Welcome To The Martinsville Auto Show
Virtually nobody in the garages at Martinsville Speedway this weekend is expecting that replacing wings with spoilers on the vehicles is going to radically transform the quality of racing today.
But if cool seeking cars are your thing, the prediction is that today’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 is going to knock your socks off (Unless, of course, you watch racing in your bare feet, and in that case, the race will, well, knock your socks onto your feet).
Driver after driver and crew chief right after crew chief have stepped in front of voice recorders and note pads this weekend and said, “no difference” when asked if racing will be far better, worse or same.
The track is too small and slow to give anybody an accurate read on whether or not spoilers will solve the issue of boring racing.
Wait until Texas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway in mid-April for the final report, they say.
But seems to be? The spoilers are things of beauties drivers report.
Which begs the question: So what? Is this a race or the Detroit Car Show?
So, plenty drivers stated.
Here is exactly what many selected drivers stated about vehicles seeking great too as racing properly:
Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet: “Well, one factor we’ve learned, and NASCAR has learned, is that perception means a great deal for the fans and in the media. It’s not usually about performance. We’ve had some fantastic racing over the years with the rear wing, but I’ve never been crazy about the way it looks. But I will say that the spoiler appears really great.
“What race vehicle driver doesn’t wish to drive a cool looking race car? That’s usually been crucial.”
Tony Stewart, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet: “It looks like a car with a spoiler on it to me. We’re worried about making them go fast. I mean, I’m not entering it in a vehicle show for appearance, so it doesn’t truly matter to me. I’m trying to figure out how to make it handle good. Sorry, I do not believe about that stuff.” — The race
What: Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500
Where: At Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
TV: Fox, noon ET
Radio: MRN/Sirius Satellite Ch. 128
Track layout: .526-mile oval
Banking in corners: 12 degrees
Race distance: 500 laps/263 miles
Estimated pit window: 140-150 laps
2009 winner: Jimmie Johnson
2009 polesitter: Jeff Gordon
Today’s polesitter: Kevin Harvick (based on points)
Points leaders: 1. Kevin Harvick, 774; 2. Matt Kenseth, 773; 3. Jimmie Johnson, 760; 4. Greg Biffle, 750; 5. Tony Stewart, 685; 6. Kurt Busch, 677; 7. Jeff Burton, 677; 8. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 621; 9. Paul Menard, 614; 10. Kyle Busch, 606; 11. Jeff Gordon, 603; 12. Clint Bowyer, 601. — Trivia time
Martinsville races have been won from the pole 18 times. In two seasons, Martinsville races have been swept by the same polesitter. Which two drivers won from the pole twice at Martinsville twice in the same season?
Rain in forecast
It could be a long day for racers and spectators at Martinsville today. The forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of rain and thunder today and 80 percent tonight. Monday looks much better with rain chances shrinking to 30 percent. — Quick facts
Races: 122
Pole Winners: 55
Youngest Pole Winner: Ricky Rudd (24 years, 7 months, 14 days)
Oldest Pole Winner: Morgan Shepherd (45 years, 6 months, 14 days)
Youngest Race Winner: Richard Petty (22 years, 9 months, 8 days)
Oldest Race Winner: Harry Gant, 51 years, 8 months, 12 days)
Race Winners: 45
Races Won from Pole: 18
Last Race Won from Pole: Jimmie Johnson (10/19/2008)
Qualifying Record: Tony Stewart 98.083mph (10/23/2005)
Race Record: Jeff Gordon 82.223mph (09/22/1996) — History lesson
The last five winners at Martinsville: Denny Hamlin (under caution), Jimmie Johnson (by .774 seconds), Jimmie Johnson (by .708 seconds), Denny Hamlin (by .398 seconds), Jimmie Johnson (under caution).
Active drivers who had their first Cup starts at Martinsville: Mike Bliss (1998), Travis Kvapil (2004), Michael McDowell (2008), Scott Speed (2008) — First start
Martinsville: Good or bad place to begin a career?
Travis Kvapil got his first start at the .526-mile paperclip and here are his thoughts:
“It took all the aerodynamic variables out of it. It was just a matter of getting the feel of the car on a little half-mile track. We came here and ran really well. We didn’t upset anybody and finished all the laps and had a decent finish. For me it was all positive having Martinsville as my first Cup race.” — Keep an eye on…brakes
They take a beating because of the long straights leading to tight turns.
Tony Stewart was asked if they would be an issue for him this week. He said:
“I’ll be honest, even when guys were still having trouble with brakes; we were one of the teams that historically didn’t have trouble week to week. That is part of why we have been decent on road courses too is because our brake package is pretty good. I’ve guess I’m just not really hard on brakes for some reason.
“It never seems to really be an issue for us. I don’t think we have really worried about it for three or four years now. The brake packages have gotten better all the way across the board, even with teams that really struggled with brakes seem to have a lot better under to control now.” — Trivia answer
Fred Lorenzen won twice from the pole at Martinsville in 1964, and Jeff Gordon won twice from the pole in 2003. — Up next
Following a bye week for Easter, the Cup series will be back in action at Phoenix International Raceway on April 10 for the Subway Fresh Fit 599.
Mark Martin won that race from the pole a year ago.
Jim Pedleyis a veteran, award-winning sports journalist who has worked at, among other places, the Boston Globe, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Kansas City Star. Pedley spent more than 10 years covering auto racing for the Kansas City Star.
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