NASCAR Predictions: The Eliminator Round of the Chase begins on Sunday with the Goody’s Headache Relief 500 on ESPN. Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are co-favorites to win this race with odds of 4-1. Other top contenders are Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin. Each of those drivers is listed with odds between 5-1 and 8-1. Let’s take a look at Sunday’s race and NASCAR picks.
Hendrick Domination at Martinsville
It is hard to argue with Gordon and Johnson as the favorites at Martinsville as Hendrick Motorsports has done extremely well at this track with 21 wins. Johnson and Gordon have each won eight times at Martinsville. Gordon won last year’s fall race while Johnson won in 2012. Johnson also won in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 while Gordon also won in 2003 and 2005.
Race Notes
This will be the first race in the new Eliminator Round of the Chase. There have been 131 Sprint Cup races at Martinsville with two races each year since 1950. The pole sitter has won this race 21 times including Johnson who won the spring race last year. Starting in the Top 10 is extremely important at Martinsville as 95 o the 131 winners have started from a top ten position. Only six times at Martinsville has a winner come from outside the top 20 and won.
Martinsville Handicapping
Jimmie Johnson has the highest driver rating at Martinsville at 124.8. He is followed by Jeff Gordon with a driver rating of 119. Denny Hamlin is next with a 109.6 rating. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is next at 99.9. This is a huge race for drivers not part of the Hendrick or Penske teams because next week at Texas one of those drivers will probably win. That puts the pressure on Hamlin, Kenseth, Newman and Edwards to get a win this week. Hamlin would seem to have the best chance of those drivers to win this week as he has four wins and nine top five finishes at Martinsville. And don’t forget about Newman who has won at Martinsville in the past.
NASCAR Picks
It has been a disappointing season for Jimmie Johnson but it would be just like him to steal the show and win this race on Sunday. We’ll look for Johnson to get the win at odds of about 4-1.
