The Contenders and Pretenders for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500

Today we will look at what the field's odds are at Martinsville this week.

Contenders

Jeff Gordon

The 2009 points leader has won a grandfather clock seven times in his career. He also has 12 straight top tens here dating back to 2002. Not to mention Gordon is sitting on the pole (his 9th at Martinsville) and has had a great start to 2009.

His average finish at Martinsville is 6.9. Yeah, he's pretty good here!

Jimmie Johnson

Like his boss, Johnson has been extremely successful at Martinsville. He has five wins in 14 starts at the paper clip. He has 13 straight top ten finishes at Martinsville. Not to mention he has won three of the last four races here. This is the race Johnson gets his 2009 back on track.

Denny Hamlin

Martinsville is probably Hamlin's best track. In seven starts at Martinsville, Hamlin has six top tens. He has only one win, but he's has had a solid start. He is starting eighth and was the fastest in the only practice on Friday.

Tony Stewart

Stewart has two wins at Martinsville in 20 career starts. His average finish is 12.6 but finished fifth here last spring. His 2009 surprise will continue and he may get Chevrolet their first win of the year.

Pretenders

Carl Edwards

Last week's Bristol disaster for Roush Fenway Racing was a fluke, but that doesn't change Edwards' chances of winning Sunday. He has never led a lap at Martinsville in his career in nine start and has only finished in the top ten twice.

It doesn't look to good for Carl, even if he is starting 5th.

Kasey Kahne

In Kahne's first five seasons, Martinsville has been his worse track. He has only finished in the top ten twice and hasn't finished higher than 15th in his last four starts here. His average finish at the paper clip is 18.5. Ouch!

Kyle Busch

Flat tracks were not kind to Busch and his No. 18 team last year, especially Martinsville. Busch finished 38th and 29th here last year his average finish is 18.2 here.

Brian Vickers

Red Bull struggles at short tracks were shown last week at Bristol and it will be shown again this week. He has only one top ten in eight starts at the paper clip and has an average finish of 21.2 here.

Rebounders

David Ragan

Ragan's 2009 struggles will end this week. He and crew chief Jimmy Fennig know how important this week is if they want to keep their chase hopes alive.

Ragan has run pretty decent at Martinsville in the past, and will get a solid top 15 this week.

Bobby Labonte

His 22nd place finish last week at Bristol, wasn't too bad but he'll look for more success this week at Martinsville. He had two top five finishes here for Petty Enterprises and gets around this place pretty good. Look for a solid run from this group.

Jamie McMurray

In 12 starts at Martinsville, Jamie has seven top tens. He finished eighth here last spring and has always been a pretty good short tracker. He is back with crew chief Donnie Wingo, who he finished second here in 2004 with. He just has to stay away from Juan Pablo Montoya.

Paul Menard

No I am not kidding. Crew chief Larry Carter has had some success at this place with the above mentioned McMurray and Paul finished 16th here last Spring. 

They know how important this week is to run well and get a deeply needed top 25. That will help that team this week.

Sleeper

Ryan Newman

Newman has had some success here in the past and teammate Tony Stewart will help this group. He'll have to come from the back (27th) but Newman has six top tens here.

Best of the Rest

Mark Martin

He's won here twice in 42 starts at Martinsville and they need another good run. Mark will keep the car off the wall and come from the back and get a solid top ten.

Jeff Burton

Burton has 14 top tens in 29 starts at Martinsville and won here back in 1997. It's one of his better race tracks and he is starting 13th. Childress is pretty good on short tracks so look for Burton to be up front all day!