Fantasy NASCAR Preview: Martinsville

by Eric McGuire , Wednesday, March 26, 2008

This week, the series heads to its second consecutive short track: the half-mile Martinsville Paperclip. This track is best described as two drag strips connected by two hair pin turns. The same guys are traditionally strong here every time, so stick to the favorites and don't make this the week you decide to try and pick a dark horse.

As a side note, this is the most legitimate class C choices available all season, so if you choose well you can make up some ground on your opponents in your fantasy league. The top 35 points shakeup has placed a lot of new guys into the top 35 in owner points, ensuring them a starting position for the race Sunday. This will be highly evident in the rankings below.

1. Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports

Gordon had runs of 2nd and 3rd at Martinsville last season. He was 2nd in the spring after leading 92 laps and was much faster than Johnson at the end of the day. He was 3rd in the fall and led another 168 laps in the process. With 7 wins on the Martinsville short track, he may be the first Hendrick car to visit Victory Lane this season.

2. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports

Based on recent history, Johnson should be number 1 this week without question. The problem: the 48 team hasn't run up to par in the first five races of the season. At Martinsville, Johnson has 12 starts, 11 top 10's in a row, and 4 wins (including both races last season and 3 straight overall). He has been as close to perfect as a driver can be on any track and it's tempting to pick him regardless of how well he has run all year.

3. Kyle Busch, #18 M & M's/Snickers Toyota, Gibbs Racing

At this point, it seems like having Busch in the top 3 is a prerequisite for writing anything about fantasy NASCAR. He led 106 laps in the fall at Martinsville and finished 4th in both events. Look for him to contend for the win again Sunday.

4. Denny Hamlin, #11 FedEx Toyota, Gibbs Racing

Five years from now, Hamlin may be ranked first every time there is a race on a short track. This is definitely his strength as a driver. He was 3rd in the spring at Martinsville, leading 125 laps. He finished 6th in the fall, a result that's actually considered bad for him. He let another win slip away last week at Bristol after he had a fuel pick up problem, but expect him to contend for the win this Sunday.

5. Ryan Newman, #12 ALLTEL Dodge, Penske Racing South

Newman is sometimes a forgotten man amongst the top flight drivers on short tracks, but he shouldn't be. He was 2nd in the fall event at Martinsville after a solid 14th in the spring. He has 5 top 5's in 12 starts at this half-mile short track. He's a solid pick, but you need to realize that outside of Juan Pablo Montoya and Robby Gordon, he is the driver most likely to irritate someone enough that he may end up punted into the outside wall. That is a major detriment on a small track.

6. Dale Earnhardt Jr, #88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

He has never won at Martinsville, but he's finished in the top five 7 times. Oddly enough, those are his only top 10's as well. He either runs really well or ends up in trouble. Prime example: he was a contender in the spring, finishing 5th after leading 137 laps; in the fall he was again a contender until he had a problem with his chassis and ended up 23rd. He's a solid pick this weekend regardless and could contend for the win.

7. Tony Stewart, #20 Home Depot Toyota, Gibbs Racing

I'm not sure I ever thought I'd consistently rank Stewart as low as I have this season. With his 2 wins and 10 top 10's in 18 starts, he's definitely a top flight option for Martinsville. His last 3 runs have resulted in finishes of 4th, 7th, and 13th; but his skill and the strength of the Gibbs cars could be a winning combination. Like Hamlin, he was in the right place to win until the late caution at Bristol.

8. Matt Kenseth, #17 DeWalt Tools Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing

Kenseth is usually very consistent at Martinsville, with 5 top 10's in 16 starts and a best career finish of 2nd. As well as he finishes, he's rarely a contender throughout the day and hasn't led a lot of laps. He's best used elsewhere, despite the fact that he may be a lock for a top 10. In the class A group, you want to pick a guy that gives you a great shot to grab a win.

9. Jeff Burton, #31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

The Iceman is coming off a big win at Bristol and coming to a track where he typically runs very well. He was 12th in the fall after leading 51 laps and 6th in the spring. He has a win and 13 top 10's in 27 starts, but there are other class A drivers that give you a better shot to win this weekend.

10. Greg Biffle, #16 3M Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing

Biffle was 7th in the fall (his best ever finish at Martinsville and his only top 10). Despite this, he has been a contender in almost every event this season and is a good choice for your class B roster.

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