Top Row Seat - Martinsville Preview
Dateline: 09/29/99This weekend the boys head back to Martinsville Speedway for the final short track race of the year. 500 laps around this venerable half-mile oval is the equivalent of 1000 drag races with a U-turn at the end of each.
| Race: | NAPA AutoCare 500 |
| Place: | Martinsville Speedway |
| Distance: | 500 Laps - 263 Miles |
| Time: | October 3, 1:00pm Eastern |
| TV: | ESPN |
The three keys to winning here are brakes, brakes, brakes... did I mention the brakes. Sure you need to get the car to handle so you can drive off the turn, but if you can't drive it in deep and stand on the brakes then you can't make the hard pass here. With forty-three cars packed around the half-mile you are always either passing someone or getting passed.
In the spring Richard Petty saw his driver, John Andretti, win the race. One year ago Ricky Rudd won the race and collapsed from the heat while Rich Bickle posted an emotional career-best finish.
This week the Championship will again be foremost in the minds of the racers as Martinsville is a track that can jump out and bite you. The hard stops and close quarters stress the equipment and the drivers to their limits. One mis-step here by the Robert Yates Racing #88 crew and Mark Martin and Bobby Labonte are back within striking distance.
The second half of the season so far has seen DJ playing fairly conservatively and there is no reason to think that he will take any chances here. I fully expect Jarrett to coast home with a top ten, continuing his conservative streak and maintaining his death grip on the championship.
Do you think Martinsville is any more dangerous than the other tracks? How do you think Jarrett should play it for the rest of the season? Race hard or coast? Tell the world what you think on the bulletin board. Or you can talk about all things NASCAR in the chat room Wednesday nights from 8-9pm EST.
