The Pit Stop is the essential guide to setting your Fantasy Racing lineup for the upcoming week. We provide you with pertinent news and roster management advice during every race week. It's back to more short track racing after the Easter weekend holiday when just a few of the Cup regulars competed in the Nationwide Series race at Nashville. Scott Wimmer won the event on March 22 driving a Richard Childress Racing car.
Before the break, Jeff Burton won the race at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 16.
The season's sixth Sprint Cup race is at the .526-mile Martinsville Speedway, the shortest track on the circuit. This speedway opened in 1947. It is a track that has only 12 degree banking in the corners and no banking on the straightaways. Some drivers handle the tighter turns a lot better than others.
This race comes just at the right time for struggling Jimmie Johnson. Why say that? Because Johnson has won the past three events at Martinsville and has not finished outside the top 10 since 2002.
Last spring Johnson led the final 113 laps and held off Hendrick Motorsports teammate and his partial No. 48 car owner Jeff Gordon on the final lap. Gordon maneuvered on the inside after a little love tap from behind, but it was clean. Johnson held his position side-by-side and traded some paint before edging his teammate for the checkered flag.
Gordon leads all active drivers with seven wins at Martinsville.
Some other drivers to consider for this week's Fantasy lineups include Tony Stewart, who enjoys racing on this track; Kyle Busch, the current points leader and a driver who can challenge anyone these days; Ryan Newman, who has had some of his best racing on this track.
Driver Stockwatch
Here's a list of drivers expected to produce better or worse than their salaries indicate on the coming track. Prices are derived from the
CBS Sports.com Fantasy Racing Challenge: Best value
Jimmie Johnson, $215,500: The tremendous results speak for themselves at Martinsville for Johnson. He has won three straight and placed third the previous two times. After a 35th place finish in his first Martinsville race in 2002, Johnson has finished in the top 10 in 11 events since. One other low result, if you want to call it that, was ninth in 2003. Despite some inconsistent results this season, we'll call it a good bet Johnson will have a fine race at Martinsville.
Jeff Gordon, $212,000: The all-time money leader at Martinsville, as well as wins among active drivers with seven. Gordon has not finished lower than fifth here since 2004, and not outside the top 10 since 2003. He has won four times in that span, with all four coming in season sweeps.
Tony Stewart, $252,999: 'Smoke' last won this event in 2006 and has claimed the checkered flag twice in his career. He probably would have had a few more wins if not for some bad luck in some races. Stewart finished seventh last spring and 13th in the October stop at Martinsville.
Kyle Busch, $316,000: Even though he is the highest priced driver on the list, Kyle gets a go for his constant results. He was fourth in both races last season and averages a 13th place in six starts at this track.
Denny Hamlin, $209,000: The native of Virginia always has incentive to race well at his home tracks of Martinsville and Richmond. He does not have a win at Martinsville yet, but did score a third and sixth place finish last year. Also was second in the fall of 2006. Hamlin is usually able to stay out of trouble.
Ryan Newman, $242,500: This is the track where he has had some of the best results in his career, compounded by the second place finish last October. He has five top-five finishes in the last 10 races at Martinsville.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.,$268,000: Junior has had some good and other times less than good results at Martinsville. He placed fifth in the spring race last year which makes it seven top fives in 16 starts. Junior should be able to follow the nice fifth-place result at Bristol with another fine run on Sunday.
Jeff Burton, $297,500: From one short track win (Bristol) to maybe another. Burton certainly is capable of a good run at Martinsville where he does have one career win and nine top-five finishes. His average finish in 27 career starts at the track is 15th.
Juan Pablo Montoya, $179,500: One might not consider Montoya for a good showing on fast short tracks, but in his first two starts at Martinsville last season he placed a respectable 16th and eighth. His price value is not too bad if he can come up with a similar set up for another good run.
Clint Bowyer, $228,000: Only four starts at the track, but given last year's 11th and ninth places results, he should be up for more of the same. Not to mention he also finished third at Bristol before the Easter weekend.
Overpriced Greg Biffle, $299,500: This nearly $300,000 is better used on another driver. He did score a seventh place finish last fall, but that was his only top-17 result in 10 Martinsville races where he averages a 24th finish.
Kasey Kahne, $262,000: Another fairly expensive driver based on his showing at Martinsville, 25th and 15th last year. While he does have two finishes in the top 10, he also has five results of 15th or lower in five other races.
Martin Truex Jr., $222,500: Averaging a 25.8 finish at Martinsville should say plenty about his potential at the track. He was 29th and 19th in last year's two stops here, with 19th and 36th in 2006. Look for other options unless you are a big Truex Jr. fan.
Kevin Harvick, $297,500: He's had some positive runs here with five top 10s, but the overall average is a mediocre 19th finish in 13 Martinsville races. He finished 41st in last spring's event.
Kurt Busch, $227,500: Unlike his younger brother, Kurt has had some tougher times at this speedway. Although he did win once way back in 2002, his average finish has declined to a 20th in 15 starts.
Carl Edwards, $249,000: He has improved somewhat at Martinsville, but he only averages a 20.6 finish in seven career races. The spring event seems to be the one that gives him a little more trouble than the fall one. He scored results of 17th, 16th and 38th in three spring races.
Brian Vickers, $193,500: An eight-place finish two years ago should not compensate too much for finishes like 36th, 35th, 27th, 17th and 13th. That makes for an average of 22.7 in six starts.
| T H E P I T S T O P S T A R T I N G F I V E |
| Beat the Expert! Staying within the $1,000,000 parameters set in the 2008 CBS Sports.com Fantasy Racing Challenge, here are the picks for this week's best lineup for the money: |
| Driver | 2007 Martinsville finish | Salary |
| Jimmie Johnson (No. 48, Chevrolet) | 1st | $215,500 |
| Jeff Gordon (No. 24, Chevrolet) | 2nd | $212,000 |
| Denny Hamlin (No. 11, Toyota) | 3rd | $209,000 |
| Ryan Newman (No. 12, Dodge) | 14th | $242,500 |
| J.J. Yeley (No. 96, Toyota) | 23rd | $118,000 |
| Total salaries | $997,000 |
Next race: Samsung 500 -- Texas Motor Speedway -- April 6
