The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs kicks off its Round of 8 at Martinsville. Martin Truex Jr. heads the Playoffs leaderboard (52 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson on the cutoff line). Here’s a look at the Round of 8 drivers heading into Martinsville. Hendrick Motorsports has won the last three Playoffs races at Martinsville since the ‘win and advance era was implemented in 2014. Brad Keselowski might have Martinsville figured out. He won the last race at the track affectionately known as ‘The Paperclip, has finished second or better in three of his last five races there and has placed fifth or better in four of his last five races there. He’ll go for the season sweep at Martinsville. Kyle Busch has made Martinsville Speedway his personal playground in his last few races there.
In his past four starts at Martinsville, he finished fifth or better. He led a race-high 352 laps to win its 2016 spring race and paced the field for an event-high 274 laps on his way to a runner-up showing in this April’s contest. Jimmie Johnson leads active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers with nine wins at Martinsville Speedway – four more than Denny Hamlin who has the second most victories at ‘The Paperclip. Denny Hamlin, has five wins at Martinsville Speedway – second among active drivers. A sixth victory in Sunday’s First Data 500 would earn him a berth in the Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Through seven Playoff races, Chase Elliott has racked up three runner-ups and has a low finish of 16th at Talladega. He enters Sunday’s race at Martinsville coming off a fourth-place showing at Kansas.(NASCAR)[see full notes and facts at NASCAR National Series News & Notes Martinsville page
