NASCAR at Martinsville 2014: Latest NASCAR Team News, Top Drivers and More
The field of 12 contenders has dwindled to eight, and NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup heads to Martinsville for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 with no shortage of talking points.
Every one of the eight contenders will start out with level points entering the first of three Eliminator Round races, but it's no secret who has the momentum. Brad Keselowski fought off elimination with a stunning victory at Talladega, while drivers like Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth have been making serious title pushes.
But the beauty of the Chase is that none of that matters. Those who have made it into the final eight have as good a chance at glory as the next guy with a clean slate heading into Sunday.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Here's a full breakdown of NASCAR news and drivers to watch for Martinsville.
Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville
Site: Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Virginia
Date: Sunday, October 26
Start Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
| Joey Logano | 22 | 4,000 |
| Kevin Harvick | 4 | 4,000 |
| Ryan Newman | 31 | 4,000 |
| Denny Hamlin | 11 | 4,000 |
| Matt Kenseth | 20 | 4,000 |
| Carl Edwards | 99 | 4,000 |
| Jeff Gordon | 24 | 4,000 |
| Brad Keselowski | 2 | 4,000 |
Note: Sprint Cup standings courtesy of NASCAR.com.
Latest Team News
This time last week, the talk of NASCAR surrounded Keselowski for all the wrong reasons. Not only was his fight with Matt Kenseth encompassing the sport, but he needed a victory at Talladega to avoid elimination.
Needless to say, a smattering of boos that rained down upon Keselowski after winning Sunday mattered little in comparison to the resurgence of his title hopes.
Actually, it seemed not to matter at all. Keselowski said of the boos, per Fox Sports' Tom Jensen:
"My No. 1 goal in racing was never to be the most popular driver. It's a goal that I have, but it's not a priority. My goal is to win races and achieve the highest level of success on the racetrack possible. And sometimes those goals are in direct conflict with popularity… And I'm OK with that. I want to win races and championships, and that's the No. 1 goal in my life.
"
The euphoric feeling on Keselowski's end is only one-upped by the disappointment and disdain from a trio of Hendrick drivers who were eliminated Sunday—Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne.
But still able to race in the season's final four meetings, Earnhardt Jr. told ESPN.com's Brant James that they won't stop gunning for victories, as there's nothing else to race for.
"We will just go try to win some more races before the year is out," Earnhardt Jr. told James. "That is all we have left."
But the spotlight has shifted far off of those drivers by this point, and it now brightly shines upon eight drivers who remain with very real hopes of a Sprint Cup title.
Former dance partners Kenseth and Keselowski both remain vying for the title, Jeff Gordon aims to deliver Hendrick a title by himself and surging drivers like Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman remain serious contenders. Then throw in Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards, and it's apparent you better start popping the popcorn now.
To say there is plenty to watch for as this season winds down would be an understatement.
Top Drivers
Joey Logano
Tensions were high last Sunday for most of the eight drivers in position to advance, but not Joey Logano.
With a firm points lead and easily in advancing position, Logano didn't need a big performance at Talladega but still nosed around in the front of the pack until the final few laps. He fell to an 11th-place finish, but it did nothing to quell his hopes of a title as he enters the Eliminator Round very much in contention.
However, Logano had some loose ends to tie up with Danica Patrick, whom he spun out on Oct. 11 in Charlotte. He made certain there was no retaliation in store.
"I think we came to a good conclusion of what happened—that's in the past, that's in the mirror, and we'll move forward," he told The Associated Press, via ESPN.com.
That has to be a worry off Logano's mind moving forward. Patrick has raced well as of late, leading at Talladega down the stretch, and she'd surely have the chance to retaliate if she would choose to.
But according to Logano, that tiff is long in the rearview mirror.
Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman enters the Eliminator Round with his head held high as one of the biggest surprises of the final eight, but it nearly started in vain.
Newman's car failed inspection following the race at Talladega, but he avoided being penalized after it was concluded that damage caused the violation, per AP, via ESPN.com. Now, the focus can get back to the future for what Newman hopes will be a title push.
The 36-year-old has been around the Sprint Cup since 2000, but his best years came in his early career. His best finish in the Chase is sixth place, which he hasn't reached since 2005.
In 2014, Newman isn't looking just to finish in sixth again.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
