29/1990
|
32
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
1
|
Ford
|
1990-24
|
9/23/1990
|
31
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
14
|
Ford
|
1991-08
|
4/28/1991
|
32
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
10
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-24
|
9/22/1991
|
32
|
Harry Gant
|
12
|
Oldsmobile
|
1992-08
|
4/26/1992
|
32
|
Mark Martin
|
14
|
Ford
|
1992-24
|
9/28/1992
|
31
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
7
|
Ford
|
1993-08
|
4/25/1993
|
34
|
Rusty Wallace
|
5
|
Pontiac
|
1993-25
|
9/26/1993
|
34
|
Ernie Irvan
|
1
|
Ford
|
1994-08
|
4/24/1994
|
36
|
Rusty Wallace
|
1
|
Ford
|
1994-26
|
9/25/1994
|
36
|
Rusty Wallace
|
7
|
Ford
|
1995-08
|
4/23/1995
|
36
|
Rusty Wallace
|
15
|
Ford
|
1995-26
|
9/24/1995
|
36
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-08
|
4/21/1996
|
36
|
Rusty Wallace
|
5
|
Ford
|
1996-26
|
9/22/1996
|
36
|
Jeff Gordon
|
10
|
Chevrolet
|
1997-08
|
4/20/1997
|
42
|
Jeff Gordon
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1997-27
|
9/28/1997
|
42
|
Jeff Burton
|
10
|
Ford
|
1998-08
|
4/20/1998
|
43
|
Bobby Hamilton
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1998-27
|
9/27/1998
|
43
|
Ricky Rudd
|
2
|
Ford
|
1999-08
|
4/18/1999
|
43
|
John Andretti
|
21
|
Pontiac
|
1999-28
|
10/3/1999
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
2000-08
|
4/9/2000
|
43
|
Mark Martin
|
21
|
Ford
|
2000-28
|
10/1/2000
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
1
|
Pontiac
|
2001-08
|
4/8/2001
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
13
|
Ford
|
2001-30
|
10/15/2001
|
43
|
Ricky Craven
|
6
|
Ford
|
2002-08
|
4/14/2002
|
43
|
Bobby Labonte
|
15
|
Pontiac
|
2002-32
|
10/20/2002
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
36
|
Ford
|
2003-09
|
4/13/2003
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-32
|
10/19/2003
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2004-08
|
4/18/2004
|
43
|
Rusty Wallace
|
17
|
Dodge
|
2004-32
|
10/24/2004
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
18
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-06
|
4/10/2005
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
16
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-32
|
10/23/2005
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
15
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-06
|
4/2/2006
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-32
|
10/22/2006
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-06
|
4/1/2007
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
20
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-32
|
10/21/2007
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2008-06
|
3/30/2008
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
2
|
Toyota
|
2008-32
|
10/19/2008
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2009-06
|
3/29/2009
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2009-32
|
10/25/2009
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
17
|
Toyota
|
2010-06
|
3/29/2010
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
19
|
Toyota
|
2010-32
|
10/24/2010
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
1
|
Toyota
|
2011-06
|
4/3/2011
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2011-33
|
10/30/2011
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2012-06
|
4/1/2012
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
2012-33
|
10/28/2012
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-06
|
4/7/2013
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-33
|
10/27/2013
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-06
|
3/30/2014
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
22
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-33
|
10/26/2014
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
23
|
Chevrolet
|
2015-06
|
3/29/2015
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
15
|
Toyota
|
2015-33
|
11/1/2015
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
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