NASCAR Sprint Cup: Notes from a Wet Practice at Martinsville

Well, there is not much to speak of performance-wise during the first two practice sessions leading up to the race on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

The tiny track was spattered with rain all day, rendering it useless for any Sprint Cup drivers to get on track and conducting practice laps.

It does not appear that this will happen Saturday, either.

The weather forecast is for more rain and cloudy skies, much like Friday.

NASCAR has stipulated that it will let the drivers on the track early, around 8:00 or 9 am. Then, qualifying will be attempted around 12:30 or 1 pm.

With rain given a 90 percent chance of falling, it is likely that at least one or both of the events will be cancelled and qualification may come down to owner's points. Current third-place points stander Kevin Harvick expressed his desire for this NOT to happen because.

As a Richard Childress Racing employee, he will lose out to both Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth for top qualification spots based on those two drivers' affiliation with Roush Fenway Racing, the current leader in owner's points accrued.

It is not the best way to determine a field in a race for the Chase, but that may be the unfortunate net result because the almost assured inclement weather.

One other point of interest: A different type of tire will be used by all drivers at this race. From preliminary reports, it is a bit softer than what used at the Martinsville race earlier in the Spring of this year.

The only drivers that have tested it, as of right now, are Chase participants Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. If practice/qualification becomes a wash, they may have a slight, albeit very slight, advantage once the checkered flag drops.

Hopefully, Saturday will provide a small window of decent weather in order for all to practice and qualify based on their own efforts.