The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will be “short trackin’” this week in the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
After weeks of racing on tracks with plenty of room (two, three and even four wide or more was possible), the NASCAR drivers will be competing on a track with very limited room. That means side-by-side racing will be treacherous to say the least. Cars will be banging door-to-door. If a slower car is blocking another car from advancing the use of the front bumper is likely to be used to move that car. All of that means drivers will need to keep not only their cars in good shape, but also their tempers to stay focused.
Here is a look at the track and race data for this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
Martinsville Speedway Data
Track Size: 0.526-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 12 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 12 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 0 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 0 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 800 feet
Backstretch Length: 800 feet
STP 500 Data
Season Race #: 06 of 36 (03-24-19)
Race Length: 500 laps / 263 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 130 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 240 laps
Which drivers have had a history of performing well at Martinsville during their NASCAR Cup Series career? Here’s a look at the top ten.
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Martinsville
Jimmie Johnson…………………… 113.3
Denny Hamlin……………………… 107.0
Kyle Busch…………………………. 104.2
Brad Keselowski……………………. 96.8
Joey Logano…………………………. 94.9
Kevin Harvick……………………….. 94.0
Clint Bowyer…………………………. 91.5
Ryan Blaney…………………………. 87.1
Ryan Newman………………………. 85.7
Chase Elliott…………………………. 84.1
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (28 total) among active drivers at Martinsville Speedway.
Here are the active drivers that have previously won at Martinsville.
Active Drivers with Martinsville Wins
Jimmie Johnson – 9 Wins
Denny Hamlin – 5 Wins
Kurt Busch – 2 Wins
Kyle Busch – 2 Wins
Brad Keselowski – 1 Win
Clint Bowyer – 1 Win (This race in 2018)
Joey Logano – 1 Win (Fall race in 2018)
Kevin Harvick – 1 Win
Ryan Newman – 1 Win
More times than not the racing action is fun for fans to watch when NASCAR goes “short trackin’.” We will find out which drivers get “beaten” by the track, other cars and their tempers Sunday, March 24th starting at 1 PM central time (2 PM eastern time) from Martinsville Speedway in the STP 500.
By: Buck Stevens
