Sunday’s STP 500 begins at 1:13 p.m. ET at the small track in Virginia. Among active drivers, Johnson has the most victories — eight. And after a poor qualifying run, the No. 48 team has found speed.
MORE: Starting lineup | Joey Logano starts from pole | Driver ratings
Now, Johnson must outrun the recent past.
Speed is relative at Martinsville. The track nicknamed “the paperclip” is essentially two drag strips connected by semicircular turns. Fast on a 0.526-mile track is far different from a 1.5-mile oval or a superspeedway.
Though in rush-hour traffic with 40 cars trying to make left turns, speed isn’t as important. Except when it is needed.
Martinsville Speedway (via Twitter)
Johnson will start Sunday’s race from the 24th position; that’s not good, but neither is it terrible if he drives wisely (as if Johnson has never done that … ) in the survival stages of the race.
He found speed in Saturday’s practices, including having the fastest 10-lap average during afternoon runs.
MORE: King Richard on brakes | Brian Vickers’ homecoming | Denny Hamlin a favorite
Remember, Johnson won twice with late sprints this season. So if he is near the front and has the brakes to push it, he will be a factor. And that’s something he was not in recent races at Martinsville.
Before finishing 12th last fall, he was 32nd and 35th in previous races. And he brushed the wall during Saturday’s laps.
Every driver knows Martinsville isn’t just another track.
“There’s little things about each corner and a lot more to it than what you see visually watching a car go around the track, as far as the marks, the braking, the lifting and everything that you’re doing,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “It’s definitely a track where you can get in a good rhythm, but yeah if you don’t focus on marks and what you’re doing you can certainly get yourself in trouble and very inconsistent. Guys are all around you. You don’t get a break here.”
Here is Sunday’s starting lineup.
Next week’s race is Saturday night at Texas.
