Fantasy Nascar : Racing in a bottle: Martinsville : Fantasy Nascar

So this week we go from a long, sprawling track to a short, round one. One of the joys of racing, which makes the results so hard to pick and highly unpredictable is the differences in the tracks and the fun that takes place at each.
First, a wrap-up of Texas.
After getting nearly washed away on Saturday, and getting washed out on Sunday, the race finally ran on Monday. Youngin' Matt Kennseth came away with the win after a two-tire pit stop with about 30 laps to go. The gusty move proved to be just what his car needed to pull ahead ��and stay there.
Race favorites Tony Stewart and Little E ran into trouble during the race but had good runs while the run lasted. Earnhardt, Jr. got tapped while passing Shawna Robinson and smashed his car into the wall, an event that is not unheard of in Texas. Stewart made a lousy-late race call when he put four tires on his car at the last stop, instead of 2 losing five spots in the green-flag pit cycle.
But rookies again prevailed. Jimmie Johnson, who started somewhere in the mid-teens, raced the field and ended up in the top 10. Ryan Newman, who started the race closer to the back than the front, raced into the top 20 and spent some laps in the top 10. These rookies are hot, and nearly unbeatable and they are going to be the ones to watch for the races to come.
So now we move onto Martinsville. The .526 mile track, with 12 degree bankings isn't exactly the derby that Bristol is but it produces its share of drama. Races in Virginia tend to end with lots of cautions under the belt, and with lots of lead changes before someone prevails in the winners circle.
For one of the first times in many races, this weeks qualifiers follow the stats for the race. Pole-winner Jeff Gordon is on a higher after breaking his non top-5 streak of 15 races by placing second, barely beating Mark Martin in Texas. He was last years pole winner as well, but ended up ninth. Overall, Gordon has 4 top 10 finishes in the last six races in VA and he might be one to watch. He is looking for a win, to shut up the gossip about his slipping driving. If Gordon has shown anything in the past, it is that he fights harder when people start talking louder.
Dale, Jr., who has broken his start of the season slump with several good finishes in the last few races, grabbed the third spot in this weeks qualifying. While he only has 1 top 10 finish in the last six races at Martinsville, that one win was a win. And Jr. has shown that he likes leading the pack. Its not often that he starts near the front and doesn't end up there, unless he runs into trouble. Jr., doesn't like not winning and after beating his car up last week after running a good race he is going to be spitting ready to race his car. Look for him to lead some laps, if not the last one to the checkered flag.
Tony Stewart is also going to be a competitor this week. One of the rare drivers that can drive his heart out at long tracks or short, he has a pretty good track record at Martinsville. He has 3 top 10 finishes out of 6, and one engine failure early in the fourth race. He starts this week 8th and while he sits in 8th overall for the points championship, Stewart wants a win and he is trying to make it two for the year this week.
Now we go off the qualifying orders.
Jeff Burton is someone to watch in this race. He has 6 top ten finishes in the last six races, including five of which are top 5s. He KNOWS how to run at Martinsville and he is going six races with good runs and no wins. He has the disadvantage of starting 23rd but bigger margins he has made up in the past. Burton is the king of passing and I predict he will end up near the front. He is also looking for his first win of the season, and some points in the overall race.
Another veteran Dale Jarrett is worth watching in this weeks race. He starts 31st but he has a good track record at he is never boring to watch. If he can get from the back to the front fast, he might just stay there. He has placed in the top 10 in 4 of the last 6 races.
Other notables in this race are going to include the unstoppable rookies Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman. Johnson currently sits in third in the overall points, and Newman sits in a comfortable 12th. These two kids know how to race and they will be racing this week. Johnson starts 14th and Newman starts at the end of a star-studded top 10 qualifiers. Veteran Bill Elliott starts in the top 10 this week, and while I don't pick him in the top 5, he has been consistent in staying near the top. Watch for Elliott to race another clean one and stay standing after the smoke clears.
Well, that is all for this week. Next, week is special.. we visit Talladega-- the sister track of my favorite track on the circuit and the namesake of the love of my life, my dog.
I will post this column each Friday afternoon. The ideas are strictly mine, with a little bit of help from the statistics and some of my racing enthusiast friends. AND I want to know what you think: If you agree, tell me. If you don't, tell me that as well. Drop me at a line at Theracingirl@yahoo.com