With tensions and stressors already peaking with four races left in the season, a return trip to Martinsville is sure to raise those even more with the beating and banging that happens on the smallest track on the Cup schedule. Known as the Paperclip, simply because it looks like one, it’s a flat track with the only banking really being on the outer grooves of turns. It also has a unique feature, for a unique track, in that there are actual curbs on the inside of the turns that keeps the inside groove from trying to go too far down in the groove.

A track this small brings in some interesting things to consider. Pit road is tricky and is actually in two parts and that makes pit selection highly important. Lapping happens often at tracks this small as half the field was at least one lap down in the March race when all was said and done and that doesn’t count the middle of the race when guys couldn’t get laps back on late-race cautions. The position differentials are a key stat to look at as those that can bump and run the best are the ones that have the best position differentials in the field. There are also crazy restarts on tracks this small with 36-40 cars packed into a very tight space and nowhere to go. Expect the late-race runs to be key to final finishing order as several past races have been decided in the last few corners with moves made to pass the leader.

Starting Spots of Past Winners

Starting Pos.Races WonStarting Pos.Races Won
121147
215154
316161
414174
57181
68192
78203
82212
96221
105232
112241
122361
132  

There have been 141 past Cup races at Martinsville and 73 of them have been won by those starting in the top-five starting spots with 21 Pole Winners winning the race, though the last one happened in 2013. Overall, 25 different spots have at least one winner and the furthest back was 36th. Every spot between first and 24th have won here as well but no one between 25th and 35th have registered a win.

Schedule of Events

This is a two-day show this week meaning both practices and qualifying are on Saturday morning for practices and afternoon for qualifying. The race is Sunday at 3 pm ET. Inspection should be Sunday morning meaning a first time fail loses the qualifying time and start in the rear, getting scored that way. The Podcast will be out Friday with the Playbook coming Saturday and the lineups being finalized Sunday morning.

*There is no Similar Track section this week since Martinsville doesn’t compare well to any other track or races.

Track Data

Drivers To Watch This Week:

Last Five First Data 500s

  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Kyle Busch57.65.65.22.414455
Joey Logano53.24.615.2-1212333
Jimmie Johnson517.815.413.8411144
Denny Hamlin56.48.24.61.803555
Brad Keselowski5108.814.8-4.803333
Martin Truex Jr512.89.811.21.602444
Ryan Newman512.6139.6301345
Kevin Harvick5181415.22.801334
Clint Bowyer512.817.620.4-7.601222
Daniel Suarez211.51512-0.500122
Chase Elliott399.315.3-6.300122
Ricky Stenhouse Jr525.228.624.60.600123
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Ryan Blaney37.71415.7-800113
David Ragan527.226.623.63.600112
Kurt Busch51311.224-1100111
Aric Almirola513.216.416.2-300024
Austin Dillon526.219.8188.200024
Paul Menard522.421.419.23.200023
Chris Buescher323.723.720.33.400011
Ty Dillon224.52522.5200011
Kyle Larson510.819.227.4-16.600012
Michael McDowell323.324.320.72.600002
Alex Bowman3292622.76.300001
Landon Cassill530.628.424.85.800001
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Erik Jones214.52426-11.500000
Ross Chastain1223029-700000
JJ Yeley33936.733600000
Corey LaJoie1363033300000
Bubba Wallace1373034300000
Matt DiBenedetto429.33234.3-5.500000
Reed Sorenson332.334.735-2.700000
Timmy Hill3414038.72.300000
William Byron1112939-2800000
Ryan Preece1373542-500000
Daniel Hemric0000000000
Matt Tifft0000000000

  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Kyle Busch528757.415531.098%116
Joey Logano5656131.220541.097%115.8
Jimmie Johnson511623.27915.864%91.5
Denny Hamlin515731.417635.287%108.9
Brad Keselowski529258.422344.681%103.2
Martin Truex Jr519238.413026.078%98.9
Ryan Newman500.0326.471%88.5
Kevin Harvick5387.69919.870%89.5
Clint Bowyer5346.89318.657%82.7
Daniel Suarez200.010.540%81.1
Chase Elliott312341.07525.087%95.4
Ricky Stenhouse Jr500.0102.08%52.4
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Ryan Blaney300.0134.345%81.6
David Ragan500.0244.811%55
Kurt Busch5438.6448.877%87.2
Aric Almirola500.0204.042%77.9
Austin Dillon561.2306.034%71.1
Paul Menard500.020.412%64.1
Chris Buescher300.010.39%59.6
Ty Dillon200.063.027%55.4
Kyle Larson561.2193.840%70.3
Michael McDowell300.000.01%55.4
Alex Bowman300.0124.07%55.5
Landon Cassill500.0367.22%48.3
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Erik Jones200.010.516%62.5
Ross Chastain100.000.00%42.9
JJ Yeley300.031.00%33.7
Corey LaJoie100.000.02%39.7
Bubba Wallace100.000.00%39.4
Matt DiBenedetto400.0162.50%40.1
Reed Sorenson300.010.30%35.1
Timmy Hill300.031.00%27.1
William Byron100.022.08%52.8
Ryan Preece100.000.00%37.2
Daniel Hemric0000000
Matt Tifft0000000

Top-20 Drivers Over Last 10 Martinsville Races

  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Kyle Busch97.84.83.8428899
Brad Keselowski108.479.3-0.927888
Denny Hamlin107.810.111-3.215788
Joey Logano102.77.511.9-9.214678
Clint Bowyer1015.115.415.5-0.412566
Jimmie Johnson1016.415.616.7-0.311277
Martin Truex Jr109.59.410.8-1.303779
Kevin Harvick1014.71113.21.502669
Chase Elliott811.813.514.8-302456
Ryan Blaney79.111.414-4.902336
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Austin Dillon1024.319.618.16.202257
Ryan Newman1011.515.713.5-201568
David Ragan1026.524.921.94.601223
Kyle Larson99.415.721.2-11.801126
Daniel Suarez514.81916.8-200234
Ricky Stenhouse Jr1022.728.826.7-400234
Paul Menard101818.717.40.600157
Aric Almirola1013.417.317.4-400158
Kurt Busch1015.812.820.7-4.900155
Alex Bowman626.324.2215.300123

  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Kyle Busch9937104.1142847.5699%122.1
Brad Keselowski1087387.3052452.4087%113.3
Denny Hamlin1038338.3033333.3082%102.1
Joey Logano1079179.1031131.1087%107.3
Clint Bowyer1024924.9020020.0062%86.6
Jimmie Johnson1011611.6012412.4062%86.1
Martin Truex Jr1026126.1019219.2087%96.3
Kevin Harvick1026426.4029029.0077%96.3
Chase Elliott819224.0021426.7564%89.7
Ryan Blaney714520.718011.4363%91
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Austin Dillon1060.60666.6042%72.7
Ryan Newman1020.20464.6051%79.8
David Ragan1000.00343.4013%56.4
Kyle Larson9293.22444.8959%77.7
Daniel Suarez500.00224.4037%70.9
Ricky Stenhouse Jr1000.00282.807%49.3
Paul Menard10101.00292.9033%69.7
Aric Almirola1000.00757.5042%75.6
Kurt Busch10646.40777.7071%83.3
Alex Bowman600.00305.0024%60.4

Team Averages at Martinsville (Since Feb. 2017)

 Avg.  TopTop
DriverFinishRacesWins510
Team Penske7.85133810
Joe Gibbs Racing12.05201712
Stewart-Haas Racing12.25201411
Hendrick Motorsports1620025
Wood Brothers Racing16.65001
Richard Childress Racing1712013
JTG Daugherty Racing17.310002

Momentum

Drivers

Driver Momentum
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520Rating
Martin Truex Jr68.877.71.122456112.7
Denny Hamlin611.78.33.58.216666106.3
Kyle Busch611.874.37.514666116.2
Brad Keselowski66.34.57.2-0.913556117.5
Kevin Harvick6711.311.7-4.71245599
Ryan Blaney612.31010.71.60344593.8
Joey Logano69.71110-0.30234695.3
Chase Elliott610.211.512.5-2.30225593.9
Matt DiBenedetto614.714.512.81.90224580.1
Clint Bowyer612.298.73.50155697.3
Ryan Newman6191410.78.30145581
Kurt Busch610.710.511.7-10124689.1
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520Rating
Erik Jones614.313.221.8-7.50112284.7
Daniel Suarez617.813.7125.80044683.8
Paul Menard616.317.715.70.60024470.4
Jimmie Johnson617.51717.500023473.6
Kyle Larson610.316.519.8-9.50022477
Austin Dillon617.820.719.8-20013368
Aric Almirola61018.520.8-10.80012369.7
Alex Bowman618.21817.70.50003468.6
William Byron619.518.5181.50002365.5
Ty Dillon623.520.718.550002461.1
Bubba Wallace626.521.718.77.80002458.1
Chris Buescher620.218.821.3-1.10001263.2
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520Rating
Daniel Hemric621.52525-3.50001252
Ricky Stenhouse Jr616.322.326.3-100001258.4
Ryan Preece622.224.221.70.50000353.5
Matt Tifft629.827.8263.80000141.7
David Ragan620.823.727.3-6.50000151.5
Andy Seuss135322870000031
Landon Cassill630302820000039.2
Corey LaJoie628.227.528.200000043.3
Michael McDowell620.326.728.3-80000146.9
Ross Chastain63331.53030000038.7
JJ Yeley23732.530.56.50000033.9
Kyle Weatherman138363170000028.2
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520Rating
Bayley Currey2303231.5-1.50000032.7
DJ Kennington135323230000029.2
BJ McLeod133343210000034.1
Quin Houff533.634.432.41.20000028.3
Joey Gase137343340000027.2
Jeb Burton231.533.533-1.50000028.9
Austin Theriault23433.533.50.50000030.1
Spencer Boyd135353410000027.8
Reed Sorenon334.334.3340.30000029.8
Josh Bilicki135333500000034.2
Timmy Hill135343500000028.2
Cody Ware1333636-30000023.2
Gray Gaulding1333436-30000032.7

Team

Team Momentum
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Team#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Chip Ganassi Racing1610.513.515.8-5.3014610
Front Row Motorsports2423.626.127.2-3.600003
Hendrick Motorsports3216.416.316.4-0.10241316
Joe Gibbs Racing3211.78.99.32.3413171920
JTG Daugherty Racing1621.221.521.5-0.300015
Richard Childress Racing1619.722.922.4-2.800145
Roush Fenway Racing1617.718.218.5-0.901467
Stewart-Haas Racing2411.813.113.3-1.613141620
Team Penske249.48.59.30.118121317

Price Changes at Martinsville

DraftKings

DraftKings Price Changes
 MarchOct. 
Drivers$$Difference
Kyle Busch$13,000$11,800-$1,200
Martin Truex Jr$11,900$11,400-$500
Denny Hamlin$9,400$11,000$1,600
Kevin Harvick$10,800$10,500-$300
Joey Logano$11,300$10,100-$1,200
Chase Elliott$8,200$9,800$1,600
Brad Keselowski$12,400$9,500-$2,900
Ryan Blaney$9,000$9,300$300
Kyle Larson$9,700$9,100-$600
Clint Bowyer$8,400$8,900$500
Erik Jones$7,800$8,700$900
 MarchOct. 
Drivers$$Difference
Kurt Busch$10,200$8,500-$1,700
Alex Bowman$7,400$8,300$900
Jimmie Johnson$8,000$8,100$100
William Byron$6,900$8,000$1,100
Matt DiBenedetto$6,300$7,800$1,500
Aric Almirola$8,700$7,600-$1,100
Ryan Newman$6,800$7,500$700
Daniel Suarez$7,600$7,300-$300
Paul Menard$7,000$7,100$100
Ricky Stenhouse Jr$7,200$7,000-$200
 MarchOct. 
Drivers$$Difference
Chris Buescher$6,500$6,900$400
Austin Dillon$7,300$6,700-$600
Ryan Preece$6,200$6,600$400
Daniel Hemric$6,600$6,400-$200
Ty Dillon$6,100$6,200$100
Bubba Wallace$5,800$6,100$300
Michael McDowell$5,900$5,900$0
David Ragan$5,600$5,800$200
Corey LaJoie$5,400$5,600$200
Ross Chastain$5,500$5,400-$100
Matt Tifft$5,300$5,300$0
Landon Cassill$5,200$5,200$0

FanDuel

FanDuel Price Changes
 MarchOct. 
Drivers$$Difference
Kyle Busch$14,900$15,000$100
Denny Hamlin$13,000$14,500$1,500
Martin Truex Jr$13,500$14,000$500
Brad Keselowski$13,700$13,500-$200
Chase Elliott$11,900$13,000$1,100
Kevin Harvick$12,500$12,500$0
Joey Logano$14,000$12,000-$2,000
Ryan Blaney$11,600$11,500-$100
Clint Bowyer$11,700$10,500-$1,200
Kyle Larson$9,700$10,000$300
Kurt Busch$11,300$9,600-$1,700
 MarchOct. 
Drivers$$Difference
Jimmie Johnson$9,900$9,200-$700
Alex Bowman$8,600$9,000$400
William Byron$7,000$8,500$1,500
Erik Jones$9,600$8,000-$1,600
Aric Almirola$10,800$7,700-$3,100
Daniel Suarez$8,300$7,400-$900
Matt DiBenedetto$6,000$7,000$1,000
Ryan Newman$8,900$6,800-$2,100
Paul Menard$7,300$6,500-$800
Austin Dillon$7,700$6,300-$1,400
 MarchOct. 
Drivers$$Difference
Ricky Stenhouse Jr$7,100$6,000-$1,100
Chris Buescher$6,000$5,500-$500
Ryan Preece$4,500$5,500$1,000
Ty Dillon$5,500$5,000-$500
Bubba Wallace$4,500$4,500$0
Michael McDowell$4,500$4,500$0
Daniel Hemric$6,500$4,000-$2,500
David Ragan$5,000$3,500-$1,500
Corey LaJoie$3,000$3,000$0
Landon Cassill$4,000$2,000-$2,000
Matt Tifft$3,500$2,000-$1,500
Ross Chastain$3,500$2,000-$1,500

DraftKings Scoring Averages at Martinsville

Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Kyle Busch8613759.254333111.5071.6561.14
Martin Truex Jr104.55686.2543.75-5.580.2557.0052.41
Denny Hamlin88.7543.757955.756666.2566.6548.51
Kevin Harvick40.5503180.51545.2543.4048.67
Joey Logano157.7541.7541.2548.756499.7570.7045.42
Chase Elliott49.557.2528.5  53.3845.0840.52
Brad Keselowski66.75124.57548.75-8.595.6361.3043.21
Ryan Blaney838.521  23.2522.5036.14
Kyle Larson-20.5-20.53516.50.5-20.502.2039.28
Clint Bowyer10.2551.543-23.553.7530.8827.0028.81
Erik Jones13.50   6.756.7531.56
Kurt Busch52.511.523.50-9.7532.0015.5536.38
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Alex Bowman30  411830.0029.6734.83
Jimmie Johnson575381.548.52.555.0048.5027.21
William Byron-22    -22.00-22.0031.02
Matt DiBenedetto-0.5-613.520 -3.256.7531.93
Aric Almirola30.518302233.524.2526.8030.07
Ryan Newman5335.527.5394844.2540.6034.51
Daniel Suarez3429.5   31.7531.7529.56
Paul Menard352312403129.0028.2029.08
Ricky Stenhouse Jr26.5463-2.53236.2521.0022.5
Chris Buescher31.53119  31.2527.1730.08
Austin Dillon1943.545.540.53931.2537.5023.61
Ryan Preece   -3  -3.0023.58
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Daniel Hemric       16.85
Ty Dillon4010   25.0025.0028.74
Bubba Wallace13    13.0013.0022.9
Michael McDowell142638  20.0026.0018.18
David Ragan45.519-11.5265332.2526.4015.04
Corey LaJoie 14   14.0014.0023.81
Ross Chastain8    8.008.0022.96
Matt Tifft       21.11
Landon Cassill123136.529.53421.5028.6017.66
JJ Yeley20  257.520.0017.5020.77
Reed Sorenson 122.5 512.006.5015.57
Timmy Hill9.5  1419.508.1713.42

FanDuel Scoring Averages at Martinsville

Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Kyle Busch95.5118.488.386.578.5106.9593.4462.79
Martin Truex Jr104.890.595.785.740.697.6583.4660.45
Denny Hamlin93.684.795.391.888.389.1590.7460.68
Kevin Harvick8290.570.888.853.786.2577.1657.19
Joey Logano128.461.880.652.590.595.1082.7658.83
Chase Elliott9064.775.4  77.3576.7053.51
Brad Keselowski91.199.898.561.844.795.4579.1855.48
Ryan Blaney6381.569.8  72.2571.4352.38
Kyle Larson29.320766752.724.6549.0051.57
Clint Bowyer60.589.562.56.589.875.0061.7649.25
Erik Jones61.956.4   59.1559.1549.02
Kurt Busch856469.248.337.974.5060.8854.44
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Alex Bowman72.5  78.462.572.5071.1352.81
Jimmie Johnson9087.9103.283.542.488.9581.4049.11
William Byron24.4    24.4024.4051.45
Matt DiBenedetto45.115.255.463.2 30.1544.7350.32
Aric Almirola7769.576.4717373.2573.3850.10
Ryan Newman8779.573.4849183.2582.9853.83
Daniel Suarez81.576.5   79.0079.0049.85
Paul Menard75.47162.181.57773.2073.4050.59
Ricky Stenhouse Jr71.587.52.639.377.579.5055.6844.92
Chris Buescher7874.564.5  76.2572.3350.33
Austin Dillon57.684.581.479.682.571.0577.1245.10
Ryan Preece   35  35.0044.99
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Daniel Hemric       40.23
Ty Dillon8059.1   69.5569.5549.25
Bubba Wallace57.3    57.3057.3043.70
Michael McDowell63.27378.8  68.1071.6739.83
David Ragan8264.833.967.390.573.4067.7038.87
Corey LaJoie 59.5   59.5059.5043.51
Ross Chastain57.7    57.7057.7040.66
Matt Tifft       41.97
Landon Cassill5873.563.47376.565.7568.8837.26
JJ Yeley62.6  66.246.162.6058.3038.95
Reed Sorenson 5941.7 48.259.0049.6332.93
Timmy Hill40.8  53.93.540.8032.7324.67

Weekly Ranks (1=Best, 40=Worst)

Race History, Momentum, and Martinsville History columns are ranked on the average finish in those spans from best to worst. Scoring averages are ranked from highest scoring to lowest scoring over those spans.

DriverDK$FD $Race HistoryMomentumDK Avg L2FD Avg L2DK Avg L5FD Avg L5Martinsville History
Kyle Busch$11,800$15,0002211111
Martin Truex Jr$11,400$14,0004442533
Denny Hamlin$11,000$14,5001155324
Kevin Harvick$10,500$12,5008987896
Joey Logano$10,100$12,0008624255
Chase Elliott$9,800$13,00010127117119
Brad Keselowski$9,500$13,5007333472
Ryan Blaney$9,300$11,500117211921168
Kyle Larson$9,100$10,00025203632323019
Clint Bowyer$8,900$10,5001651613162110
Erik Jones$8,700$8,00024253026292422
Kurt Busch$8,500$9,6002191214242217
DriverDK$FD $Race HistoryMomentumDK Avg L2FD Avg L2DK Avg L5FD Avg L5Martinsville History
Alex Bowman$8,300$9,00019161718121718
Jimmie Johnson$8,100$9,200615666611
William Byron$8,000$8,50033173733383426
Matt DiBenedetto$7,800$7,00030133531293134
Aric Almirola$7,600$7,70012222016171313
Ryan Newman$7,500$6,8003798947
Daniel Suarez$7,300$7,400511131011812
Paul Menard$7,100$6,50014141817141213
Ricky Stenhouse Jr$7,000$6,0002228109222825
Chris Buescher$6,900$5,50015231412151420
Austin Dillon$6,700$6,30013201420101015
Ryan Preece$6,600$5,50034243134373229
DriverDK$FD $Race HistoryMomentumDK Avg L2FD Avg L2DK Avg L5FD Avg L5Martinsville History
Daniel Hemric$6,400$4,00040263134333526
Ty Dillon$6,200$5,00018181921201816
Bubba Wallace$6,100$4,50029192629262728
Michael McDowell$5,900$4,50017332322191523
David Ragan$5,800$3,50020291115182021
Corey LaJoie$5,600$3,00027322525252333
Ross Chastain$5,400$2,00026342928282631
Matt Tifft$5,300$2,00040273134333529
Landon Cassill$5,200$2,00023302223131924
JJ Yeley$5,100$2,00027352324232532
Reed Sorenson$5,000$2,00031 2727312935
Timmy Hill$4,900$2,00032462830273336