Qualifying at Martinsburg gave some Chase for the Championship contenders the break they needed with some other drivers in need of some excitement doing well and Jimmie Johnson starting at 15th, a position generally too low to ascend to victory at Martnsville, but this is Jimmie Johnson and Martinsville is one of his most successful tracks.
The top 15 qualifiers are:
1- Ryan Newman *
2- Jeff Gordon *
3- Martin Truex
4- Mark Martin *
5- David Reutimann
6- Casey Mears
7- Joey Logano
8- Bobby Labonte
9- Reed Sorenson
10-Kevin Harvick
11-David Stremme
12-Dale Earnhardt Jr.
13-Tony Stewart *
14-David Ragan
15-Jimmie Johnson *
*indicates “Chase” driver.
Where the remainder of the “Chase” field qualified:
17-Denny Hamlin
20-Greg Biffle
21-Juan Montoya
24-Brian Vickers
26-Kasey Kahne
29-Carl Edwards
37-Kurt Busch
With Mark Martin 90 points behind Johnson, and Jeff Gordon, 135 points behind, such factors as choice of pit locations and the ability to get a jump on the field, these are advantages they must use to gain on Johnson as they must chop away at his lead each week if they are to remain contenders. We did not include Ryan Newman because at 288 points behind, he’s too far separated to be a genuine contender with just five more races and Tony Stewart is starting too close to Johnson to have a real advantage.
Each driver who still has a fighting chance in the chase must go for the win or finish comfortably in the top ten and hope racing karma takes care of Jimmie Johnson unless, of course, they find themselves battling Johnson for position where they have to do everything they can to gain an advantage while staying with in the rules. Yes, that means wrecking Johnson if they can get away with it. That’s what short track racing is all about so help me Dale Earnhardt Sr. Speaking of Earnhardt’s, it’s nice to see Junior starting 12th one of his best pole positions in some time and likewise other hard luck competitors Casey Mears, Bobby Labonte racing his last race for Hall of Fame and Kevin Harvick starting in the top 10.
Racing conditions should be ideal with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 60’s Sunday afternoon.
The top 15 qualifiers are:
1- Ryan Newman *
2- Jeff Gordon *
3- Martin Truex
4- Mark Martin *
5- David Reutimann
6- Casey Mears
7- Joey Logano
8- Bobby Labonte
9- Reed Sorenson
10-Kevin Harvick
11-David Stremme
12-Dale Earnhardt Jr.
13-Tony Stewart *
14-David Ragan
15-Jimmie Johnson *
*indicates “Chase” driver.
Where the remainder of the “Chase” field qualified:
17-Denny Hamlin
20-Greg Biffle
21-Juan Montoya
24-Brian Vickers
26-Kasey Kahne
29-Carl Edwards
37-Kurt Busch
With Mark Martin 90 points behind Johnson, and Jeff Gordon, 135 points behind, such factors as choice of pit locations and the ability to get a jump on the field, these are advantages they must use to gain on Johnson as they must chop away at his lead each week if they are to remain contenders. We did not include Ryan Newman because at 288 points behind, he’s too far separated to be a genuine contender with just five more races and Tony Stewart is starting too close to Johnson to have a real advantage.
Each driver who still has a fighting chance in the chase must go for the win or finish comfortably in the top ten and hope racing karma takes care of Jimmie Johnson unless, of course, they find themselves battling Johnson for position where they have to do everything they can to gain an advantage while staying with in the rules. Yes, that means wrecking Johnson if they can get away with it. That’s what short track racing is all about so help me Dale Earnhardt Sr. Speaking of Earnhardt’s, it’s nice to see Junior starting 12th one of his best pole positions in some time and likewise other hard luck competitors Casey Mears, Bobby Labonte racing his last race for Hall of Fame and Kevin Harvick starting in the top 10.
Racing conditions should be ideal with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 60’s Sunday afternoon.
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