NASCAR Power Rankings: Martinsville Speedway
Mar 21, 2015; Fontana, CA, USA; Sprint Cup series driver Kevin Harvick during practice for the NASCAR: Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
1. Kevin Harvick– The Closer got a dose of his own medicine in the closing laps of last week’s race at Auto Club Speedway, as Bad Brad Keselowski procured victory from the jaws of defeat. Call it karma, I guess. And, yes, Harvick’s streak of eight-consecutive top-two finishes lives on for yet another week.
Harvick has recorded one victory (2011) in 27-career starts at Martinsville.
2. Ryan Newman– One of these weekends, the Rocket Man is going to convert one of those solid top-five finishes into a long-awaited trip back to the winner’s circle. Until then, we are left to overanalyze his inability to close the deal. Patience is a virtue. Rocket Man, you’ll get there.
Newman has recorded on victory (2012) in 26-six career starts at Martinsville.
3. Brad Keselowski– Prior to Sunday’s race at Auto Club Speedway, BK couldn’t buy a top-10 finish, let alone a win, in six previous career starts in the Golden State. Well, that all changed Sunday when he thought it would be much more fun to steal one from the circuit’s hottest driver; drama at its best, indeed.
BK has recorded one top-five finish (2013) in 10 career starts at Martinsville.
4. Martin Truex Jr.- The last two weekends have completely wreaked havoc on Marty’s psyche as he continues to turn heads while protecting his perfect streak of top-10 finishes to start the season. Did you all enjoy his post-race dust up with Tony Stewart? Chances are, you probably did.
Truex’s career best finish at Martinsville is fifth (2010, 2012)
5. Joey Logano– Following the West Coast swing, Joey Logano remains on the short list of drivers ( Harvick, Truex) — three to be exact — that have recorded five-consecutive top-10 finish through the first five races of the 2015 season. Keep up the great work, Joey!
Logano has recorded two top-five finishes in the last two Martinsville races.
Mar 21, 2015; Fontana, CA, USA; Sprint Cup series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. during practice for the NASCAR: Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.- When Dale Jr. finished 43rd at Phoenix, I bet all of Junior Nation got on their hands and knees and began to pray. Well, their prayers have been answered, because Junior bounced back in a big way, finishing sixth at Auto Club Speedway, a track that’s typically not Dale Jr. friendly.
Dale Jr. is the most recent winner at Martinsville, claiming victory last October.
7. Kurt Busch– Since his return, Kurt Busch has been spectacular, posting two convincing top-five finishes that could have easily resulted in two-consecutive victories. Now it’s on to Martinsville, and we all remember what Busch did there last spring. Doesn’t every great story deserve a sequel?
Busch has recorded two victories (2002, 2014) in 29-career starts at Martinsville.
8. Jimmie Johnson– Once the master of the paperclip, JJ had a valid case for Martinsville Speedway to be renamed Johnsonville Speedway. Perhaps then, they would have ditched the hot dogs for hot ‘n spicy Italian sausages?
JJ has recorded eight victories (2004, ’06, ’07,’08,’09, ’12, ’13) in 26-career starts at Martinsville.
9. Kasey Kahne– Just when you think Kasey Kahne is starting to build a steady amount of momentum, he goes off the rails and it all comes crashing down. The rollercoaster ride continues for the most debonair driver on the Sprint Cup Series tour.
Kahne’s best career finish at Martinsville was second a decade ago.
10. Paul Menard– By now we all can agree that Martin Truex Jr.’s red hot start to the season is 2015s most pleasant surprise, but I think Paul Meanrd deserves a huge shout-out for his ability to steadily climb up the points standings without anyone really noticing.
Menard has recorded one top-10 finish (2014) in 15 career starts at Martinsville.
Mar 22, 2015; Fontana, CA, USA; Sprint Cup series driver Jeff Gordon prior to the start of the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
11. Aric Almirola– Long before Jimmie Johnson made Martinsville his personal playground, Aric Almirola’s boss, the King, made that place his palace. The King’s driver will be sporting a really cool paint scheme this weekend at Martinsville. Oh nostalgia.
Almirola finished eighth at Martinsville in the spring of 2014.
12. Jeff Gordon– The four-time champion’s career numbers on the paperclip are astounding. Coming off back to back top ten finishes certainly has Jeff Gordon primed for another victory lap around the Martinsville Speedway.
Gordon has recorded eight victories (1996, ’97, ’99, ’03, ’05, ’13) in 44-career starts at Martinsville.
13. AJ Allmendinger– The Dinger cooled off a little last week in the California sun; not to worry, he’s taken a shine to that tricky little paperclip in recent years, almost winning the spring race three years ago.
14. Matt Kenseth– Victory was clearly in sight for Matt Kenseth last weekend, until he fell victim to yet another miscue that totally erased his valiant efforts. Good grief…
15. Casey Mears– Casey Mears has been around the Sprint Cup Series garage for a better part of a decade, and yet he’s still hasn’t formulated an efficient method of conquering the tricky paperclip. I suppose taking notes is completely out of the question.
Mar 22, 2015; Fontana, CA, USA; Sprint Cup series driver Carl Edwards prior to the start of the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
16. Carl Edwards– Since we are on the topic of guys who don’t get around Martinsville all that well, you might be surprised to find Carl Edwards on that list. And with the way things have gone for Cuz thus far in 2015, this is the last place he wants to see.
17. Denny Hamlin– A guy you won’t find on the lackluster at Martinsville list is Denny Hamlin, but keep in mind the dude hasn’t won there since October 2010.
18. Jamie McMurray– Last fall, Jamie Mac flexed some serious muscle on the paperclip, leading 84 laps, only to wind up mid-pack by the end of the race. Coming off a disappointing day at Auto Club Speedway, things can’t get any worse at Martinsville, can they?
19. Tony Stewart– Although he’s been relatively quiet on the track for almost a year, Smoke clearly had his best run in forever and a day last Sunday.
20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.- We get it. Roush Fenway Racing probably won’t be competing for a title this season, but if Ricky Stenhouse Jr. figures Cup racing out, that gives the organization something to look forward to well beyond the 2015 season.
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