NASCAR Notebook: Martinsville
Barry F. Hess
March 30, 2007
Navigating the Paperclip
After debuting the Car of Tomorrow on the high banks of Bristol last weekend NASCAR’s newest design will remain on the short track circuit this week as the Nextel Cup travels to the short track that races like a super speedway, Martinsville International Speedway.
With very little in common with Bristol, aside from the length, it will be interesting to see how the COT handles on the flat straight-aways and wide, looping turns that have eaten up many a Nextel Cup driver in it’s day.
Just as in Bristol, experience and patience is the key to crossing the start/finish line in one piece so expect to see the usual suspects competing for the win yet again.
Tony Stewart has had nothing but success at Martinsville over the last several years, in fact, Smoke has finished inside the top four, including one win, over the last four races at the paperclip.
Look for Stewart, who once again had the best car of the field last week but couldn’t manage to finish on the lead lap after fuel pump problems, to rebound and compete for both the pole award as well as the win.
Currently in the last Chase position Stewart, synonymous for starting the season slow, is just looking to stay within reach of the points lead until his season gears up when the summer months approach.
Jamie McMurray finally appears to be on the right track in his Roush/Fenway No. 26 Crown Royal Ford.
The Missouri native has finished inside the top 15 each of the last three weeks, including a ninth place finish last week in Bristol.
Look for McMurray to qualify near the front and lead some much needed laps as he looks to bounce back from the worst season of his career one year ago.
Currently 18th in points McMurray has little room for error over the next few weeks if he wants to remain within reach of the Chase come September.
Since winning the Daytona 500 Kevin Harvick has not exactly set the world on fire but has still managed to remain in the top five among the point leaders.
Look for Harvick, seven top 10 finishes at Martinsville, to keep his nose clean and contend for the win late in the race.
As perhaps the most talented flat-track racer on the circuit right now Harvick will be a threat all afternoon as he looks to continue his quest for a Nextel Cup championship.
Kyle Busch may be sixth in the point standings and 152 points behind the leader but he and the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevy team have been the class of the field thus far in 07’.
Busch, who finally finished a race in Victory Lane last week after several weeks of bad luck or mechanical failure prevented it in both the Nextel Cup and Bush Series, will look for the first back to back wins of his short career Sunday.
Though he may not earn the pole award look for the younger of the Busch brothers to qualify in decent position before quickly racing his way to the front.
Prediction
Jeff Gordon is a threat to win every week, no matter what the track.
But as the four-time Cup champion heads to Martinsville in search for a fifth title he has to like his chances for his first win of 07’ a great deal.
Gordon has earned two wins at the paperclip as well as another six top 10 finishes over the last 10 races.
Combine that with the best start the No. 24 DuPont Chevy team has had since 1997 and its hard not to pick the current points leader this week.
Look for Gordon to give Stewart a run for his money for the pole as well as the most laps led award.
With Hendrick Motor Sports among the leaders of mastering the COT thus far look for Gordon to start the race with a good handling race car that will only get better as the afternoon goes on.
Early Season Surprises and Disappointments
The Nextel Cup Series is five races into the 2007 season, the current owner points are now active and the race for the Chase is in full swing.
Already there have been several surprising drivers holding their own as well as proven veterans struggling to stay within a safe distance of NASCAR’s version of the post-season come September.
And while five races does not constitute a season history has proven its hard to make a late comeback after a slow start and though some drivers may run out of gas late in the season a fast start now may save their playoff chances down the road.
Surprises
Clint Bowyer
Though he started his season crossing the start/finish line at Daytona upside and on fire Clint Bowyer has started his second Nextel Cup season in similar fashion to his many successful Bush Series seasons.
Currently eighth in points, the driver of the No. 7 Jack Daniels Chevy has completed 98. 3% of the possible laps thus far and has finished inside the top 10 in three of the first five races, including a season-high sixth place in California.
Bowyer has learned how to properly mange aggressive driving with intelligent driving and will only get better as the season progresses.
David Stremme
Though he was a distant runner-up in last year’s Rookie of the Year standings David Stremme has quietly started his Nextel Cup career in more than respectable fashion.
Having to race his way into the majority of last year’s events Stremme failed to miss a single race and finished inside the top 35 at season’s end.
The driver of the No. 40 Coor’s Light Dodge has carried that quiet consistency over to this season with an average finish thus far of 15th.
Currently 11th in points look for Stremme to continue to get better and make a serious run at the Chase later this year.
Juan Pablo Montoya
Currently 19th in points Juan Pablo Montoya has proven that talent breeds success no matter what. Having driven one race at the Nextel Cup level prior to this season Montoya has started his rookie year in respectable fashion. Having already recorded a top five finish in Atlanta two weeks ago Montoya is getting better and better every week and is currently above Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch and Dale Jarrett in the point standings.
Having run 97.1% of the possible laps thus far Montoya is gaining experience with each lap and will likely end the year with at least one trip to Victory Lane if not more.
After debuting the Car of Tomorrow on the high banks of Bristol last weekend NASCAR’s newest design will remain on the short track circuit this week as the Nextel Cup travels to the short track that races like a super speedway, Martinsville International Speedway.
With very little in common with Bristol, aside from the length, it will be interesting to see how the COT handles on the flat straight-aways and wide, looping turns that have eaten up many a Nextel Cup driver in it’s day.
Just as in Bristol, experience and patience is the key to crossing the start/finish line in one piece so expect to see the usual suspects competing for the win yet again.
Tony Stewart has had nothing but success at Martinsville over the last several years, in fact, Smoke has finished inside the top four, including one win, over the last four races at the paperclip.
Look for Stewart, who once again had the best car of the field last week but couldn’t manage to finish on the lead lap after fuel pump problems, to rebound and compete for both the pole award as well as the win.
Currently in the last Chase position Stewart, synonymous for starting the season slow, is just looking to stay within reach of the points lead until his season gears up when the summer months approach.
Jamie McMurray finally appears to be on the right track in his Roush/Fenway No. 26 Crown Royal Ford.
The Missouri native has finished inside the top 15 each of the last three weeks, including a ninth place finish last week in Bristol.
Look for McMurray to qualify near the front and lead some much needed laps as he looks to bounce back from the worst season of his career one year ago.
Currently 18th in points McMurray has little room for error over the next few weeks if he wants to remain within reach of the Chase come September.
Since winning the Daytona 500 Kevin Harvick has not exactly set the world on fire but has still managed to remain in the top five among the point leaders.
Look for Harvick, seven top 10 finishes at Martinsville, to keep his nose clean and contend for the win late in the race.
As perhaps the most talented flat-track racer on the circuit right now Harvick will be a threat all afternoon as he looks to continue his quest for a Nextel Cup championship.
Kyle Busch may be sixth in the point standings and 152 points behind the leader but he and the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevy team have been the class of the field thus far in 07’.
Busch, who finally finished a race in Victory Lane last week after several weeks of bad luck or mechanical failure prevented it in both the Nextel Cup and Bush Series, will look for the first back to back wins of his short career Sunday.
Though he may not earn the pole award look for the younger of the Busch brothers to qualify in decent position before quickly racing his way to the front.
Prediction
Jeff Gordon is a threat to win every week, no matter what the track.
But as the four-time Cup champion heads to Martinsville in search for a fifth title he has to like his chances for his first win of 07’ a great deal.
Gordon has earned two wins at the paperclip as well as another six top 10 finishes over the last 10 races.
Combine that with the best start the No. 24 DuPont Chevy team has had since 1997 and its hard not to pick the current points leader this week.
Look for Gordon to give Stewart a run for his money for the pole as well as the most laps led award.
With Hendrick Motor Sports among the leaders of mastering the COT thus far look for Gordon to start the race with a good handling race car that will only get better as the afternoon goes on.
Early Season Surprises and Disappointments
The Nextel Cup Series is five races into the 2007 season, the current owner points are now active and the race for the Chase is in full swing.
Already there have been several surprising drivers holding their own as well as proven veterans struggling to stay within a safe distance of NASCAR’s version of the post-season come September.
And while five races does not constitute a season history has proven its hard to make a late comeback after a slow start and though some drivers may run out of gas late in the season a fast start now may save their playoff chances down the road.
Surprises
Clint Bowyer
Though he started his season crossing the start/finish line at Daytona upside and on fire Clint Bowyer has started his second Nextel Cup season in similar fashion to his many successful Bush Series seasons.
Currently eighth in points, the driver of the No. 7 Jack Daniels Chevy has completed 98. 3% of the possible laps thus far and has finished inside the top 10 in three of the first five races, including a season-high sixth place in California.
Bowyer has learned how to properly mange aggressive driving with intelligent driving and will only get better as the season progresses.
David Stremme
Though he was a distant runner-up in last year’s Rookie of the Year standings David Stremme has quietly started his Nextel Cup career in more than respectable fashion.
Having to race his way into the majority of last year’s events Stremme failed to miss a single race and finished inside the top 35 at season’s end.
The driver of the No. 40 Coor’s Light Dodge has carried that quiet consistency over to this season with an average finish thus far of 15th.
Currently 11th in points look for Stremme to continue to get better and make a serious run at the Chase later this year.
Juan Pablo Montoya
Currently 19th in points Juan Pablo Montoya has proven that talent breeds success no matter what. Having driven one race at the Nextel Cup level prior to this season Montoya has started his rookie year in respectable fashion. Having already recorded a top five finish in Atlanta two weeks ago Montoya is getting better and better every week and is currently above Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch and Dale Jarrett in the point standings.
Having run 97.1% of the possible laps thus far Montoya is gaining experience with each lap and will likely end the year with at least one trip to Victory Lane if not more.
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