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Saturday, March 28, 2009

Rainy weekend gives advantage to Hendrick's dynamic duo

Much has been made of the fact that no driver from Rick Hendrick’s super-duper four-man team has won a NASCAR Cup race yet this season, after five races have been completed. We likely won’t be able to say the same thing after Sunday’s race at Martinsville.

When you add up the facts that practice time was basically nonexistent for the Cup drivers this weekend, and the field was set by points after qualifying was rained out, only one conclusion is logical: Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson will be battling for the win Sunday.

Gordon is the points leader and starts on pole. He has more wins at Martinsville than any other current driver at the track. Look for Gordon to take no prisoners from the start, and begin to lap cars on the tiny .526 mile track within 60 laps or so. Jimmie Johnson has won four of the past five races at the track, and will no doubt be hunting his teammate on Sunday.

This is one track Kyle Busch has yet to really figure out, but considering how impressive he’s been this year, I don’t think you can ever count him out. If he’s going to compete, he’ll have to jump on Gordon early because playing catchup won’t be a recipe for success.

If I were in Vegas, my money would have to go on Gordon taking his first win in a points race since 2007. The points leader is on a tear this season, and the elements have given him the perfect setup for a win.

Now he just has to take the baton and run, and hope his teammate doesn’t spoil his victory party.

Truck race postponed
For anyone looking for something to watch Monday, the Truck series race has been moved to noon Monday due to all the rain, and will be broadcast on SPEED. Considering it’s a Truck race, plus it’s Monday, I’m guessing attendance at the track will be pretty close to zero. That’s too bad, though, as the trucks usually put on a good race and fans will miss a good show.

Bodine a title contender, but money woes may shut team down
Todd Bodine has been a great competitor in the Truck series this year, but unfortunately his team is running out of money. Bodine is second to Kyle Busch in points right now, but since Busch is not running the full season Bodine is the legitimate points leader in the series.

To think that someone leading the points in a major NASCAR series could be without a sponsor is pretty illogical, considering how many teams hit the wall every week and still have something on their hood. I’m rooting for Bodine to pull together a miracle, because he’s a great racer in this series and it would be a real shame if his 2009 title run ends this weekend.

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