Checkered Countdown: Top-Five Martinsville Finishes

No.4 Dale Earnhardt Jr wins at Martinsville for the first time after fighting off Jeff Gordon (2014).

Last year Dale Earnhardt Jr was eliminated from the Chase in the second round at Talladega. Thus, the following week at Martinsville he had no pressure on him to pass the cut to the final four but had the confidence deriving from a season that had already seen him win three times. On a track where he had no victories he ran tremendously good and was leading when the caution flag fell with 12 laps to go. After pitting for four tires he found himself in fifth place, but rallied back quickly through the field and got the checkered flag thanks to his slight advantage on Jeff Gordon. It was his first Grandfather Clock.