On paper, Sunday's race has the potential to be a high-profile showdown--the last 10 races in Martinsville have been won by a former champion. Technical and Emotional Advantage: Hendrick Motorsports. Tip: Fanhouse has failed to rank the race winner the past two weeks in a row, so don't look for the winner to be listed here!
1. Jeff Gordon. Gordon sits on top of the points standings for the first time since winning the Daytona 500 in 2005. He'd like to stay there. He has the dominate record of any active driver (7W, 16 T5, 22 T10). Don't be looking for him to be as generous with room on the track as he was in Bristol.
2. Jimmie Johnson. He has a better average finish than his teammate and has already been to M'ville victory lane twice. This track holds special significance for all Hendrick Motorsports team members--since the October 2004 plane crash, HMS has won 4 of 5 races on the paper clip. I don't expect this race to be any exception.
3. Tony Stewart. Another former champion--this one with the fastest speeds here at Martinsville. So why hasn't he been to victory lane more than twice? Two reasons: Gordon and Johnson. If they get out of his way, look for Smoke to take the checkered flag.
4. Kyle Busch. Messgrs. Jeff Burton and Gordon both gave him room to race last weekend. Don't count on 'em to repeat the favor. Busch is gunning for his second win in a row and looking to join his teammates on the Martinsville winner's list--expect to see him move 'em out of the way if necessary.
5. Kurt Busch. The 20th place driver has a lot of ground to make up this season to catch up with Shrub sittin' up in 6th. It'll be a long fall for him if he isn't competing with his lil' bro in the Chase.
6. Jeff Burton. A racer and a gentleman. Racer first. He's done his favor for the year letting Busch win last week. This week he's looking to take over the points lead from Gordon.
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. His sister's on the mend and with that distraction removed and a good finish last week, he's in the hunt for a win to add to his 6 Top 5 finishes here.
8. Kevin Harvick. This was going to be Ryan Newman, since Harvick has no record to speak of here, but I figured if I left Harvick out, he would win. Newman's omission in the Fanhouse rankings almost assuredly guarantees him a better shot.
9. Denny Hamlin. Assuming Joe Gibbs Racing gives him a good fuel pump, look for him to bump all the old-timers out of his way.
10. Matt Kenseth. Kenseth knows that nice guys finish last. He's done being nice.
Wild Card. Bobby Labonte. I know, I know--Petty Enterprises has gotten lost on their way to victory lane - but Labonte has a record here (1W, 6 T5, 13 T10). And the former champion thing prevented me from leaving him out.
Long Shot. Ricky Rudd. He's barely sitting inside of the Top35 and is looking to pad that cushion some. He's driven to victory lane in Martinsville 3 times, but not since 1998. Not going anywhere for awhile? Grab a Snickers.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I would have loved to see Brian as the longshot. If anyone would appreciate a win at that track, it'd be him.
And come on TGOM. Could you possibly have mentioned one more time how Kyle only won because people let him! Sure, I'm thankful that it was JeffyG and JeffB behind him (instead of say Junior or Kevin) but he ran up front all day, has been one of the guys to beat for weeks (though, people have been successfully doing just that), and has been good at short tracks since he started Cup.
But, hey! Thanks for including him on the list this week! Even if it is in hopes that he does bad! (That was a joke, in case that wasn't clear. I don't think you have anything against Kyle. If you do, please don't tell me. I like to live in my pretend world where most people don't actually hate him, hahaha!)
"Could you possibly have mentioned one more time how Kyle only won because people let him! "
Hey! I think that was my first time!
kyle busch is great because kurt taught him every thing he knows........almost.its good when your bro is a frmr champ!go kurt go kyle. good luck at mrtnsville!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just got a kick out of the fact that you made reference to it in JeffyG's ranking, Kyle's, and JeffB's!
Ha. Didn't even realize. :)
take j gordon jim johnson out of my face there are 41 other driver out there not just pretty boys that nascar talk about all the time
I HOPE NASCAR AS WELL AS J GORDON KNOWS IT'S EASY TO BEAT A DEAD MAN'S RECORD WHICH HE CAN NOT DEFEND NOW IF ALIVE NO ONE COULD DO IT WITH ALL THE RAIN WINS ,TIRES, CAR TOO LOW OR TRYING ANYTHING ELSE WITH A SLAP ON THE WRIST & KEEP EVERYTHING ELSE.
AMAZING EVERY WEEK WE HAVE SOMEONE A LAP OR TWO DOWN & END UP WINNING WITH THE FASTEST CAR ON THE TRACK. WE SHOULD HAVE THESE CREW CHIEFS FIXING OUR CARS IN A MOMENTS NOTICE.
thanks nascar for helping our group to make a decision not to watch nascar races anymore.we are going to the bush race where you can't fix the winner of the race.. also how can 4 drivers leave pit row before the caution flag go a lap down & a driver going on pit row has no problem & ends up the leader of the race to win. something wrong with this setup. i guess this is supposed to make jg a big man.how many more times will you let him win with rain delays etc plus as far as the poles anyone can win them if they are given not earned.
thanks stewart for telling it like it is with nascar..about time someone spoke up for all the things that are happening with this so called race. all the poles that jf won should not be counted as wins they are only freebies along with the very first along with all the wins won because they didn't finish the race due to rain. they are no contest...if you take this away they will have to go far to beat de's record..
great timing nascar waiting to call a caution until jf & jj went to the lead that was very plain to see...on 4/29/07
what a rotten deal jr got from nascar after giving jg just a slap on the wrist for winning a race a couple weeks ago keeping the win & money having violation to his car but that's ok it was jg & he has gotten away with many many violations in all his wins just check back. they better find another boy to put under their wing before nascar fans find another sport to follow.
JG OR JJ WHICH WILL NASCAR FAVOR TO WIN EITHER WAY JG MAKES OUT LIKE A BANDIT WHILE HE WHINES ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK. WHEN WILL NASCAR GET SOME HONEST DRIVERS & CREW CHIEFS BEFORE ALL THE SEATS STAY EMPTY. WATCH IT NO NO.
If JG was leading with this rain delay they never would have started the race again but they couldn't let TS get this win when JG & JJ were a lap down that would have given the points lead to TS for sure a no no. Nascar you are real good at making sure one of your pets are going to win this championship with all this rain delay & lowering the laps at the right time
Nascar should put JG & JJ in a race by them selfs seeing they have the best of everything then they will have a good race everyone on equal terms. I think DE will be sorry he tied up with them as they will only throw him a tidbit once in a while. we know if DE SR were here racing would still be one of the best sports to watch
Don't you get sick of putting Whinners cheating wins on for a half hour? We would like to hear about what is happening with nascar which would be news. But thanks for telling all that the Cheater will win the championship so we don't have to watch or go to the track & waste our time to see the end. Not even the crack-ups is worth going to see if he is supposed to win..
JG & JJ the best drivers you must be blind.Given them the best tires etc is the only reason they can win.I know the whinner has someone on his side to be able to come from the back & avoid the wrecks to win plus all the fractions & rain delays with calling the cautions at the right time..Hum must be some money here somewhere
in listening to nascar now they say we have only 2 drivers that could win the champion in the next 4 races so why watch or spend the money for tickets to watch something that is set to win by nascar.
this commercial with diapers is something else.can you see this in an office when trying to make a deal. run run little boy.