H
HardScrabble
Guest
Tough to pass at Martinsville, and sometimes having the right car can make all the difference (where have I heard that line?? LOL).
If you look back at all the races here, up front is the place to when the race starts. The race has been won from the pole 16 times, from second or third starting position 13 times each, and from the fourth spot 11 times. No other spots are even close.
A list of the strting position and the number of wins from there:
1 ------- 16
2 ------- 13
3 ------- 13
4 ------- 11
5 ------- 5
6 ------- 8
7 ------- 7
8 ------- 2
9 ------- 1
10 ------- 4
11 ------- 2
12 ------- 3
13 ------- 2
14 ------- 5
15 ------- 2
17 ------- 2
19 ------- 1
20 ------- 2
21 ------- 2
23 ------- 1
24 ------- 1
36 ------- 1
However the past five years is just a bit different. It still seems to pay off to start up front. But coming from further back in the field seems more commonplace.
The past five years looks like this:
1 ------- 3
2 ------- 1
5 ------- 1
6 ------- 1
13 ------- 1
15 ------- 1
21 ------- 2
36 ------- 1
Jeff has the pole today, a postion he has occupied 4 times. He has won here 4 times as well, but only one of those wins (the last one this spring) came from the pole. The other times he has started on the pole he finished 7th, 12th, and 23rd. In his other wins he started 10th, 4th and 5th.
What does it mean................It is best to start up front, but ya gotta hit the setup. Raceday trim is more important than anything else. But given equal setups today, the man who starts nearest the front, will likely finish nearer the front.
If you look back at all the races here, up front is the place to when the race starts. The race has been won from the pole 16 times, from second or third starting position 13 times each, and from the fourth spot 11 times. No other spots are even close.
A list of the strting position and the number of wins from there:
1 ------- 16
2 ------- 13
3 ------- 13
4 ------- 11
5 ------- 5
6 ------- 8
7 ------- 7
8 ------- 2
9 ------- 1
10 ------- 4
11 ------- 2
12 ------- 3
13 ------- 2
14 ------- 5
15 ------- 2
17 ------- 2
19 ------- 1
20 ------- 2
21 ------- 2
23 ------- 1
24 ------- 1
36 ------- 1
However the past five years is just a bit different. It still seems to pay off to start up front. But coming from further back in the field seems more commonplace.
The past five years looks like this:
1 ------- 3
2 ------- 1
5 ------- 1
6 ------- 1
13 ------- 1
15 ------- 1
21 ------- 2
36 ------- 1
Jeff has the pole today, a postion he has occupied 4 times. He has won here 4 times as well, but only one of those wins (the last one this spring) came from the pole. The other times he has started on the pole he finished 7th, 12th, and 23rd. In his other wins he started 10th, 4th and 5th.
What does it mean................It is best to start up front, but ya gotta hit the setup. Raceday trim is more important than anything else. But given equal setups today, the man who starts nearest the front, will likely finish nearer the front.