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Kevin Harvick Predicts Winner Of Sunday's Martinsville Race

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Mar 26, 2025 12:25 PM ET

NASCAR returns to the iconic Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia this week for the Cook Out 400. And while dozens of drivers are slated to compete, NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick believes he already knows who will reach the checkered flag first.

On the latest episode of his Happy Hour podcast, Harvick spoke about the challenge of winning at Martinsville. That may be why he's picking a driver who has not struggled nearly as much as he did.

Harvick declared that he's picking Denny Hamlin to win the race. He believes that Hamlin has so consistently dominated the track that he could simply do it again.

“I’m taking the 11. I’m taking Denny Hamlin,” Harvick said. “I think that this is his track. I think they have put themselves in a position to take advantage of the weekend, and this is the week that he goes to Victory Lane.”

Of his own 60 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, Harvick only won there once. That could partially explain why he's willing to give Hamlin the pick so early. If Hamlin has already won there once, it stands to reason he can do it again.

Hamlin has won at Martinsville a whopping five times in 38 visits to the track. He's finished in the top-five in four of his last five races there and has only ever failed to finish twice.

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - APRIL 08: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, enters his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 at Martinsville Speedway on April 08, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Suffice it to say, Hamlin pretty much knows the Virginia-based speedway like the back of his hand.

Hamlin has won at least one race within the first seven weeks of a NASCAR season in four of the last six years. Can he make it five of seven this weekend?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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