Drivers are willing to clock each other to get the clock at Martinsville
— -- There are a few times a year where drivers' thoughts might be dominated by the winnings associated with first place in a NASCAR race.
This weekend is not one of them. This weekend the objective of every potential winning driver is to earn a grandfather clock.
Every driver who has won at Martinsville immediately acknowledges the significance of the tradition and the value of earning one the most coveted trophies in all of sports.
A few years back, Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- a three-time Daytona 500 winner -- boiled over in emotion celebrating in Martinsville's Victory Lane as though he had never won a race.
I understand it, and I never tire of it because Martinsville is a special place.
Here are some drivers I have my eye on:
Martin Truex Jr.: He was the first of my four pre-Chase picks for Miami to be eliminated.
I was disappointed for Martin because he's had a phenomenal season, a season worthy of a championship, and he has been without question the fastest car in the series week in and week out.
The disappointment didn't stall his or his team's attitude toward finishing the season on a high note.
Martin told me Monday how determined he was to win a grandfather clock.
Winning the pole position on Friday sets him up very well to meet that goal.
Brad Keselowski:?Having also been eliminated last week at Talladega suggested he has unfinished business in that winning the most races this season would be a strong concession prize to a second title.
These two drivers being on the outside looking in sets up an interesting dynamic because collectively they could win the next three races, meaning no Chase driver would automatically punch his ticket to the final round.
These two drivers getting knocked out in the second round are the equivalent of a couple 14-2 teams getting knocked out in the NFL playoffs, and both were knocked out primarily due to mechanical failures -- blown engines -- last week.
The pressure and the burden of battling to advance no longer exist for Martin and Brad. They were dangerous in the Chase, and I think that they are even more credible and more dangerous in terms of winning races now that they're out
Denny Hamlin: If you haven't bought into the idea of Denny winning his first Sprint Cup Series title, you should probably take a moment and study the numbers.
The driver from Virginia has been a perennial Chase driver. He has also won a race every season he's competed in the Sprint Cup Series.
What makes this season a little more convincing is his qualifying efforts are absolutely remarkable.
His sixth-place average start is a fundamental cornerstone toward achieving a title. It sets the tone for your weekend, gives you preferential pit road entry and exit, establishes an early advantage in track position and allows you to make adjustments to your car in the first or second pit stop.
Running out front of all the dirty air in traffic during a race is not a guarantee of a ring, but what Denny has done most Fridays in qualifying this year helps his chances considerably.
I also believe he's galvanized by the disappointments of seasons past. There seemed to be the potential for a letdown going into last week's race at Talladega, a race where he had very little wiggle room and more than likely needed a top-5 finish to advance.
Unlike all the other drivers I reached out to last week, Denny told me he was going to race like his season depended on him winning. He did that lap after lap in an environment that's very unforgiving, very volatile and forever changing.
When it mattered most, the final turn of the final lap, Denny inched his way by Kurt Busch just enough to advance to the next round of the Chase.
I've always admired Denny Hamlin's ability, and I can truly tell you that I admire his mental toughness this year.
He was a pre-Chase Homestead pick of mine, and due to his efforts through the first six races, my opinion has only been enhanced.
The Bottom Line
I love Martinsville more than any track we compete at. The paperclip-shaped half-mile track represents the very origin of how we all begin racing.
Short-track racing is the purest form of NASCAR competition. All elements apply,
Horsepower, mechanical grip (handling), tire management, preserving your brakes and track position. It's all there.
What's not prevalent at the Virginia track is the dependency on aerodynamic downforce. That in itself makes this track a cure-all toward one of our sport's greatest obstacles.
There will be no aero push here, but there will be plenty of push.
Bumpers come into play at this race track like no other on the Sprint Cup schedule.
Bumpers are used to initiate a pass, used to return the favor. Bumpers are used for retaliation or to simply send a message.
I'm here, if you hold me back, the next bump will be a bit more aggressive. It's synonymous with short-track racing. That's why we all look so forward to this event.
At Martinsville, drivers often speak or communicate with their front bumper. The message can be subtle or abrupt. In either case, the message has a purpose.
By the way, there was a bump or two involved in winning my grandfather clock 15 years ago.
For me, winning at Martinsville was that important.
Based on what I've been told from drivers this week, it still is!
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