SPRINT CUP SERIES – GOODY’S HEADACHE RELIEF SHOT 500,

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES – GOODY’S HEADACHE RELIEF SHOT 500, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1:30 P.M. ET ON ESPN

Johnson Seeks Ninth Martinsville Victory, Third In A Row

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ remains a virtual dead heat but new leader Jimmie Johnson’s four-point lead over Matt Kenseth is magnified by the five-time champion’s superlative record at Martinsville Speedway. Johnson has won eight times – most among active drivers – and goes for a third consecutive victory in Sunday’s Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 Powered by Kroger. His average finish is 5.3 at Martinsville, where Johnson has finished on the lead lap 22 consecutive times.

 

Kenseth Out-Performed Martinsville Stats In April

Statistically Martinsville Speedway is Matt Kenseth’s worst track; his average finish is 15.8 over 27 races. Statistics, however, don’t tell the whole story. Until this spring, Kenseth drove for Roush Fenway Racing – an organization without a Martinsville victory since 2002. Kenseth’s first start in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota resulted in a 14th-place finish. He led 96 laps of April’s race – surpassing his previous career total of 73 laps. JGR has seven Martinsville victories.

 

Busch Perseveres, Cuts Nearly Third Off Chase Deficit

Kyle Busch battled back from a lap lost to a pit-road miscue to finish fifth in Sunday’s Talladega Superspeedway event. Busch moved from fifth to third in the standings with a net gain of 11 points to the lead. He and fourth-place Kevin Harvick stand 26 points behind Jimmie Johnson. Busch continues to pursue his first Martinsville victory. He finished second in last fall’s Martinsville race.

 

Gordon’s Martinsville Success Can’t Be Overlooked  

Don’t discount Jeff Gordon’s chances of denting Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson’s lead when the series moves to Martinsville Speedway. Until Johnson won there in April, the pair shared the most Martinsville victories – seven – among active drivers. Gordon finished third in the race; his third top five in his past five Martinsville starts. Gordon’s average Martinsville finish is a solid 7.0. Gordon ranks fifth in the standings, 34 points out of the lead.

 

Harvick Needs Second Martinsville Victory To Keep Pace

Keeping pace with leaders or gaining ground likely means Kevin Harvick will have to channel his Martinsville Speedway victory of spring 2011. The track has been an up-and-down experience for the driver ranked fourth in Chase standings, 26 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson. Harvick has just three top-five finishes and 10 among the top 10 with an average finish of 16.6. He was 13th at the track in April; 32nd in last fall’s Chase race.

 

Junior Moving Up But Needs Help To Reach Championship

Trailing leader Jimmie Johnson by 52 points with four races remaining in the postseason, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will need help to win his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. Earnhardt, however, made the largest jump in the Chase standings with his second-place Talladega finish – three spots, ninth to sixth. Junior has yet to win at Martinsville, finishing second twice most recently in the spring of 2011. His 868 laps led at Martinsville are the most at any NASCAR Sprint Cup track.

 

Hamlin A Likely Candidate To Fashion Third Straight ‘Spoiler’ Victory Non-Chase drivers have won 17 of 96 races during NASCAR’s postseason and on consecutive weekends just twice (both in 2006) before Jamie McMurray and Brad Keselowski scored victories at Talladega and Charlotte. A third straight win would be unprecedented – but hardly unexpected – if Virginian Denny Hamlin grabs a fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup victory at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. Hamlin scored a season sweep in 2010 and has led the last eight Martinsville races.