Thursday, March 24, 2016

2016 NASCAR Week 6 Preview: Martinsville

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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