2014 Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Sleepers and Drivers to Avoid: The third round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup kicks off this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, and although the flat, paperclip-shaped short track is the smallest and slowest track on the schedule, it still backs plenty of action. Cramming 43 cars onto a half-mile track inevitably leads to some bumping and banging, and by the end of the race, the only things hotter than the brakes on the cars are the tempers of the guys driving the cars. Throw in a narrow, treacherous pit road, and reaching victory lane at Martinsville is no walk in the park. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the drivers with the best chance to come away with a win Sunday.
The Favorites
Since entering the Cup Series, no driver has dominated Martinsville like Jimmie Johnson. In 25 starts, he has compiled a series-leading 5.2 average finish to go along with 22 top-10s, 18 top-five finishes and eight victories. In the last 20 races at the track, his average finish improves to a ridiculous 3.7. Johnson led the most laps at Martinsville on his way to a second-place finish earlier this year, and he has led more than 1,000 laps at the track in the last five races alone.
His career numbers at Martinsville are among the best all-time, and in 43 starts at the track, Jeff Gordon has amassed 34 top-10s. More importantly, he is an eight-time winner at the track and the defending winner of this weekend’s race. Gordon’s 7.0 average finish at Martinsville is the second best among active drivers, and he owns a 5.3 average finish in the last 20 races at the track.
His 8.8 average finish at Martinsville is the third best in the series, and Denny Hamlin has always had a great feel for the flat, paperclip-shaped short track. In 17 career starts, he has logged 13 top-10 finishes, including nine top-five finishes. More importantly, Hamlin has made four trips to victory lane at Martinsville, and he has finished in the top three on seven occasions.
The Dark Horses
While he has never won a race at Martinsville, Clint Bowyer has been a factor at the track ever since he joined Michael Waltrip Racing in 2012. In five starts at the track with the organization, he has compiled a 5.8 average finish and has yet to finish outside the top 10. More importantly, he has three top-five finishes in his last four starts at Martinsville, including finishes of second and third last season.
He is currently winless at Martinsville, but Brad Keselowski rolls into Sunday’s race on the heels of his series-leading sixth win of 2014. Plus, it’s not like he has struggled at Martinsville. He has four top-10s in his last five starts at the track, including three finishes of sixth or better in his last four starts. Keselowski finished a career-best fourth at Martinsville last fall, and as well as he has run this season, a win is certainly a possibility.
The Sleepers
Martinsville used to be one of his worst tracks, but Matt Kenseth has turned a corner in recent years, posting a 7.6 average finish in his last five starts. He has been particularly stout at Martinsville since joining Joe Gibbs Racing. Kenseth has finished in the top 15 in all three starts at the track with JGR, including a second-place finish last fall and a sixth-place run earlier this year.
Big Name to Avoid
His numbers at Martinsville aren’t terrible by any means, but Carl Edwards has never been a serious threat to win at the short track. In 20 career starts, he has just five top-10s and only one top-five finish. More concerning is the fact that Edwards has gone five starts without registering a top-10 at Martinsville and 11 starts since his line top-five finish.
| 2 EASY STEPS to BET on the 2014 Bank of America 500 Odds! STEP 1: CLICK HERE to OPEN BOVADA Account STEP 2: Deposit with Credit Card or Deposit by Check and get a 50% BONUS instantly FREE. |
Check the latest NASCAR Vegas Odds and Betting Lines from BOVADA below: