Noco 400 Logo Martinsville

Statistical Advance: Analyzing the NOCO 400

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia, going into the NOCO 400 on Sunday, April 16, at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

Martinsville Speedway Track Data
Season Race #: 9 of 36 (04-16-23)
Track Size: 0.526-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 12 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 12 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch & Backstretch: 0 degrees
Frontstretch & Backstretch Length:  800 feet
Race Length: 400 laps / 210.4 miles
Stage 1 Length: 80 laps
Stage 2 Length: 100 laps
Final Stage Length: 220 laps\

Martinsville Speedway Qualifying/Race Records

Track qualifying record:
Joey Logano, Ford, 100.201 mph, 18.898 secs. March 26, 2014

Track race record:
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 82.223 mph, (3:11:55), September 22, 1996

Martinsville Speedway – Stats & Tidbits:

HISTORY

  • Opened in September of 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville Speedway, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States.
  • The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville Speedway was on July 4, 1948.
  • The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway was on Sept. 25, 1949 and was a 200 lap (100 mile) race that was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Red Byron driving an Oldsmobile for car owner Raymond Parks.
  • The track was paved during the summer months of 1955. The first race at the track that season was on dirt (May 15) and the second race of the year was the first on the paved track (Oct. 16). Prior to paving the track, the Cup Series ran 12 races total on the dirt at Martinsville (1949-1955).
  • The first 500-lap (250 mile) event at Martinsville Speedway was in 1956 and won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker from the pole position. Baker was driving a 1956 Dodge for car owner Carl Kiekhaefer.
  • Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976 at Martinsville Speedway.
  • In 2017, lights were added to Martinsville Speedway.
  • In total, there have been 148 NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.

STARTS

  • A total of 650 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway; 422 have competed in more than one.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Martinsville Speedway with 67.
  • Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts among active drivers at Martinsville Speedway with 43 starts.
  • Fonty Flock leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Martinsville Speedway with a 3.125 in nine starts.
  • Ryan Blaney leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Martinsville Speedway with a 7.786 in 14 starts.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Avg Start Races Rank Active Drivers Avg Start Races
1 Fonty Flock 3.125 9 1 Ryan Blaney 7.786 14
2 Fred Lorenzen 4.294 17 2 Joey Logano 7.929 28
3 Frankie Schneider 5.000 3 3 Chase Elliott 8.333 15
4 Tim Flock 5.889 11 4 Denny Hamlin 8.882 34
5 Cale Yarborough 5.935 31 5 Kyle Busch 10.971 35
6 Johnny Patterson 6.000 3 6 Brad Keselowski 11.077 26
7 Bobby Isaac 6.067 15 7 Kyle Larson 11.375 16
8 Dick Hutcherson 6.200 5 8 Kevin Harvick 13.326 43
9 Joe Millikan 6.200 5 9 Martin Truex Jr 13.618 34
10 David Pearson 6.571 28 10 William Byron 14.800 10
  • In total, 82 different drivers have made their first career NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway (1949-2022).
  First-Time Drivers Date   First-Time Drivers Date   First-Time Drivers Date
1 Kyle Weatherman 10/29/2017 29 Ed Jordan 4/24/1966 57 Ken Pace 10/17/1954
2 Gray Gaulding 10/30/2016 30 Johnny Wynn 4/24/1966 58 Joel Million 5/16/1954
3 Chase Elliott 3/29/2015 31 Terry Murchison 4/25/1965 59 Bill Morgan 10/18/1953
4 Kyle Fowler 10/26/2014 32 Ronnie Croy 9/27/1964 60 Bob Sampson 10/18/1953
5 Scott Speed 10/19/2008 33 Art Malone 9/24/1961 61 Bud Harless 10/18/1953
6 Michael McDowell 3/30/2008 34 Wayne Lambath 9/24/1961 62 Eddie Skinner 5/17/1953
7 Chad Chaffin 10/24/2004 35 Allen Franklin 4/30/1961 63 Gifford Wood 5/17/1953
8 Mario Gosselin 10/24/2004 36 Ernie Gahan 4/10/1960 64 Glen Wood 5/17/1953
9 Travis Kvapil 10/24/2004 37 Pat Moore 4/10/1960 65 J.L. Justice 5/17/1953
10 Mike Bliss 9/27/1998 38 Erwin Carpenter 9/27/1959 66 Bob Welborn 10/19/1952
11 Stacy Compton 4/21/1996 39 Jerry Smith 9/27/1959 67 Julian Petty 10/19/1952
12 Elton Sawyer 4/23/1995 40 Ben Benz 4/20/1958 68 Jack Wade 10/14/1951
13 Jeff Purvis 4/29/1990 41 Barney Oldfield 5/19/1957 69 Bill Holluck 5/6/1951
14 Tony Spanos 4/26/1987 42 Bill Lutz 10/28/1956 70 Bill Lawrence 5/6/1951
15 Jerry Cranmer 4/27/1986 43 Bill Poor 10/28/1956 71 Jack Holloway 10/15/1950
16 Mike Skinner 4/27/1986 44 Bun Emery 10/28/1956 72 John Manning 10/15/1950
17 Sam Ard 9/23/1984 45 Larry Frank 10/28/1956 73 Runt Harris 10/15/1950
18 Dale Jarrett 4/29/1984 46 Larry Odo 10/28/1956 74 Bill Long 5/21/1950
19 Bob McElee 9/27/1981 47 Norman Schihl 10/28/1956 75 Bob Collins 5/21/1950
20 Butch Lindley 9/23/1979 48 Bob Duell 5/20/1956 76 Donald Thomas 5/21/1950
21 Bruce Blodgett 4/25/1976 49 George Cork 5/20/1956 77 Frank Boylan 5/21/1950
22 Satch Worley 9/29/1974 50 Jim Rhoades 5/20/1956 78 Macon Powers 5/21/1950
23 Jimmy Hensley 4/30/1972 51 Reitzel Darner 5/20/1956 79 Ruel Smith 5/21/1950
24 Dave Alonzo 9/28/1969 52 Sherman Utsman 5/20/1956 80 Al Wagoner 9/25/1949
25 Buddy Young 4/27/1969 53 Jimmy Pardue 10/16/1955 81 Clyde Minter 9/25/1949
26 Paul Radford 4/23/1967 54 Gordon Smith 5/15/1955 82 Kenneth Wagner 9/25/1949
27 Tommy Ingram 4/23/1967 55 Jim Cooper 10/17/1954
28 Jimmy Trull 9/25/1966 56 John Dodd Jr 10/17/1954
  • Chase Elliott (March 29, 2015) and Michael McDowell (March 30, 2008) are the only active drivers who have made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Martinsville Speedway.
  • The most recent driver to make their NASCAR Cup Series debut at Martinsville Speedway was Kyle Weatherman on October 29, 2017.
  • The best finish by a driver making their first career start in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway was by Clyde Minter in 1949 when he started seventh and finished fourth – The only driver of the 82 to finish in the top-five in his first appearance in the series at Martinsville Speedway.

POLES

  • In total 63 different drivers have won poles in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway; 28 of the 63 NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway pole winners have won multiple poles.
  • Curtis Turner won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Martinsville Speedway in 1949.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Martinsville Speedway with eight poles (1979, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1992).
  • Six of the 63 NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.
Rank Active Martinsville Pole Winners Poles Seasons
1 Joey Logano 5 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015 sweep
2 Denny Hamlin 4 2019, 2013, 2010, 2007
3 Kyle Busch 2 2018, 2014
4 Chase Elliott 1 2022
5 Kyle Larson 1 2022
6 Martin Truex Jr 1 2016
  • Joey Logano leads the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers in poles at Martinsville with five (2015 sweep, spring 2016, fall 2017 and spring 2019).
  • A total of 13 different drivers have won two or more consecutive poles at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was Joey Logano who won three consecutive poles from 2015-2016.
  • Five drivers have won three or more consecutive poles at Martinsville Speedway in the series:
    • Glen Wood (fall of 1959 and 1960 sweep)
    • Darrell Waltrip (1979 sweep and spring 1980)
    • Mark Martin (fall of 1990 and 1991 sweep)
    • Jeff Gordon (2003 sweep and spring 2004)
    • Joey Logano (2015 sweep, 2016 spring)
  • Youngest Cup Series Martinsville pole winner: Ricky Rudd (April 26, 1981 – 24 years, 7 months, 14 days).
  • Oldest Cup Series Martinsville pole winner: Morgan Shepherd (April 26, 1987 – 45 years, 6 months, 14 days).
  • A total of 12 different drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Martinsville Speedway; none are active this weekend.
First Time Cup Pole Winners At Martinsville Date
Curtis Turner Sunday, September 25, 1949
Buck Baker Sunday, May 21, 1950
Fonty Flock Sunday, October 15, 1950
Perk Brown Sunday, October 19, 1952
Glen Wood Sunday, October 12, 1958
Bobby Johns Sunday, May 3, 1959
Lennie Pond Sunday, April 23, 1978
Ricky Rudd Sunday, April 26, 1981
Ricky Craven Sunday, April 21, 1996
Kenny Wallace Sunday, April 20, 1997
Tony Stewart Sunday, April 18, 1999
Scott Riggs Sunday, April 10, 2005
  • A total of 50 different organizations have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway, led by Hendrick Motorsports with 19 poles.
  • Hendrick Motorsports has won a series leading 19 poles at Martinsville Speedway among seven drivers: Geoff Bodine (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989), Tim Richmond (1986), Jeff Gordon (2001, 2002, 2003 sweep, 2004, 2007, 2008), Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2012, 2013), Kasey Kahne (2012), Chase Elliott (2022), Kyle Larson (2022).

WINS

  • A total of 57 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Martinsville Speedway all-time, and 27 of the 57 different NASCAR Cup Series winners at Martinsville Speedway have won multiple times.
  • This weekend, 10 of the 57 different NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway winners will be active.
Rank Active Martinsville Race Winners Wins Seasons
1 Denny Hamlin 5 2015, 2010 sweep, 2009, 2008
2 Martin Truex Jr 3 2021, 2020, 2019
3 Brad Keselowski 2 2019, 2017
4 Kyle Busch 2 2017, 2016
5 Christopher Bell 1 2022
6 William Byron 1 2022
7 Alex Bowman 1 2021
8 Chase Elliott 1 2020
9 Joey Logano 1 2018
10 Kevin Harvick 1 2011
  • The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway was on Sept. 25, 1949 and won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Red Byron driving an Oldsmobile for car owner Raymond Parks.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 15 victories (1960, 1962, 1963, 1967 sweep, 1968, 1969 sweep, 1970, 1971, 1972 sweep, 1973, 1975, 1979) – tied with North Wilkesboro (R. Petty, 15 wins) for the most wins at a single track in the series.
  • Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers in wins at Martinsville Speedway with five victories (2008, 2009, 2010 sweep, 2015).
  • A total of 13 NASCAR Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Fred Lorenzen won the most consecutive Cup Series Martinsville races with four straight from the fall of 1963 through the spring of 1965.
  • Martin Truex Jr. was the most recent driver to win consecutive Cup races at Martinsville (Oct. 2019; June 2020).
  • A total of 12 different drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was Ricky Craven (10/15/2001).
First-Time Cup Race Winners At Martinsville Date
Herb Thomas Sunday, October 15, 1950
Dick Rathmann Sunday, April 6, 1952
Jim Paschal Sunday, October 18, 1953
Jack Smith Sunday, October 28, 1956
Bob Welborn Sunday, October 6, 1957
Fred Lorenzen Sunday, April 9, 1961
Earl Ross Sunday, September 29, 1974
Dave Marcis Sunday, September 28, 1975
Morgan Shepherd Sunday, April 26, 1981
Harry Gant Sunday, April 25, 1982
Geoff Bodine Sunday, April 29, 1984
Ricky Craven Monday, October 15, 2001
  • Youngest series Martinsville winner: Richard Petty (April 10, 1960 – 22 years, 9 months, 8 days).
  • Oldest series Martinsville winner: Harry Gant (September 22, 1991 – 51 years, 8 months, 12 days).
  • A total of 25 different starting positions have led to victories in the NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville. Note: In four of the early races at Martinsville Speedway (1950, Spring 1953, Fall 1953 and Spring 1954), the starting positions were not provided on the official race reports; therefore, the below chart is based off the provided starting positions of the winners of the remaining 144 races.
  • The first starting position is the most proficient starting spot in the field at Martinsville, producing more wins than any other starting position (21 victories – a winning percentage of 14.58%).
  • Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins from the pole or first starting position at Martinsville Speedway with three (2008, 2012, 2013) Note: Jimmie Johnson won the 2008 Martinsville Cup race from the first starting position due to qualifying being cancelled due to weather.
  • Only one of the 21 Cup Series wins at Martinsville from the first starting position came from an active driver: Denny Hamlin (2010).
  • 36 of the 144 (25%) NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the front row: 21 from the first starting position and 15 from the second starting position.

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Martinsville Speedway

Note: In four of the early races at Martinsville Speedway (1950, Spring 1953, Fall 1953 and Spring 1954), the starting positions were not provided on the official race reports; therefore, the below chart is based off the provided starting positions of the winners of the remaining 144 races.

Starting Position Wins Winning % Starting Position Wins Winning %
1 21 14.58% 14 6 4.17%
2 15 10.42% 15 4 2.78%
3 17 11.81% 16 1 0.69%
4 14 9.72% 17 4 2.78%
5 9 6.25% 18 1 0.69%
6 8 5.56% 19 2 1.39%
7 9 6.25% 20 4 2.78%
8 3 2.08% 21 2 1.39%
9 6 4.17% 22 1 0.69%
10 5 3.47% 23 2 1.39%
11 2 1.39% 24 1 0.69%
12 3 2.08% 36 1 0.69%
13 3 2.08%  
Stats Winning % Wins
Winning from the first starting position: 14.58% 21
Winning from the front row: 25.00% 36
Winning from a top-five starting position: 52.78% 76
Winning from a top-10 starting position: 74.31% 107
Winning after starting outside the top 20: 4.86% 7
  • The deepest in the field that a NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville Speedway race winner has started is 36th, by Kurt Busch in the fall of 2002.
  • Martin Truex Jr. competed at Martinsville Speedway 28 times before winning in 2019; the longest span of any the nine active NASCAR Cup Series winners.
  • Four active winners have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Martinsville Speedway: Martin Truex Jr. (28), Kyle Busch (21), Kevin Harvick (19), Brad Keselowski (14).
  • Aric Almirola leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in starts without a win at Martinsville with 28 starts.
  • In total 39 different car owners have won at Martinsville Speedway.

Top Five in Organization Wins at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time)

Organizations Wins
Hendrick Motorsports 27
Petty Enterprises 19
Joe Gibbs Racing 14
Junior Johnson & Assoc. 12
Team Penske 9
  • Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 27 wins among eight drivers – Jeff Gordon (nine), Jimmie Johnson (nine), Darrell Waltrip (four), Geoffrey Bodine (one), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (one), Chase Elliott (one), Alex Bowman (one), William Byron (one).
  • A total of 11 manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway:
Rank Manufacturer Cup Wins Last Win
1 Chevrolet 58 2022
2 Ford 30 2019
3 Plymouth 12 1972
4 Dodge 10 2004
5 Toyota 10 2022
6 Pontiac 8 2002
7 Oldsmobile 8 1991
8 Buick 3 1982
9 Chrysler 3 1955
10 Hudson 2 1952
11 Mercury 2 1973
  •  The first manufacturer to win in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway was Oldsmobile and it was driven by Red Byron.

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes

  • A total of 70 NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Martinsville Speedway, and 36 of 70 have multiple runner-up finishes at the half-mile track.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in second-place finishes with seven runner-up finishes (1987, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000).
  • Kyle Busch (2012, 2017, 2018, 2021) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville with four runner-up finishes each

Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Runner-Ups Rank Active Drivers Runner-Ups
1 Dale Earnhardt 7 1 Kyle Busch 4
2 Bobby Allison 6 2 Denny Hamlin 3
Lee Petty 6 3 AJ Allmendinger 2
4 Cale Yarborough 5 Brad Keselowski 2
Jeff Gordon 5 Chase Elliott 2
Richard Petty 5 Joey Logano 2
Ryan Blaney 2

Top-Five Finishes

  • A total of 156 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-five at Martinsville Speedway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 30; followed by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon with 29.
  • Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin lead all active drivers with 17 top fives at Martinsville each; followed by Brad Keselowski with 12 top-five finishes.

Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Top Fives Rank Active Drivers Top Fives
1 Richard Petty 30 1 Kyle Busch 17
2 Jeff Gordon 29 Denny Hamlin 17
3 Darrell Waltrip 27 3 Brad Keselowski 12
4 Jimmie Johnson 19 4 Martin Truex Jr 9
5 Dale Earnhardt 18 Joey Logano 9

Top-10 Finishes

  • A total of 269 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-10 at Martinsville.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 38 top 10s; followed by Richard Petty with 37.
  • Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top 10s at Martinsville with 23; followed Kyle Busch with 21.

Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Top 10s Rank Active Drivers Top 10s
1 Jeff Gordon 38 1 Denny Hamlin 23
2 Richard Petty 37 2 Kyle Busch 21
3 Darrell Waltrip 31 3 Kevin Harvick 20
4 Bobby Allison 28 4 Brad Keselowski 17
5 Terry Labonte 27 5 Joey Logano 16

Average Finish

  • Dick Hutcherson (five starts) leads the series in average finishing position at Martinsville Speedway with a 3.8 average finish.
  • Ryan Blaney leads the series among active drivers in average finishing position at Martinsville Speedway with a 9.714 in 14 races.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Martinsville Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Driver Avg Start Races Rank Active Drivers Avg Finish Races
1 Dick Hutcherson 3.800 5 1 Ryan Blaney 9.714 14
2 Frank Mundy 4.000 3 2 Denny Hamlin 10.529 34
3 Bill Amick 4.500 2 3 Joey Logano 11.464 28
4 Bill Snowden 5.000 2 4 Brad Keselowski 12.038 26
5 Bud Moore 5.000 2 5 Kyle Busch 12.171 35
6 Lee Petty 5.542 24 6 Chase Elliott 13.200 15
7 Swede Savage 6.500 2 7 William Byron 14.300 10
8 Jeff Gordon 6.745 47 8 Christopher Bell 14.667 6
9 Dick Rathmann 7.000 5 9 Kevin Harvick 14.721 43
10 Glenn Dunaway 8.667 3 10 Martin Truex Jr 16.382 34

TRACK/EVENT SPECIFIC STATS

  • Qualifying has been cancelled 14 times in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway:
No. Date of Race Drivers That Started First Due To Qualifying Cancelled Reason
1 Sunday, May 17, 1953 Joe Eubanks Weather
2 Sunday, May 16, 1954 Ralph Liguori Weather
3 Sunday, October 16, 1955 Gwyn Staley Weather
4 Sunday, September 24, 1995 Jeff Gordon Weather
5 Sunday, October 19, 2008 Jimmie Johnson – Only one to win Weather
6 Sunday, March 29, 2009 Jeff Gordon Weather
7 Monday, March 29, 2010 Kevin Harvick Weather
8 Sunday, October 30, 2011 Carl Edwards Weather
9 Sunday, April 2, 2017 Kyle Larson Weather
10 Monday, March 26, 2018 Martin Truex Jr Weather
11 Wednesday, June 10, 2020 Ryan Blaney – Random Draw Pandemic
12 Sunday, November 1, 2020 Brad Keselowski – Metric Qualifying Pandemic
13 Sunday, April 11, 2021 Joey Logano – Metric Qualifying Pandemic
14 Sunday, October 31, 2021 Kyle Larson – Metric Qualifying Pandemic
  • Eight NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been shortened due to weather:
Date Scheduled Actual Fewer Laps Race Winner Runner-up
Sunday, April 23, 1995 500 356 144 Rusty Wallace Ted Musgrave
Sunday, April 24, 1977 500 384 116 Cale Yarborough Benny Parsons
Sunday, September 26, 1976 500 340 160 Cale Yarborough Darrell Waltrip
Sunday, September 30, 1973 500 480 20 Richard Petty Cale Yarborough
Sunday, May 31, 1970 500 377 123 Bobby Isaac Bobby Allison
Sunday, April 9, 1961 500 149 351 Fred Lorenzen Rex White
Sunday, October 12, 1958 500 350 150 Fireball Roberts Speedy Thompson
Sunday, October 17, 1954 200 165 35 Lee Petty Hershel McGriff
  • There have been eight Cup Series races that have ended in NASCAR Overtime at Martinsville Speedway:
Date Scheduled Actual Overtime Race Winner Runner-up
Saturday, April 9, 2022 400 403 3 William Byron Joey Logano
Sunday, October 31, 2021 500 501 1 Alex Bowman Kyle Busch
Sunday, October 29, 2017 500 505 5 Kyle Busch Martin Truex Jr.
Sunday, April 1, 2012 500 515 15 Ryan Newman AJ Allmendinger
Monday, March 29, 2010 500 508 8 Denny Hamlin Joey Logano
Sunday, October 25, 2009 500 501 1 Denny Hamlin Jimmie Johnson
Sunday, October 19, 2008 500 504 4 Jimmie Johnson Dale Earnhardt Jr
Sunday, October 21, 2007 500 506 6 Jimmie Johnson Ryan Newman
  • Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is the April 1, 2007 race won by Jimmie Johnson with a Margin of Victory of 0.065-second over second-place Jeff Gordon.

Top Five Closest NASCAR Cup Series Margins of Victory at Martinsville Speedway

Margin of Victory Date Race Winner Runner-Up
0.065 Sunday, April 1, 2007 Jimmie Johnson Jeff Gordon
0.107 Sunday, October 28, 2018 Joey Logano Denny Hamlin
0.141 Sunday, October 29, 2017 Kyle Busch Martin Truex Jr
0.141 Monday, October 15, 2001 Ricky Craven Dale Jarrett
0.170 Sunday, October 30, 2011 Tony Stewart Jimmie Johnson
  • Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the largest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is the November 1, 2020 race won by Chase Elliott with a Margin of Victory of 6.577-seconds over second-place Ryan Blaney.

Top Five Largest NASCAR Cup Series Margins of Victory at Martinsville Speedway

Margin of Victory Date Race Winner Runner-Up
6.577 Sunday, November 1, 2020 Chase Elliott Ryan Blaney
6.376 Monday, April 20, 1998 Bobby Hamilton Ted Musgrave
4.705 Wednesday, June 10, 2020 Martin Truex Jr Ryan Blaney
2.770 Sunday, September 26, 1993 Ernie Irvan Rusty Wallace
2.526 Sunday, April 21, 1996 Rusty Wallace Ernie Irvan

LAP LEADERS

  • A total of 158 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have led at least one lap at Martinsville.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough leads the series in laps led at Martinsville Speedway with 3,851 laps led (29%) in 31 starts.
Rank All-Time Drivers Races Led Completed % Led
1 Cale Yarborough 31 3,851 13,392 29%
2 Jeff Gordon 47 3,779 23,269 16%
3 Rusty Wallace 44 3,632 19,829 18%
4 Darrell Waltrip 52 3,617 23,727 15%
5 Richard Petty 67 2,964 27,891 11%
6 Jimmie Johnson 38 2,932 18,765 16%
7 Fred Lorenzen 17 2,731 6,638 41%
8 Denny Hamlin 34 2,190 16,424 13%
9 Bobby Allison 44 1,986 18,271 11%
10 Dale Earnhardt 44 1,947 18,907 10%
  • The most laps led by the NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Martinsville Speedway was 493 laps led of the scheduled 500 (98.6%) by NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen on Sept. 27, 1964; he started from the pole.
  • The most laps led by a NASCAR Cup Series driver that did not win the race at Martinsville Speedway was 432 laps led of the scheduled 500 (86.4%) by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison on Sept. 24, 1972; he started from the pole but finished second.
  • The fewest laps led by the NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Martinsville Speedway was four laps of the scheduled 500 by John Andretti on April 18, 1999; he started the race 21st.
  • Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the series in laps led at Martinsville with 2,190 (13%) in 34 starts.
Rank Active Drivers Races Led Completed % Led
1 Denny Hamlin 34 2,190 16,424 13%
2 Kyle Busch 35 1,429 17,086 8%
3 Joey Logano 28 1,098 13,880 8%
4 Martin Truex Jr 34 1,016 16,392 6%
5 Chase Elliott 15 957 7,278 13%
6 Brad Keselowski 26 891 12,746 7%
7 Kevin Harvick 43 628 21,099 3%
8 Ryan Blaney 14 377 6,905 5%
9 William Byron 10 221 4,703 5%
10 Kyle Larson 16 180 7,240 2%

FEMALE COMPETITOR STATS

  • Danica Patrick is the only female driver to compete at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series. Below are Patrick’s stats at Martinsville.
Driver Starting Position Finishing Position Date Driver Rating
Danica Patrick 23 17 10/29/2017 61.7
Danica Patrick 29 23 4/2/2017 54.2
Danica Patrick 24 24 10/30/2016 53.2
Danica Patrick 28 16 4/3/2016 69.2
Danica Patrick 16 40 11/1/2015 49.8
Danica Patrick 16 7 3/29/2015 86.9
Danica Patrick 30 34 10/26/2014 61.3
Danica Patrick 10 32 3/30/2014 52.4
Danica Patrick 41 17 10/27/2013 64.7
Danica Patrick 32 12 4/7/2013 72.6
Averages 24.9 22.2   62.6

NASCAR IN VIRGINIA

NASCAR tracks in Virginia

Track Name City Cup Xfinity Truck Combined First Year
Martinsville Speedway Martinsville 148 39 45 232 1949
Richmond Raceway Richmond 133 77 14 224 1953
Langley Field Speedway Hampton 9 14 0 23 1964
New River Valley Speedway Dublin 0 4 0 4 1989
Norfolk Speedway Norfolk 2 0 0 2 1956
Old Dominion Speedway Manassas 7 0 0 7 1958
Princess Anne Speedway Norfolk 1 0 0 1 1953
South Boston Speedway South Boston 10 35 3 48 1960
Southside Speedway Richmond 4 0 0 4 1961
Starkey Speedway Roanoke 4 0 0 4 1958
Totals 318 169 62 549

VIRGINIA IN NASCAR

  • A total of 187 different drivers with their home state recorded as Virginia have made at least one start in a NASCAR national series race.
  • 20 drivers from Virginia have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series. 11 of the 20 Virginia native NASCAR winners have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • In total the drivers from Virginia have won 268 NASCAR national series races combined.

NASCAR National Series Winners From Virginia

Driver Cup Xfinity Truck Combined
Denny Hamlin 48 17 2 67
Joe Weatherly 25 0 0 25
Ricky Rudd 23 1 0 24
Jeff Burton 21 27 0 48
Curtis Turner 17 0 0 17
Ward Burton 5 4 0 9
Glen Wood 4 0 0 4
Elliott Sadler 3 13 1 17
Emanuel Zervakis 2 0 0 2
Lennie Pond 1 0 0 1
Wendell Scott 1 0 0 1
Tommy Ellis 0 22 0 22
Jimmy Hensley 0 9 2 11
Rick Mast 0 9 0 9
Hermie Sadler 0 2 0 2
Elton Sawyer 0 2 0 2
Brandon Brown 0 1 0 1
Jeb Burton 0 1 1 2
Stacy Compton 0 0 2 2
Jon Wood 0 0 2 2
Totals 150 108 10 268

— NASCAR —-