Martinsville STP Gas Booster 500 Top Ten Confidence Ranking Picks

1. Jimmie Johnson – Jimmie Johnson will be the clear favorite to win the STP Gas Booster 500. Would you expect it to be any other way for the most recent Martinsville winner who’s won here seven times? On Sunday Johnson will be starting on the pole. In other three races he’s started at the front of the field here he’s won twice and has a third place finish. Last fall Johnson also started on the pole and in that race he led 193 laps, had a 2nd place average running position and earned the best driver rating. Today in both practice sessions Johnson was quick. In Practice #2 he the 5th fastest 10 lap average and Happy Hour he had the 2nd best 10 lap average. In twenty-two races at Martinsville Jimmie Johnson has 15 top fives and 19 top tens.

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2. Clint Bowyer -If you’re a believer in practice Clint Bowyer is the driver you’re looking for. Across all three practice sessions this weekend he had the best 10 lap average. He liked his car so much in Happy Hour he ended the session early. Clint Bowyer was strong in both Martinsville races last year. In the 2012 spring race he was one failed “Hail Mary” away from victory lane. In the fall race he was strong once again. In that race he had the 2nd best driver rating, led 154 laps and finished 5th.

3. Jeff Gordon – Jeff Gordon was strong in both Martinsville races in 2012. In the spring race he led 328 laps and had the best driver rating. He had a very good chance to win but was taken out in a late restart when Clint Bowyer did a “Hail Mary”. In the fall race once again he was extremely strong. He led 92 laps and had a 5th place average running position. At the conclusion of Happy Hour Jeff Gordon was happy with his car. He told his team “Got a good car guys” (Happy Hour Practice Notes). His 10 lap averages were also quite impressive. In practice #2 he ranked 2nd and in Happy Hour he ranked 6th. In forty races at Martinsville Gordon has 7 wins, 25 top fives and 32 top tens. I wouldn’t be shocked to see this race come down to the Jeff and Jimmie show again.

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4. Kyle Busch – Kyle Busch will be tough to beat this weekend. In my Top Tier Elite post I said that outside of the “Big Three” he’s probably the next best pick available. In practice this weekend Kyle Busch has been consistently fast. In all three practice sessions his 10 lap average ranked in the top four. The only other driver who’s matched this feat is Clint Bowyer. Last fall at Martinsville Busch finished 2nd. In the last seven Martinsville races he’s finished in the top four 57% percent of the time.