Martinsville Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks
Martin Truex Jr.
Martinsville Fantasy Spin – Martin Truex Jr. is a super-elite performer at Martinsville who’ll be a factor. The track isn’t named after him, but he’s owned it recently having won 3 of the last 5 races. If fall 2020 would’ve been incident free for Truex, he could’ve easily won 4 of those races and would be a perfect 5 for 5 at finishing in the top 4. After a strong showing at Richmond, I think it’s safe to say that the #19 team is back and will be a top contender on Saturday night.
Martinsville Track History – Martin Truex Jr. has been the premiere performer at Martinsville. He’s the defending spring winner and since fall 2017 minus fall 2020, Truex has 3 wins, a 3.0 average finish, a 5.5 average running position, the best driver rating by a wide margin and he’s averaged leading 80.9 laps per race. Last fall, Truex had a strong showing. In the race he finished 3rd in Stage #1, 4th in Stage #2, had a 3.6 average running position, finished 4th overall and led 9 laps. In terms of speed analytics, Truex had the 3rd best Green Flag Speed and the 3rd best Total Speed Ranking. I’ll note, late in the race the #19 was pretty wounded from his late bumper car approach, but he willed it to a good result. In spring 2021, had a great car and raced his way to victory lane. In the race, Truex finished 3rd in Stage #1, 3rd in Stage #2, had the 2nd best driver rating, led 20 laps and then of course finished 1st when the checkered flag waved. In the closing laps, Truex reeled in Hamlin for the lead, and ultimately the win. In terms of speed analytics, Truex had the 3rd best Total Speed Ranking, but in the 4th segment when the trophy was on the line, the #19 was the fastest car on the track. In fall 2020, Truex was a contender, but finished a misleading 22nd. In the race, Truex finished 6th in Stage #1, 2nd in Stage #2, had a 4.2 average running position, led 129 laps and ran 75 fastest laps. Truex’s misleading result can be traced to him having a loose wheel while running in 2nd with 40 laps to go. With 25 to go he came to pit road and that doomed his evening. Just prior to him complaining about his loose wheel, Truex was the leader. In terms of speed analytics, Truex had the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking and was the fastest driver in segment #4. In summer 2020 under the lights, Truex raced his way to victory lane, even though his race wasn’t incident free. During the Stage #1 caution after just finishing 4th, Truex got a commitment cone violation. In the race, Truex finished 1st, led 102 laps and ranked as the 2nd Fastest Driver Late In A Run. In fall 2019, Truex led 464 laps and raced his way to victory lane. In the four races prior to that, Truex had results of 8th, 3rd, 4th and 2nd.
Chase Elliott
Martinsville Fantasy Spin – At Martinsville, Chase Elliott will be a contender. Elliott’s a recent winner and in terms of “Outright Performance” he’s easily been one of the best here recently. Elliott had a misleading result last fall, and in fall 2019 but if those races were incident free, he would likely have 6 straight top five’s at “The Paper Clip.” On Saturday night, look for Elliott to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win.
Martinsville Track History – Chase Elliott has performed at a high-level at Martinsville and in recent races there’s no question he’s been one of the best. Last fall, Elliott had a stellar showing, but finished an asterisk mark 16th after getting spun out while running in 3rd by a desperate Brad Keselowski in the closing laps. In the race, Elliott won Stage #1, won Stage #2, led 289 laps, had a 3.3 average running position, had the best Green Flag Speed and the best Total Speed Ranking. In spring 2021, Elliott had a great car. In the race he finished 4th in Stage #1, 4th in Stage #2, had a 6.3 average running position, the 4th best Total Speed Ranking and then finished 2nd when the checkered flag waved. In 2020 with a new rules package, Elliott was one of four drivers who swept the top five. In fall 2020, Elliott put on a clinic and dominated. In the race, Elliott finished 4th in Stage #1, won Stage #2, had a 2.6 average running position, led 236 laps and had a race high 110 fastest laps. In terms of speed analytics, Elliott had the best Total Speed Ranking and his speed over the segments were 2,1,1 and 2. In spring 2020, Elliott finished 6th in Stage #1, 8th in Stage #2, 5th overall and had a 5th place average running position.
Ryan Blaney
Martinsville Fantasy Spin – Ryan Blaney is an elite performer at Martinsville who’ll be a driver to be reckoned with. Blaney’s come close to victory lane in the past here, and with the weekly speed out of the #12 team, you can be confident he’ll be fast. On Saturday night, look for Blaney to finish in the top five and compete for the win.
Martinsville Track History – Ryan Blaney ranks among the elite at Martinsville and in 5 of the last 8 races he’s finished in the top 5. Over the last six combined races, Blaney has a series best 5.8 average finish, a 6.9 average running position and he’s finished in the top 11 every race. Last year at “The Paper Clip”, Blaney had a pair of 11th’s, but I wouldn’t read into either of them too much. Last fall when Blaney’s Playoff hopes were on the line, the #12 team crumbled under Playoff pressure and ran uncharacteristically uncompetitive. In the race, Blaney finished 11th, had a 13.6 average running position and his Total Speed Ranking was the 17th best. In spring 2021,Blaney had one of the best cars but finished an asterisk mark 11th. In the race, Blaney won Stage #1, won Stage #2, led 157 laps, had the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking, was the 3rd Fastest Driver Late In A Run but finished a misleading 11th. While he was running in 2nd around lap 450, Blaney got a pit penalty when equipment left his pit box. In fall 2020, Blaney had a great car and overcame a speeding penalty around lap 104 when he was running around 6th. In the race, Blaney finished 4th in Stage #2, 2nd overall, had a 6.8 average running position, led 36 laps and ran 51 fastest laps. Additionally, Blaney had the 4th best Total Speed Ranking and ranked between 3rd to 7th over the four segments. In spring 2020, Blaney was way off early, but rebounded late. In the race he finished around 20th in Stage #1, finished 2nd in Stage #2, led 34 laps and finished 2nd overall. Him finishing that high is remarkable when you consider around lap 330 while leading he got a pit penalty which sent him back to 18th. In 2019, Blaney swept the top five and had results of 4th and 5th.
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Top Tier Elite Picks > Front Runners Rankings > Mid Pack Predictions >The Low Tier