Clint Bowyer
After a second place run at Auto Club Speedway, Clint Bowyer was carrying a lot of momentum into the weekend. Bowyer and his team were just a tick off all weekend long. They tried track position game but the handling on the car was never there. In fact he nearly made contact with his teammate in Jeff Burton when Burton got loose. Bowyer could not get back up front and finished 17th.
Martinsville Speedway is not Bowyer’s best track in the Chase. He only has one top five, five top 10’s and an average finish of 12.8. Bowyer hasn’t won at Martinsville but in recent races he only has one finish outside the top 10. Bowyer title hopes are over but don’t be surprised if he plays spoiler this weekend at Martinsville.
Points: - 300
Tony Stewart
The car never felt right to Tony Stewart this past weekend. He was never really the fastest car on track but had high hopes after his win at Auto Club Speedway. Early in the race Stewart was as far back as 41st but never made his way to the front. He struggled with the handling of the race car and was never a factor on Saturday night. He finished 21st and remains fifth in the standings.
At Martinsville his numbers aren’t flashy but they are solid. He runs about top 10 every trip to the track but he does have two wins. He has eight top fives and 13 top 10’s and a 13.6 average finish. Stewart could be your sleeper pick for the win. In the last five races here he as two finishes of 26th and three top 10’s including a third last spring. Stewart is just about out of title contention but don’t be surprised if he pulls off a win here.
Points: -177
Kyle Busch
It didn’t take long for Kyle Busch to take over the lead at CMS on Saturday night. The only problem was they just didn’t have the car to win in the second half of the race. His second place finish was exactly what this team needed after a tough weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Busch needs a miracle for his title hope this season but Busch can spoil the Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson party this weekend.
Martinsville has not been very kind to Busch in the past; in fact he has 17.8 average finish at the track. He has no wins, four top fives and five top five finishes in his career. It is not like hasn’t had good cars just bad luck. In the last five races here his only top 10 finishes was a fourth last fall. Take out that top five and his best finish is 22nd in that time span.
Points: - 177
Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle was very pleased with his car following final practice on Friday night. In fact he knew he had a car that could contend for the win if they could get track position. Getting off sequence on the second stop of the day allowed them great track position. Biffle had a strong car the entire race and was able to bring it home fifth after a rough day at ACS.
Biffle struggles at Martinsville with average finish of 22nd; Biffle is just looking to survive this race. He only has two top 10 finishes and in the last five races his best finish was 10th here in March. Track position is so important on this small track. The pattern for Biffle is when he qualifies well he finishes well and that all starts on Friday afternoon.
Points: - 225
Jimmie Johnson
It didn’t look good early for Jimmie Johnson who spun at CMS but the team got to work and steadily worked their way from 37th to the lead. Johnson didn’t win the race at CMS but his third place finish padded his points lead heading to a track where all he does is win.
At Martinsville, Johnson is once again your favorite. He rarely has a race here where he is not battling for the lead late in the race. In March, Johnson finished ninth but don’t be surprised if he wins on Sunday. He has six wins, 12 top fives, 16 top 10 finishes and an average finish of 5.4. He is the man to beat on Sunday and will be looking to continue to pad his points lead.
Points: Leader
Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon finally completed one first this weekend at CMS; his first pole of 2010. Gordon who struggled in practice set a blistering lap in qualifying and would lead the field to green. Gordon ran well early in the race but alternator issues on lap 190 ended what was looking like a promising day. He finished 23rd after another speeding penalty under green. He is still fourth in the points but in a much deeper hole.
Heading to Martinsville a track where Gordon has had past success. He nearly won the race in March but a late race battle for the lead with Matt Kenseth spoiled the win. Gordon has seven poles at Martinsville and will be looking to make it two in a row this weekend. He also has seven wins, 23 top fives, 29 top 10’s and a stellar 6.7 average finish. Gordon needs a good, solid weekend and Martinsville is just the place for him.
Points: -156
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