Fast Forward ~ The Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 At Martinsville Fantasy Race Picks And Preview
10/24/2013
Race Fans Forever Staff
The Track: Martinsville Speedway
Location: Martinsville, Virginia
Length: .526 Mile Oval
Banking: 12 degrees in turns 1-2;
12 degrees in turns 3-4;
0 degrees on the backstretch,
0
degrees on the front
Pit Road Speed:30 MPH
The Race: The Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500
500 Laps/ 263 Miles
Defending Champion: Jimmie Johnson, 77.677 MPH
Most recent winner: Jimmie Johnson, 72.066 MPH
Track Record: Jeff Gordon, September, 1996; 82.223 MPH
Race Record: Jeff Gordon, September, 1996; 82.223 MPH
Qualifying record: Jimmie Johnson, April 2013, 98.400 MPH
TV:ESPN, 1:00 PM EST
RADIO: MRN (www.motorracingnetwork.com)
Sirius XM Channel 90
The History:
September 1947-The Martinsville Speedway, originally a dirt track, opened.
9/25/1949 - The first Sprint Cup Race, then Strictly Stock,
was held. Driving a Raymond Parks owned ’49 Olds, Red Byron beat Lee Petty by
more than three laps. This was the sixth
race in the history of what would become the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
1955-Martinville was paved.
1956-The first 500 mile event was held at Martinsville.
4/10/1960 - Youngest Winner: Richard Petty: 22 years, 9
months, 8 days.
4/22/1979 - Richard Petty becomes the all-time win leader at
Martinsville with 15, Jimmie Johnson leads active drivers with eight wins.
9/22/1991 - Oldest Winner: Harry Gant: 51 years, 8 months,
12 days.
4/7/2013 - Hendrick Motorsports becomes the all-time winning
car owner with twenty.
The Contenders:
Who do I think will have a shot to win at The Paper Clip?
Jimmie Johnson: Johnson, with eight wins here, is an
automatic bid to win. Johnson’s record
here is ridiculous. In addition to those
eight wins in 23 starts, Johnson has tallied 4 poles, 16 top fives and 20 top tens. He has an almost embarrassing average
finishing position of 5.3. He has failed
to finish on the lead lap only once, in every other race has never finished
worse than 12th, and has led over 2300 laps.
No one has scored more points in the last six races here than JJ.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr: No wins, but he’s been real close a few
times. He has ten top 5s in 27 starts,
along with fourteen top 10s.
Kyle Busch: There’s no place like home. Denny Hamlin’s there in Virginia and there
should be no better place for him to find a bright spot in a dismal season,
except that I think they are in testing mode now, and unless they find the
magic, they will struggle. I’m going
with Kyle Busch, Hamlin’s team mate instead, who finished fifth here in the
spring.
Kevin Harvick: Harvick won here a few years back, but his numbers are not all that stellar. Only three top 5s, but he’s trying to win a Championship. Maybe he finds that little extra.
Jeff Gordon: Was tied with Jimmie Johnson for the most wins here by an active driver until the spring race. Gordon is ripe to grab his first win of the season. In his last 20 races here, Gordon has scored 19 top ten finishes. That includes four wins, but none since 2005.
Mark Martin: Martin has had some fun here over the
years, winning twice.
There are my picks for this week at Martinsville, but let’s back up the rewind machine and see how I fared with my Talladega picks.
Kevin Harvick- Finished 12th.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – Good second place run.
Matt Kenseth: Lost the lead, the pack and the point lead
with a 21st.
Jimmie Johnson- Was good until the end. 13th.
Jeff Gordon: Came
home in 14th.
DARK HORSE PICK-Kurt Busch: Brought the Wonder Bread car home in 18th.
This week, my numbers are a 2nd, 12th,
13th, 14th, 18th, and 21st. Yuck.
Race Pro Picks!
Before we get to the Martinsville picks, let’s back it up and see how our pros did at Talladega.
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Jim |
29 |
32 |
2219 |
2251 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
Alabama |
20 |
25 |
2200 |
2225 |
26 |
1 |
1 |
PattyKay |
78 |
27 |
2197 |
2224 |
27 |
2 |
2 |
Brian |
24 |
31 |
2176 |
2207 |
44 |
2 |
3 |
Mr. Seven |
38 |
37 |
2150 |
2187 |
64 |
0 |
0 |
Kevin |
10 |
11 |
2173 |
2184 |
67 |
2 |
5 |
I still held onto my point lead, and actually stretched it out a little. I’m not quite sure how you do that will finishing 12th, but Jimmie Johnson finished 13th and took over the point lead from Matt Kenseth. Mr. Seven managed to crawl out of the basement when Kevin and Danica Patrick had a bad day.
So, Talladega! Let’s do this!
JIM FITZGERALD: Before we get started, I'd like to let you all know we have a new contributor coming on board at Race Fans Forever. Everyone, meet Marshall Gabell. Marshall comes on board with a lot of experience. He is also only 13 years old. I have filled Marshall in on what we do here, and he will be joining us for the last 4 races this season for the Fast Forward column. So, that said, let's get on with it for this week! We are at Martinsville, and I have to tell you that I think some of us are going to go with the same pick. You cannot argue the numbers here and me going against this when it feel so right would be silly, and I was raised better than that. So, let's look at these numbers. In the last ten races at Martinsville, Jimmie Johnson has scored 1059 points. The next closest is Denny Hamlin at 1039. That's twenty points. I'm going to say those twenty points would probably have come from leading one lap, and then leading the most laps, because that's what Johnson does at Martinsville. In fact, he has done it 2327 times there. He may not win it, but he should dominate it until a major wrench is either forgotten or tossed into the motor. Twenty-three starts, twenty top 10s, sixteen top 5s, and eight wins. He's the defending race winner, and won here in the spring. My pick is Jimmie Johnson all day on Sunday at Martinsville.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Good morning gentlemen, and welcome aboard Marshall. You and I have been Tweeps for some time now, and it's so nice to have you on board with us at Race Fans Forever. I know you'll be a welcome addition to our staff. We'll talk more later, I know. Right now, I have to get my pick in for the sweetest little track on the circuit, Martinsville and go get my coffee. You'll hear a lot more about Mama and her morning coffee in weeks and months to come. I'll put it quite gently by saying, do not come between us. Jim will be more than happy to explain.
JIM FITZGERALD: Ummm, yeah. I don’t even come talk to her until after 10:00AM.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Smart move. This week, we move from the ridiculous to the sublime... from the fastest, largest track on the circuit, the crapshoot we all love to hate called Talladega, to the oldest and best (by a Country Mile) on the circuit, Pretty Little Martinsville. Some will say she's just as much a crapshoot as the big track, but they'd be wrong. Martinsville is a short track in all the right ways, and it takes a certain type of driver to best her. Jim already helped himself to Jimmie Johnson, which earlier in the year would not have deterred me from taking him as well. He is after all, the current best there is at this track. However... there are only 4 races left and I find myself hopelessly mired well behind that man, so strategy says I have to take a road less travelled. Out of the last 3,000 laps run at Martinsville, two drivers have led 1403 of them, or almost half. One is Jimmie Johnson; the other is teammate, mentor and car owner, Jeff Gordon. Jimmie's not been running his usual Chase pace of winning every race this year, so I am quite comfortable riding with Jeff Gordon this week and helping him earn yet another Ridgeway Grandfather Clock. (Fitz, lay off my pick and defend that single point like a man!)
BRIAN K MARCHETTI: I like PattyKay's pick, in fact I usually do, but I'm going to think about this one for a while.
KEVIN ABRAHAM: Shocker. Pick Logano and get it over with.
BRIAN K MARCHETTI: Pass. What about you?
KEVIN ABRAHAM: First I want to welcome Marshall to the team as well. It is always nice to have more people here. Second my pick last week was looking good until the final pit stop. Anyway, onto Martinsville. I am taking the driver that has had a season like mine. Always finding trouble no matter how they run. I am not afraid to pick Denny Hamlin to win another grandfather clock this weekend. I am hoping that Hamlin and I can get a win this weekend. I looked at his teammates, but Kyle has a horrible track record at this track, and Kenseth does not have the numbers Hamlin has. It’s Denny Hamlin for me this week.
JIM FITZGERALD: Solid pick. He has a decent history here. Can he be the third consecutive non-chaser to win a Chase race? Mr. Fitz!!
ALABAMA FITZ: So much to say, so little time. First off, welcome to Marshall to this band of misfit wheel heads. We hope you enjoy this as much as we do. As you know, Jim has seven wins and we can't figure out how he does it. We only have four more races to catch him but our chances look slim. Now then, let’s move on to Talladega. I almost got the big flush at the big toilet bowl, but I refused to go down the tube totally. I was hoping Matt would continue his resurgence at 'Dega, but it was not to be. I was hoping to increase my lead on Mama Kay, but now I'm in trouble. If I'm not careful, I'm going to get the old bump and run from her. The smart thing for me to do to protect my position would be to make the same choice she does throughout the rest of the year. But that would just keep me in front of her while others may pass us. Mama Kay, to you I say, catching me is one thing, passing me could be quite another....I hope! Gordon would have been my pick straight out. Jim, I think you are wrong on Gordon. His record here is sterling. ZERO DNFs in 41 races and seven Top 5s out of his last eight races and the one that wasn't a Top 5 was a 7th! Odds on favorite to my way of thinking. Fourty-one and zero is like running a complete 'Dega caution free!!!
JIM FITZGERALD: Whoa, whoa, whoa...slow down there, cow poke. I never said Gordon couldn't get it done here. In fact, I'm pretty sure I said he was GREAT here, he just hasn't won in a while. With all due respect, I didn't get this point lead by points racing. I got it from winning, which is what Jimmie Johnson and I, and now you, are going to do at Martinsville. That said, as a fan of Matt Kenseth...I wouldn't mind taking a little bit of a point hit this week if Johnson's crew were to leave off a lug nut...or five.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Boys, boys... let's play nice shall we? Remember, it's only a game.
BRIAN K MARCHETTI: It’s only a game when I lose. When I win, it's a product of scientific analysis, pure genius, and creative guesstamating!
ALABAMA FITZ: I Love when he talks like that!
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Anyway. The real points racing will be out on the track, where it does NOT belong. Fitz, I love your opener, "So much to say, so little time." Then of course, you go right ahead and quote the entire book of statistics on Martinsville, from 1947 to present day. Gotta love that... and at the end, all you come up with is JJ! You could have done that Sir, in about two words. Ah, but being just a tad on the loquacious side my own self, I'll forgive you the little rant. Jim, you speak with forked tongue this morning. If you want Matt, I guess it's not too late. I must say though, I can't share your ill-wishes for JJ. If he wins another Championship, then it is way past time for all the other teams to clean up their act and get faster. That's the only way to beat him... well, that or hire Chad Knaus away from Hendrick Motor Sports, which is not likely to happen. Just sayin' guys.
JIM FITZGERALD: Well, the fans out there come here to our site, every week, and view our expert opinions. The best option I can give them is the driver I will choose, regardless of personal feelings. I'm still taking Johnson because he's the best option in my eyes. HOWEVER....as a Kenseth fan, should ol' JJ have a parts failure, I'd take a bad points day if Kenseth had a good one!
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Where I come from, that's called hedging your bets and it's kinda frowned upon. Oh well, I do the best I can.
JIM FITZGERALD: We could get rid of the Chase.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: The fact that you were only a tiny bit ahead of me then all of a sudden burst out to an uncatchable lead overnight is just further proof that the Chase is a phony, manipulative way of altering reality into someone's personally desired format. Might I say, in the vernacular of the day, it sucks?
JIM FITZGERALD: Agreed. Sorry, Fitz. You were saying?
ALABAMA FITZ: Well, I've been telling you folks for some time now that Jimmie Johnson was going to right his ship and sail away to the Championship. Well, he's back in the lead again and I don't see him losing it at Martinsville. He has four WINS in his last 10 races here. No other driver can claim that, not even Jeffy. Kyle has five Top 5s in his last 10 races at The Paperclip, which in itself is impressive. Keselowski has only seven races here, but his last three have been a 9th, 6th and 6th in that order....a dark horse bet? My dark horse would be Kyle, both for the race and the Chase. Earnhardt is done as far as the Chase goes and Gordon could be but there are still four to go. It looks like it's down to the top four with Gordon having an outside shot. I'm riding shotgun with Jimmie Johnson this week because of those four WINS in his last 10 races here. If he doesn't win, I look for him to be close. One more thing: Marshall, if you like M&M's, talk to Brian...he owns stock in the company.
BRIAN K MARCHETTI: I bought Diet Pepsi this week. No M&M’s. You’re up, rookie!
MARSHALL GABELL: Well, thanks for the all the welcomes! It truly overwhelms me. I look forward to progressing with this wonderful organization into next season. As far as Martinsville is concerned, I can't count Jim's pick out. Johnson is definitely a dominating force around the paperclip. From what I've researched it looks as though starting from the pole is the place to be. Johnson has done that multiple times and that is obviously why he's an 8-time winner. I looked at the short track pole statistics and Denny Hamlin and Johnson have done the best so far in that category. Although Hamlin's and Johnson's average starts are good at all short tracks, the best ones at Martinsville are Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon. So, I won't be choosing any Toyota drivers as it seems that Chevrolet has the edge in Martinsville, Virginia. That's why this week in my debut with Race Fans Forever I will be choosing Kevin Harvick driving the No. 29 for RCR, and this is last race Harvick will be in the Lovers’ state with RCR.
KEVIN ABRAHAM: Harvick is a bold pick for this track on the Sprint Cup side, but he has all those truck wins to back his worth up on this track.
JIM FITZGERALD: Juan Pablo Montoya once said the key to Martinsville is the turns. Drive in like a gentleman, and out like an animal. How many wins does he have at this beautiful little jewel of a track? ZEEE ROW. Now, I bet if it comes down to it, Harvick can drive out of the corner like an animal, right after he drives into it the same way. That might get it done, Harvick-Style.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: And Ol' DW used to say... "You have to slow down to go faster." Slow down... come into the corner with control. Once in the apex of that corner, stomp on it and go like that proverbial bat. Oh yes, and DW has ELEVEN wins here.
JIM FITZGERALD: Good point. So what’s the difference between Juan and Darrell?
PATTYKAY LILLEY: I’d say it’s about eleven wins. Speaking of eleven, I think Brian is eleven minutes late on making his pick.
BRIAN K MARCHETTI: I must say that agree with Marshall that we’ll see a winning Chevrolet this week. They just seem to have that minor edge needed to succeed in a world of, in theory, matched cars. Johnson is the obvious pick, but I'm still liking Jeff Gordon this week. He has the patience and experience to run, to pass, and to keep out of trouble. He is one of the best, if not the best, rhythm driver on the circuit. I like what he brings to the table this week, and sitting 4th in points, unless somebody knows something I don't know, we still can't count him out. It will be Jeff Gordon for me this week at Martinsville.
JIM FITZGERALD: So….all along you like PattyKay’s pick, and still made us wait until the end. That’s it…you’re on probation. Violate it and you’ll be on double secret probation.
BRIAN K MARCHETTI: What’s next, triple secret probation?
ALL: GASP!!
The Narrator: Brian created a slight breach of etiquette by skipping the triple probation, and going right for the throat!
JIM FITZGERALD: Now, where were we? Oh, so there are our picks for Martinsville. We hope they do you all well in whatever fantasy league you may be in. Best of luck to you, and we’ll be back next week to review these picks and give out picks for the next race. Four races to go…one Champion to crown.
Until next week, here’s a quote about Virginia!
“When I’m at home in Virginia, I become more hermit-like. I like my own home.” –Robert Duvall
Jim Fitzgerald @Forewasabi
PattyKay Lilley @MamaPKL
Kevin Abraham @KevDogg329
Marshall Gabell @Gabell_Racing
Who is YOUR pick to win this week?