{"id":8015,"date":"2017-04-02T10:48:55","date_gmt":"2017-04-02T15:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=8015"},"modified":"2017-04-02T10:48:55","modified_gmt":"2017-04-02T15:48:55","slug":"nascar-race-preview-stp-500-at-martinsville-speedway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2017\/04\/02\/nascar-race-preview-stp-500-at-martinsville-speedway\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR race preview: STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

Next Race: STP 500<\/b><\/p>\n

The Place: Martinsville Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

The Date: Sunday, April 2<\/b><\/p>\n

The Time: 2 p.m. ET<\/b><\/p>\n

TV: FS1, 12:30 p.m. ET<\/b><\/p>\n

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio<\/b><\/p>\n

Distance: 263 miles (500 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 130),<\/b><\/p>\n

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 260), Final Stage (Ends on lap 500)<\/b><\/p>\n

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Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 31, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

California Winning: Larson Notches First Win Of Season At Auto Club<\/b><\/p>\n

Kyle Larson snapped a streak of three consecutive runner-ups, leading 110 laps and winning Stage 1 on his way to Victory Lane in last Sunday\u2019s Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.<\/p>\n

The No. 42 Chevrolet driver extended his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points lead to 29 points over Chase Elliott. Because of his victory and stage win, Larson now has six playoff points.<\/p>\n

Larson, who also won Saturday\u2019s NASCAR XFINITY Series race, became the 17th driver to sweep a national series weekend.<\/p>\n

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Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, sits in his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 1, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The 24-year-old Californian hopes to start a winning streak at Martinsville Speedway in Sunday\u2019s STP 500 (2 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). He owns a high finish of third there.<\/p>\n

Bowyer Captures First Top-5 Finish Since 2015<\/b><\/p>\n

Clint Bowyer\u2019s third-place showing marked his first top-five result since he finished fifth at Bristol on Aug. 22, 2015. It was also Bowyer\u2019s best finish since his third-place showing at Sonoma on June 28, 2015.<\/p>\n

Bowyer has two top 10s so far this season, only one less than his mark from last year when he finished a career-low 27th in the final standings.<\/p>\n

Right now, the Kansas native sits eighth in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points standings, 100 markers below leader Kyle Larson.<\/p>\n

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The car of Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, is seen during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 31, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

This is Bowyer\u2019s first season with Stewart-Haas Racing, replacing three-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart in the No. 14 Ford.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot to me to be in this 14,\u201d Bowyer said. \u201cI have a lot of fun with these guys. Buga (crew chief Mike Bugarewicz) and all these guys mean business. It\u2019s a confidence thing right now, a momentum-builder, and we\u2019re getting closer. Obviously, this is a good track for me. I wanted to win that damn thing, but to come home with the wild finish and everything that it was, we\u2019ll take it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Truex Back Up Top<\/b><\/p>\n

Martin Truex Jr. is showing his breakout in the last two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series seasons was no aberration. The No. 78 Furniture Row Racing driver, who won a career-high four races last season, has powered to a strong 2017 start with one win, two top fives and three top 10s in the first five races.<\/p>\n

Truex leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with eight playoff points and is tied with Kevin Harvick for first in stage wins with three. His 7.4 average finish ranks second-best to Kyle Larson (3.8). Truex sits third in the points standings, 38 points behind Larson.<\/p>\n

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Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 1, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Plethora Of Young Drivers In Playoff Picture<\/b><\/p>\n

We\u2019re only five races into the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, but if it ended today, six drivers under the age of 27 would make the playoffs: Kyle Larson (24 years old), Chase Elliott (21), Joey Logano (26), Ryan Blaney (23), Erik Jones (20) and Trevor Bayne (26).<\/p>\n

Blaney, Jones and Bayne would all be first-time playoff participants. Jones would join Elliott (2016), Chris Buescher (2016) and Denny Hamlin (2006) as the fourth Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender to ever make the playoffs.<\/p>\n

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Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, signs autographs during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 1, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Martinsville\u2019s Finest: Jimmie Johnson Leads Active Drivers With 9 Wins At The Paperclip<\/b><\/p>\n

Seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has struggled in the first five races with only one top-10 finish \u2013 a ninth-place showing at Phoenix.<\/p>\n

Luckily for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports driver, he\u2019ll get the chance to turn his season around at arguably his top track \u2013 Martinsville Speedway.<\/p>\n

Johnson leads active drivers with nine wins, 19 top fives, 24 top 10s, a 7.8 average finish and a 117.7 driver rating at \u201cThe Paperclip.\u201d<\/p>\n

He won the fall Martinsville race last year to clinch his spot in the Championship 4.<\/p>\n

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Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, sits in his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 31, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Hendrick Motorsports boasts a Martinsville track-record 24 wins.<\/p>\n

Kyle Busch Attempts To Defend Spring Martinsville Victory<\/b><\/p>\n

Kyle Busch will attempt to visit Victory Lane for the second consecutive spring at Martinsville in Sunday\u2019s STP 500 at the Southern Virginia short track. Busch led 352 of 500 laps on his way to his first win of 2016. Overall, he claims one win, 11 top fives and 12 top 10s at Martinsville.<\/p>\n

On the season, Busch has finishes of 38th (Daytona), 16th (Atlanta), 22nd (Las Vegas), third (Phoenix) and eighth (Auto Club). He won Stage 1 at Daytona.<\/p>\n

Busch sits 10th in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points standings, 107 markers below Kyle Larson.<\/p>\n

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Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy\/Haas Automation Ford, speaks with his crew chief, Tony Gibson, during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 31, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.<\/b><\/p>\n

Parity Party: 5 Different Winners Through First 5 Races: <\/i><\/b>Five different drivers have won the first five Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races: Kurt Busch (Daytona), Brad Keselowski (Atlanta), Martin Truex Jr. (Las Vegas), Ryan Newman (Phoenix), Kyle Larson (Auto Club).<\/p>\n

Keselowski Records Fourth Straight Top-Five Finish: <\/i><\/b>Lost in Kyle Larson\u2019s blazing hot start to the season has been the consistency of 2012 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski. The No. 2 Ford driver has strung together four straight top-five finishes, including a win (Atlanta) and runner-up (Auto Club).<\/p>\n

Story and photos courtesy of NASCAR<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, looks on from the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 1, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 31, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, drives through the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 1, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, looks on from the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 31, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 31, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Next Race: STP 500 The Place: Martinsville Speedway The Date: Sunday, April 2 The Time: 2 p.m. ET TV: FS1, 12:30 p.m. ET Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Distance: 263 miles (500 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 130), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 260), Final Stage (Ends on lap […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8020,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[407,16,408],"class_list":["post-8015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-martinsville-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-stp-500"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/MENCS_MC_Earnhardt_Practice_033117.jpg-e1491148053810.jpg?fit=625%2C393&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-25h","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8015"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8032,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8015\/revisions\/8032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}