It’s Difficult To Pick A Chase Favorite In TUMS QuikPak 500 At Martinsville Speedway

MARTINSVILLE, VA (Sept. 8, 2008) – Handicappers don’t have a problem picking favorites for the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup. They lean toward the Chase’s top two seeds, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards.

Picking a winner for the TUMS QuikPak 500, the sixth stop in the Chase, may be a different story.

Four of the top five drivers in the Chase do not have a win on Martinsville Speedway’s historic half-mile; seven of the 12 drivers in the Chase have not won at Martinsville.

Top-seeded Busch has been successful in his seven starts at Martinsville with three top-five finishes, but he hasn’t threatened for a win. Ditto for second-seeded Edwards, who doesn’t even have a top five in his eight Martinsville starts.

Jimmie Johnson is the third seed in the Chase, but has to be a favorite in the TUMS QuikPak 500 on October 19. His Martinsville stats are nothing short of amazing. In 13 starts he has four wins, nine top fives and 11 top 10s. He swept the 2007 Cup races here in 2007, holding off Ryan Newman in last fall’s Chase race in a dramatic finish.

Fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. could be a dark horse when the TUMS QuikPak 500 takes the green flag. He doesn’t have a win on the tight oval, but always runs well with seven top-five finishes and eight top 10s in 17 starts.

Although seeded back in 10th, Jeff Gordon brings the best Martinsville credentials into the TUMS QuikPak 500. He leads all active drivers with seven Martinsville wins and in 31 starts has 18 top 5s and 25 top 10s.

Denny Hamlin has been strong in just six Martinsville starts. He won the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 last spring and has finished in the top five in half of his starts at Martinsville.

Following is a look at how the 12 drivers in the Chase have fared at Martinsville:

• Kyle Busch: Seven Martinsville starts; 3 top 5; 3 top 10s, fourth in last fall’s race.

• Carl Edwards: 8 starts, 0 top five, 1top 10, best finish, 9th

• Jimmie Johnson: 13 Martinsville starts; 4 wins; 9 top fives; 11 top 10s

• Dale Earnhardt Jr: Seventeen Martinsville starts; 7 top fives; eight top 10s

• Clint Bowyer: Five Martinsville starts, 0 top fives;1 top 10, best finish,9th.

• Denny Hamlin: Six Martinsville starts; 1 win, 3 top fives, 4 top 10. won last spring’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500

• Jeff Burton: 29 Martinsville starts; 1 win; 10 top fives; 15 top 10s

• Tony Stewart: 19 starts, 3 wins, 7 top fives, 11 top 10s

• Greg Biffle:Eleven Martinsville starts; 0 top fives; 1 top 10s

• Jeff Gordon: 31 Martinsville starts; 7 wins, 18 top 5s; 25 top 10s

• Kevin Harvick: 14 Martinsville starts; 5 top 10s

• Matt Kenseth: 16 Martinsville starts; 1 top five; 5 top 10s

Tickets for the TUMS QuikPak 500, the sixth race in the Chase For The Sprint Cup, may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

Tickets for the Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on October 18 are also on sale and also may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.