Sadler questionable for Sunday's race
Martinsville, VA (Sports Network) - Dennis Setzer will likely replace Elliott Sadler in the No.19 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge for practice and qualifying this weekend. Sadler still hopes to be behind the wheel for Sunday's Goody's Cool Orange 500.
Sadler apparently injuring his lower back during a regular workout routine and aggravated it further playing golf.
"I don't think anything is assured," said Mark McArdle, Gillett Evernham Motorsports director of competition.
Gordon garners Goody's pole
Martinsville, VA (Sports Network) - Seven-time Martinsville winner Jeff Gordon captured the pole for Sunday afternoon's Goody's Cool Orange 500 at the famed Martinsville Speedway. The No.24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver circled the 0.526-mile short track in 19.666 seconds (96.288 m.p.h.).
The pole victory was Gordon's second of the season, seventh at Martinsville and 65th of his Sprint Cup career. He is just five pole wins behind Cale Yarborough for third all-time.
"That was two of the best corners I've probably ever put together all at one time," said Gordon. "You have got to be aggressive, but yet you can't over do it...that's a fine line...you are right on the edge of it at all times."
Starting alongside Gordon will be Denny Hamlin who posted a time of 19.775 seconds.
Row two will consist of youngster Aric Almirola (19.780) and David Ragan (19.814).
Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Kasey Kahne (sixth), points leader Kyle Busch (eighth), Tony Stewart (ninth), defending Goody's Cool Orange 500 winner Jimmie Johnson (10th), Kevin Harvick (11th), Clint Bowyer (12th) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (22nd).
It will be the second consecutive short track race for the Sprint Cup Series and a great place for floundering Hendrick Motorsports, the dominant force in 2007, to get back to its former level.
Last year's Goody's Cool Orange 500 was an all-Hendrick affair with Johnson edging teammate Gordon for the win. Former HMS driver Busch finished fourth. In the October event, Johnson won again, beating Ryan Newman, Gordon and Busch to the checkered flag.
But 2008 has been a completely different start for HMS with Johnson and Gordon struggling out of the gate. After five races in 2007, Gordon held a 28-point lead in the championship with Johnson in third place. This year, Johnson is 13th in the standings and the 2007 Sprint Cup champion has just one top-five in the first five events. Gordon is 14th overall with two top-fives, but two DNFs (did not finish), more than he had in 36 events in last year.
However, at Martinsville Hendrick Motorsports has won four of the last five events. Heading into this week, Gordon has a stunning record there with six poles, seven wins and 24 top-10s in 30 starts. Johnson is just as good, if not better with one pole, four wins and 11 top-10s in 12 starts.
The first five races of 2008 has shown balance among the manufacturers. All four automakers have visited Victory Lane. Dodge took the big one - Daytona behind Ryan Newman, Ford has the two wins from Edwards, Burton won in a Chevrolet and Toyota won for the first time ever - in Atlanta with Busch.
The race is scheduled to drop the green flag on Sunday at 2 p.m. (et).
I think this is the week hendrick breaks the 2008 drought
ROCKETMAN
NASCAR
The Sprint Cup boys move to Martinsville this weekend for the sixth race of the season. Martinsville is one of the short tracks on the circuit at only 1/2 mile. The Hendrick boys of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have absolutely dominated at this track but neither has found victory lane this year. I think that is about to change. Here are the Top 5 drivers to win in Martinsville this weekend. We still have to wait for Qualifying and Happy Hour before finalizing our Head to Head Matchups.
Jimmie Johnson #48 has four wins, 8 Top 5 finishes and 11 Top 10 finishes in 12 starts here in Martinsville. Johnson has an average finish of 6.2 here in Martinsville. Johnson is looking for his 4th straight win at this track. Jimmie Johnson's average finish at track type - SHORT TRACK is 8.4. In 7 races, he has 4 wins and 4 top 10 finishes. Odds 5/1
Jimmie Johnson's average finish over the past 10 races is 10.0. In 10 races, he has 4 wins and 6 top 10 finishes.
Tony Stewart #20 has two wins, six Top 5 finishes and ten Top 10 finishes in his 18 starts in Martinsville. Stewart has an average finish of 12.3 in Martinsville. Odds 7/1.
Tony Stewart's average finish at track type - SHORT TRACK is 11.9. In 7 races, he has 0 wins and 4 top 10 finishes.
Denny Hamlin #11 has no wins, two Top 5 finishes and four Top 10 finishes in his 6 starts in Martinsville. Hamlin has an average finish of 9.3 here in Martinsville.Odds 8/1.
Denny Hamlin's average finish at track type - SHORT TRACK is 11.6. In 7 races, he has 0 wins and 5 top 10 finishes.
Jeff Gordon #24 has the best shot of winning this race. Gordon has seven wins, 18 Top 5 finishes and 24 Top 10 finishes in his 30 starts in Martinsville. Gordon has an average finish of 7.2 here in Martinsville.Odds 5/1
Gordon's average finish at track type - SHORT TRACK is 6.6. In 7 races, he has 0 wins and 5 top 10 finishes
Kyle Busch #18 has no wins, three Top 5 finishes and four Top 10 finishes in his 6 starts in Martinsville. Busch has an average finish of 13.2 here in Martinsville. Kyle Busch's average finish at track type - SHORT TRACK is 8.1. In 7 races, he has 1 win and 5 top 10 finishes. Kyle Busch's average finish over the past 3 races is 9.7. In 3 races, he has 1 win and 1 top 10 finish..Odds 6/1.
Kyle Busch's average finish over the past 10 races is 9.3. In 10 races, he has 1 win and 6 top 10 finishes.
Goody’s Cool Orange 500 PostQ
Many have been saying over the last two weeks that Hendrick Motorsports will get off the team’s early season struggles soon. Well we think soon is now. Jeff Gordon is ready to get Hendrick into victory lane and has looked strong throughout qualifying and the practices sessions at Martinsville Speedway. He took the pole for the second time this season and ranks as the no. 1 driver on our Speed chart. Gordon has historically run very well at Martinsville posting 10 consecutive top 10 finishes at the track including four wins. He should be in victory lane for the first time this season in the Goody’s Cool Orange 500.
If Gordon doesn’t make it to victory lane this weekend it will likely be because his teammate Jimmie Johnson is sitting there. Johnson, like Gordon, has been running extremely well at Martinsville recording 11 straight top 10 finishes while also winning four races – including three straight. Johnson qualified in the top 10 and ranks second to Gordon on our Speed chart as well as ranking second to him in the Driver Rating category. We expect Hendrick to have a solid weekend with the dynamic duo leading the way.
There has not been much positive talk coming out of the Jamie McMurray camp this season as the #26 Crown Royal Ford is currently out of the top 35 in the point standings. McMurray has yet to finish in the top 20 this season as he has struggled to be competitive this season. Things are looking up for the team however as McMurray posted his first top 10 qualifying position of the year while also ranking in the top 5 in our Speed calculations. He has run well in the spring races at Martinsville and is looking to get back into the top 35 in the point standings. McMurray will do all he can to get his first top 20 finish of the year.
There are not high expectations for Michael McDowell as he takes over the #00 Aaron’s Toyota for the first time this season. The youngster has talent there is no doubt about that but he is lacking on experience. He has a total of six starts in the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series with just one of those starts this season. McDowell will be allowed to develop with Michael Waltrip Racing but the drivers on the track will show no mercy – neither will we. Stay away from McDowell for now; he is not worth the risk.
There has been a lot of talk about McMurray struggling this season. Another driver in the same boat is Casey Mears. The forgotten man on the Hendrick Motorsports team is sitting well back in the point standings and is in danger of dropping out of the top 35. That would be a major detraction for the team that has Gordon, Johnson, and newcomer Dale Earnhardt Jr. Mears has looked bad this weekend already having to start in the rear of the field in the 39th position and has not been any better in the practice sessions. The #5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet has just two top 20 finishes this season and it is doubtful that total will increase at Martinsville.
profantasysports.com
Goody’s Cool Orange 500 Preview
After taking last week off, the Sprint Cup Series returns to the track at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500.
The drivers of NASCAR last raced two weeks ago at Bristol Motor Speedway, where Jeff Burton took advantage of a late restart to take the checkered flag in the Food City 500. Burton only led two laps in the entire race, but the last one was the only one that really mattered after he flew to the front of the pack on a green/white/checkers finish. Burton has won at Martinsville before, but that victory came way back in 1997, so he’ll be quite a large underdog to make it back-to-back wins this weekend.
The clear favorites in this weekend’s race have to be Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Both drivers have had previous success on the track and have combined to win six of the last seven Cup races held at Martinsville. Johnson won both the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 and the Subway 500 held at Martinsville last season. He also won the Subway 500 in 2006 and 2004, giving him four career wins at Martinsville.
Gordon’s track record at Martinsville is even more impressive. Gordon swept both races at Martinsville in 2005 and 2003 and he’s also seen the checkers fly three other times for seven career wins on the track. Both Gordon and Johnson are still searching for their first victory of the season and it would not be surprising if one of them got it this weekend.
The only driver not named Johnson or Gordon to win a Cup race at Martinsville in the last three seasons was Tony Stewart, who won the DirecTV 500 (renamed the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 last season) in 2006. Stewart also won at Martinsville in 2000 and could really use a win this weekend to make up for all the bad luck that’s come his way this season. Two weeks ago at Bristol, Stewart led more than half the race before a crash with only a few laps to go knocked him out of the running for the win.
Goody's Cool Orange 500: A Very Hendrick Comeback
by: Brian Gabrielle
Two Weeks Ago: Our straight-up picks finished fifth, 16th and 17th, but we squeaked a positive week out of our head-to-head win, as Carl Edwards spun on the last lap yet somehow outlasted Jimmie Johnson, finishing 16th to J.J.'s 18th. Phew. That keeps the streak of five-for-five winning weeks on the season going. For the week, we managed a profit of 0.17 units on 1.5 units wagered, a return of 11.3%. For the season, we've wagered 6.5 units, and profited 3.75 units, for a season-long return of 57.7%. (Note that if you'd eschewed the relatively conservative betting pattern we outline below, and simply bet one unit per wager we recommend, last week you'd have lost 2.33 units on 4 units wagered; for the season, that would still leave you with a profit of 15.63 units on 19 units wagered, a return of 82.3%. But there's clearly a bit more risk associated with that strategy.)
Take Jimmie Johnson (+600), 1/6th unit. This week we head to the paper-clip-shaped short and flat track at Martinsville, where Hendrick Motorsports has dominated for the past several years. The No. 48 team has scored three straight wins here, including both races ever run here in the Car of Tomorrow, so you'd have to believe they've got what it takes to end what's been a lackluster start to 2008. The week off came at a perfect time for Johnson, and I have to believe they'll be loaded for bear Sunday afternoon. J.J. will start 10th.
Take Jeff Gordon (+400), 1/6th unit. No, it's not adventurous, but it can't be helped. Hendrick is great here. Johnson has 11 straight top-10 finishes here, and Gordon has 10 in a row; in addition, Gordon has won four times at this track since the spring of 2003. The No. 24 can be said to have many "favorite" tracks, considering the little dude who drives it has won a whole lot of races across the country, but Martinsville might just be his best at this moment. Gordon finished second and third here in the COT last season.
Take Denny Hamlin (+500), 1/6th unit. These are pretty slender odds for a kid who's only won three career races, but Hamlin has finished second, third and sixth the last three times he's taken the track in a Sprint Cup car at Martinsville. He also was the fastest driver in Friday's first practice, and qualified on the front row (second, right alongside pole-sitter Jeff Gordon). There's a great chance Gibbs gets its second win of '08 in this one.
spreadexperts.com
Trading Paint: Goody's Cool Orange 500 picks
Welcome to Trading Paint, a weekly entry where a statewide panel of four auto racing "experts" will make picks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. This week: Sunday's Goody's Cool Orange 500 in Martinsville, Va.
The rules are simple:
1. A panelist can't pick the same driver in back-to-back weeks.
2. Standings will be calculated each week based on the actual points earned by the drivers each panelist picks to win.
After five weeks, the standings are as follows, with their pick of last week's winner in parentheses:
1. Steve Kaminski (Kurt Busch) -- 755
2. Jeff Bleiler (Kevin Harvick) -- 696
3. Mike Pryson (Jeff Gordon) -- 661
4. Antoine Pitts (Kyle Busch) -- 632
Jeff Bleiler -- Jackson Citizen Patriot
Momentum can be everything in sports, but let's hope that doesn't apply to auto racing picks. At Bristol, the guy I picked to win the race (Kevin Harvick) finishes a solid second, my sleeper pick (Jeff Burton) wins it and my no chance pick (Kurt Busch), who Kaminski picked to win, does what I thought he would -- he tanks.
And what does NASCAR do? Takes off for a week. I see how it's going to be.
• Winner -- Jeff Gordon. This may be the easiest pick of the year. You have to go back to 2004 to find the last time Gordon finished outside the top five at Martinsville, and he was ninth in October and sixth in April that year. He owns the place.
• Sleeper -- Jimmie Johnson. He swept the races there last year, so this might be the place where he finally gets this season in gear.
• No chance -- Kasey Kahne. Finishes of 15th and 25th at Martinsville last year don't exactly spell dominating ... or competitive, for that matter.
Steve Kaminski -- The Grand Rapids Press
Why don't they just go ahead and rename this track Hendrickville?
If they don't get the job done this weekend, then we know for sure that the competition has caught with this powerhouse team.
• Winner -- Denny Hamlin. He has four top-10 finishes at Martinsville in five starts, and his first win there is coming Sunday.
• Sleeper -- Juan Pablo Montoya. His aggressive style could serve him well on the short track.
• No chance -- Carl Edwards. He has won two of the first five races, but he's 16th in points after than penalty from NASCAR. He's never had a top-10 finish at Martinsville in seven starts, so don't look for him to make up ground this weekend.
Mike Pryson -- Jackson Citizen Patriot
The Easter eggs in the ol' basket of goodies are starting to rot, and so are my chances of catching Mr. Kaminski, unless I can start making a move pretty soon.
OK, so it's just a fantasy game. I've never been in one of them race cars, and I'm not making any big move on anybody this weekend. But the part about the Easter eggs is true.
I'm no fan of Peeps. On the other hand, the guy who invented Cadbury cream eggs better be living large somewhere. The man (or woman) was a true culinary genius. Jelly beans are a bit overrated.
See what a week without NASCAR does to a guy. Focus. Focus. Oh yeah, Martinsville
• Winner -- Jimmie Johnson. Easiest pick on the board, and the safest pick, too. Both of Hendrick Racing's top-two drivers, Johnson and Jeff Gordon, have finished inside the top 10 in every Martinsville race for the past five years. Johnson is 13th in points and ready to make his move.
• Sleeper -- Casey Mears. Mears has been my sleeper pick a few times this season. There's no way he should be 33rd in the points. Time is running out on his season if he wants any long-term job security with Hendrick. Mears is due for a solid showing.
• No chance -- Greg Biffle. Biffle may be the hottest driver out there not named Kyle Busch, but he's had little luck at Martinsville. His average finish there is 24th. Sometimes, the track wins.
Antoine Pitts -- The Ann Arbor News
Whew! That week off seemed to just fly right by, but I'm jacked to be back at the track racking up some points on y'all.
• Winner -- Jeff Gordon. The Hendrick folks love Martinsville. A no-brainer to pick one of their cars.
• Sleeper -- Kevin Harvick. Three straight top-five finishes could near a breakthrough soon.
• No chance -- Bobby Labonte. Still looking for a finish anywhere near the top 10
mlive.com
I hate this track with a passion but Kenseth 33/1 is worth a stab I think 😉
Hometown fans happy with Hamlin win
Martinsville, VA (Sports Network) - Virginian Denny Hamlin's pit strategy forced him to work his way back from 19th place, but the third-year driver took his time and captured Sunday's Goody's Cool Orange 500 at the Martinsville Speedway. The No.11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver crossed the finish line 0.398 seconds ahead of pole winner Jeff Gordon.
The victory was Hamlin's first of the season and fourth of his Sprint Cup career.
Hamlin pitted from the lead on lap 214 (of 500) while the rest of the field remained out thinking it might be a rain-shortened event. It left him in the middle of the pack and it took almost 200 laps to make it back to the leaders. But when he did, his Toyota was more than they could handle and Hamlin sliced his way into the lead. He was never challenged over the final laps.
"A lot of these people traveled from my hometown to watch me race," said Hamlin, who hails from nearby Chesterfield, VA. "It's amazing to see the support we have from these race fans, they are the reason we are here."
"I think they saw a great Martinsville race," said runner up Gordon. "A lot of great lead changes, pit strategy, bumping and banging and all the great action that happens here."
Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart completed the top-five.
Other drivers of note and their unofficial finishing positions: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (sixth), Jamie McMurray (eighth), Carl Edwards (ninth), Clint Bowyer (10th), Kevin Harvick (12th), Juan Montoya (13th) Kasey Kahne (17th) and Ryan Newman (19th).
Gordon and Hamlin fought side-by-side for the first two laps, but when Gordon won that battle he took control. The No.24 Chevrolet led through the first caution flag (caused by Kurt and Kyle Busch). The leaders stayed out while some of the back part of the field stopped for fuel.
Gordon was still the leader, but his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Johnson, winner of the last three Martinsville races, was moving up. He was 10th on the starting grid and passed Hamlin for fourth on lap 31. Four laps later he got around David Ragan for third place.
Gordon and the lead group finally pitted on lap 43 after a spin brought out the day's second caution flag. The No.24 returned to the track the leader of the group who pitted, but 10th on the track.
Gordon was working his way back through the field, but in front of him Aric Almirola and Bobby Labonte came together and Gordon suffered some front-end damage when he had no where to go to avoid the incident.
Meanwhile, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the race leader with Casey Mears and Johnson just behind him. They were still the top-three as the field passed the 100-lap mark.
By lap 102 Johnson slipped past "Junior" for the lead and five bonus points. In the middle of the field, Gordon was answering the question about his car - he was already up to 20th after restarting 31st.
Johnson, Earnhardt Jr. and Mears were one-two-three at lap 146, but Gordon was coming - breaking into the top-10. Also coming was rain. It looked questionable as to whether they would complete all 500 laps.
Johnson and Earnhardt Jr. were slowly working their way through lapped traffic and "Junior" found a better way passing Johnson on lap 162 for the lead. Gordon was up to seventh. By lap 179 Gordon slid under Burton for fourth place.
Finally after the long green-flag run a debris caution sent everyone down pit lane for four new tires and fuel. Johnson beat Earnhardt Jr. off pit lane with Hamlin and Gordon third and fourth, respectively.
On lap 195 Hamlin got inside Earnhardt Jr. for second place and Gordon followed him through to take third. Hamlin was faster than Johnson and on lap 208 slid below Johnson and took the lead.
Hamlin pitted from the lead on caution flag No.9 at lap 214, returning Johnson to the lead and giving Gordon second place. With rain possible, most of the leaders stayed out as reaching lap 250 would make it an official race. Hamlin was forced to restart in 19th place.
At the mid-point, Johnson was the leader, ahead of Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon. The three Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets had led 239 of 250 laps. Lap 260 saw a caution flag which sent everyone down pit lane. Again Johnson and Gordon showed the way off pit lane.
Two laps after the green flag dropped Gordon went right around Johnson for the lead.
On lap 282, pre-race points leader Kyle Busch turned into the garage with a rear end gear problem. And a wreck on lap 291 involved Newman, Kurt Busch and Johnson among others leaving the No.48 Chevy in 24th place.
After the caution, Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevy was working well and he took the lead from Gordon as the field passed the 300-lap mark. But Gordon didn't go away and kept working on the inside of "Junior" before Matt Kenseth slammed the wall to bring out caution flag No.15.
The rain seemed to be heading away from the track and it now appeared as if they would get all 500 laps completed.
Three hundred and fifty laps completed and it was still Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon one-two with McMurray sitting in third place. Another Kenseth incident (he received a two-lap penalty from NASCAR for aggressive driving) sent the leaders to pit lane.
Gordon was first off of pit lane and fourth on the track behind Dave Blaney, David Reutimann and Paul Menard as the race went back to green on lap 366. Blaney got a slow start and it bottled up the restart, but Gordon slipped into second place behind Reutimann.
Three laps later Gordon easily slid under the No.44 Toyota for the lead with 170 laps remaining. Reed Sorenson caused another caution flag when he stopped at the entrance of pit road and when pit lane was opened most of the leaders came in. This time Hamlin beat Gordon out and they restarted fifth and sixth on the track.
Staying out were Burton, Brian Vickers, Edwards and Mears and they restarted first through fourth.
Hamlin and Gordon moved up one spot each before Ken Schrader's oil line let go to bring out caution flag No.18 and slow the race with 98 laps remaining.
The No.11 Toyota continued to charge and passed Edwards for third place on lap 418, but Gordon was having trouble keeping up with him. Hamlin passed Vickers and only had one car between him and the lead - Burton.
Hamlin got inside Burton and with 75 laps remaining they were side-by-side. Burton didn't yield easily, but two laps later Hamlin was on top of the heap.
Gordon's drive had stalled, but Earnhardt Jr. was the car on the move. He got around Gordon and Vickers to find himself in fourth place and still 65 laps to catch the leaders.
Hamlin built the lead to one second when Burton got a little loose. He was maintaining the margin as the field hit 40 laps to go. Meanwhile, Gordon retook the spot from Earnhardt Jr. as the No.88 Chevy was getting looser.
But Hamlin was in complete control and just 30 laps, a little over 15 miles, to the checkered flag. Burton got close, but could never make a move. Then Gordon got his Chevrolet working, passing both Edwards and Burton for second place, but never had a legitimate shot at the leader.
Burton's third-place finish makes the No.31 Richard Childress Racing driver the new championship leader, 39 points ahead of Kevin Harvick (915 - 876). Hamlin jumped up to eighth with his victory.
The next race in the series is scheduled for Sunday, April 6th at the high- speed Texas Motor Speedway.