2014 Martinsville-1

2014 Martinsville-1

March 24, 2014

NASCAR Storylines for Week of Mar. 24, 2014

 

NASCAR has never been predictable.

 

Heading into each race weekend there are several favorites pundits point to as possible candidates for capturing the win.

 

With five different winners in the first five races of 2014, predicting a race’s outcome is even more difficult this year.

 

Kyle Busch ended up victorious but not before a late restart put Landon Cassill on the point for a green-white-checkered finish.

 

Busch’s prize for winning? A probable spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

 

With the series headed to Martinsville for Sunday’s STP 500, eight-time winners at the short track Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon have to be considered the favorites. Neither have won in 2014 and would become the sixth different driver to win in the first six races – a Chase-era record.

 

But, it could be anybody.  

 

Although Larson came close to claiming his first victory in NASCAR’s premier series, a win in Saturday’s Nationwide race and a runner-up performance on Sunday made his trip home one he’ll remember for a long time.

 

He at least hopes his second visit to NASCAR’s shortest track will be more rewarding than his first trip last year when he finished 42nd.      

 

After five races and five different winners to kick off the NASCAR Nationwide season as well, the drivers receive a much-deserved weekend off before returning to action on April 4 at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

The series heads to the off week with Regan Smith and Trevor Bayne tied for the points lead. The strong rookie class continues to impress with at least two Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders finishing in the top 10 of every race so far this season.

 

With the last four weeks now in the rearview mirror, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series finally returns to action at Martinsville Speedway where the new truck styles make their short-track debut.

 

Among the drivers suiting up for the second truck race of the season is Darrell Wallace Jr., who in his last visit to the track became the second African-American driver to win a national series race.