If history holds true to form at the most historic of NASCAR tracks, Martinsville Speedway could be Brad Keselowski's Waterloo. Conversely, the .526-mile paper-clip circuit could also be the best opportunity for Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin to loosen Keselowski's grasp on the NASCAR Sprint Cup series lead.
So far this season, Keselowski has answered all challenges and turned back all comers with the look of a champion. But for a coronation to occur four races from now at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Keselowski will have to beat the Martinsville masters at their own game in Sunday's TUMS Fast Relief 500 (1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), round 7 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup postseason.
Keselowski's sample size at the lone short track in the Chase is relatively small, having only been a full-timer in the Cup series for three years. To place it in perspective, Johnson has more victories (six) at Martinsville than Keselowski has starts (five) there. Hamlin isn't far beh...
Found 24 days ago on
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Johnson, Hamlin shine at Martinsville
The race at Martinsville Speedway this weekend features the only short track in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
To me, even though it's a 500-lap race, the competition this weekend truly begins on Friday with a good, solid qualifying run because that dictates your pit-road selection, which is truly very important at this .526-mile track.
It keeps you from having to beat and bang...
Denny Hamlin wins trucks race at Martinsville Speedway with aggressive pass
Via Race Review Online
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23 days ago
To Denny Hamlin, it was standard operating procedure at Martinsville Speedway.
To Matt Crafton, it was an unjustified bulldozer move.
Regardless of the point of view, Hamlin won Saturday’s Kroger 200 with an aggressive pass after a restart with eight laps left and showed no regret in claiming his second victory at the 0.526-mile track and his second win in 15 career Camping World...
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23 days ago
Denny Hamlin Kroger 200 Race Recap
Via Start 'N' Park Blog
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22 days ago
If you had to pick any driver to come from the back of the field during a 200-lap race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, the discussion wouldn’t go much further than the name Denny Hamlin. After rain halted NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying twice and the session ended just prior to the start of Sprint Cup Series practice, Hamlin – who is still in the heat of the Chase...
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22 days ago
Keselowski insists he's not feeling title heat
Brad Keselowski talks like racing continues to be business as usual.
The 28-year-old is leading the standings in NASCAR'S Chase for the Sprint Cup, and while his margin over five-time champion Jimmie Johnson is only seven points, and perennial contender Denny Hamlin is only 20 points behind, Keselowski quickly dismisses talk that being chased in the chase means pressure.
Keselowski...
Denny Hamlin Martinsville Press Conference – Race Winner Kroger 200 VIDEO
Via Start 'N' Park Blog
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22 days ago
Denny Hamlin spoke to the media after winning Saturday’s Kroger 200 from the Martinsville Speedway. It was his second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win following up his win in this race one year ago. It was the first win of the season for Kyle Busch Motorsports as well. Video courtesy of the NASCAR Media Group.
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22 days ago
Captain Thunder's Legendary Top-5 Fantasy NASCAR Picks - MARTINSVILLE
Via Captain Thunder Racing
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22 days ago
photo credit: getty images
DENNY HAMLIN - WINNER
#11 FedEx Express Toyota
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.6
2012 Rundown
Five wins, 13 top fives, 16 top 10s; three poles
Average finish of 11.9
Led 22 races for 1,168 laps
Martinsville Speedway Outlook:
Four wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s; two poles
Average finish of 6.4 in 14 races
Average Running...
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22 days ago
Fantasy NASCAR: Martinsville edition
Via Race Review Online
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25 days ago
We’re heading down the homestretch to Miami to crown this year’s champion, and there are only four races remaining in a thrilling season as the series heads to Martinsville, Virginia this weekend.
Jimmie Johnson endured what could have been a rough weekend this past Sunday in Kansas and managed to grab a top 10 and not fall further behind Brad Keselowski after wrecking in Turn...
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25 days ago
Fantasy NASCAR Conclusions: Martinsville
Via Rant Sports
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22 days ago
The Chase continues to wind down as round seven shifts gears to Martinsville Speedway. Perhaps, this is the easiest lineup to set for owners, as fans know who the heavy-hitters will be: Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Denny Hamlin. There is a combined 17 wins between these three, which means owners are licking their chops. Did [...]
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22 days ago
Hamlin Races From Back Of The Field To Win Kroger 200 At Martinsville
Via Speedway Digest - Home for NASCAR News
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23 days ago
Denny Hamlin took the long way to his second straight win in the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway Saturday afternoon.
Hamlin, who is in the thick of the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship battle, qualified fifth for the race, but had to go to the rear of the field for the start of the race, a penalty for missing the drivers meeting.
Hamlin missed...
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23 days ago
On-Track Racing Schedule for Martinsville
Via Start 'N' Park Blog
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24 days ago
The NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series race into the Martinsville Speedway for this Saturday’s Kroger 200 and Sunday’s TUMS Fast Relief 500. Brad Keselowski maintains the points lead over Jimmie Johnson on the Cup side, while Ty Dillon is barely edging out James Buescher in the Trucks. The action starts at 11 AM EST with Truck practice and goes all the way until...
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24 days ago
Tony Stewart TUMS Fast Relief 500 Race Preview
Via Start 'N' Park Blog
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25 days ago
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – With less than two weeks before Election Day, campaigns are on high alert for an “October Surprise,” where a calculated political maneuver designed to create news coverage influences the outcome of an election.
While Tony Stewart didn’t run for office last year, the driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing delivered an...
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25 days ago
Denny Hamlin wins Martinsville Truck race with late pass
Via Speedway Digest - Home for NASCAR News
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23 days ago
To Denny Hamlin, it was standard operating procedure at Martinsville Speedway.
To Matt Crafton, it was an unjustified bulldozer move.
Regardless of the point of view, Hamlin won Saturday's Kroger 200 with an aggressive pass after a restart with eight laps left and showed no regret in claiming his second victory at the .526-mile short track and his second win in 15 career NASCAR...
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23 days ago
Jimmie Johnson wins at Martinsville
Jimmie Johnson held off Kyle Busch on a restart with five laps to go Sunday and won for the seventh time in his career at Martinsville Speedway.
The five-time series champion moved into the lead in the championship standings, two points over Brad Keselowski with three races remaining.
Keselowski started 32nd, methodically worked his way forward, and took a late gamble to grab the...
Hamlin pushes past Crafton for win
Denny Hamlin showed just why he is a master of Martinsville Speedway Saturday.
Making a rare appearance in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Hamlin started from the rear after missing the drivers' meeting because of a conflict with Sprint Cup practice, then immediately began to work his way through traffic. He bumped and banged his way to the front, finally taking the lead...
Hamlin rallies for Martinsville win, points battle takes a swing
Via On Pit Road
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23 days ago
There’s never a shortage of action whenever the trucks visit the half-mile Martinsville Speedway and that was no different on Saturday.
After dominating the majority of the race, it looked as though Kevin Harvick was going to cruise to a sweep of the Martinsville races in 2012. But that changed on the restart with 41 laps to go after series points leader, Ty Dillon hit the turn...
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23 days ago
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July 16, 2012
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