This weekend NASCAR returns to Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend. With the a lot of focus being on the Chase for the Sprint Cup, here are five non-chase related storylines:
1. Jeff Gordon – The defending race winner finds himself back in the Martinsville lineup, subbing for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. Gordon, a nine-time Martinsville winner, could very well be making his last start in NASCAR’s top series and has the chance to go out on top.
2. Ford – A Ford has not won at Martinsville since Kurt Busch won driving for Roush-Fenway Racing in 2002. Recently, Brad Keselowski has finished second and Joey Logano was in a position to win last fall, before an incident with Matt Kenseth late in the race ended his day. Could this be the year that Ford returns to Victory Lane at Martinsville?
3. Non-Chasers Winning – The focus will be on the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and which driver will be the first to clinch a spot in the Championship Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, two years ago, after being eliminated from championship contention, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won, keeping a Chase driver from locking up a spot. Can it happen again? A.J. Allmendinger, Jamie McMurray, Keselowski and Gordon have finished second in the last four Martinsville races and all four are out of championship contention.
4. Jimmie Johnson – The six-time champion is an eight-time Martinsville winner, the most among full-time, active drivers. However, the driver of the No. 48 hasn’t won at Martinsville since April, 2013 and averaged a 22nd place finish in his last four Martinsville starts.
5. Joey Logano – The driver of the No. 22 will look to make Martinsville Speedway history on Virginia Lottery Pole Day, by becoming the first driver to win four consecutive Sprint Cup Series poles in the track’s 69 year history.(Martinsville Speedway)
