2011 Goody’s Fast Relief 500 – Predictions – Betting Preview + Picks + Odds
Preview: The Martinsville short track in southern Virginia is as historic a venue as there is in NASCAR, with the first race taking place here in 1949. The track is nicknamed the “paperclip” for its long narrow shape and tight turns.
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Race: Goody’s Fast Relief 500 – Martinsville Speedway
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011
Time: 1:13 PM EST (scheduled Green Flag)
TV: 1:00 PM EST on FOX
Though Jeff Gordon is the overall win leader among active drivers with seven, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin have combined to win the last nine consecutive Martinsville Cup races including both spring and fall dates.
The last driver to win this race other than Johnson or Hamlin was Tony Stewart back in 2006.
Jamie McMurray captured the pole for Sunday’s race, with Ryan Newman on the outside of the front row.
Safe Bets:
1. Jimmie Johnson (5/2): From 2006 to 2009, Johnson was practically unbeatable at Martinsville, posting five wins in six consecutive races. Johnson has the best average finish here at a 5.3 and only finished outside the top 10 once in 18 starts (his first). Though he qualified 17th, Johnson is one of the best at patiently working his way through the field.
2. Denny Hamlin (4/1): Hamlin’s been off to a bit of a slow start this season, but he’s been the master at Martinsville in recent years, scoring four wins in 11 starts, including the last three consecutive, along with two second-place finishes and 949 laps led. Denny qualified fifth for Sunday’s race and should have a boost of confidence on his home track. 
Dark Horse:
1. Ryan Newman (20/1): Newman has had some good runs with Stewart-Haas at Martinsville, posting a fourth-place finish in this race last year. Ryan is off to a great start this season, currently second in Cup points, and will start P2 on Sunday.
Summary: Look for tires to be a big concern Sunday as a new Goodyear compound struggles to rubber in the race track, leaving slippery “marbles” all over the outside groove.
NASCAR may throw a competition caution in the early going to give teams a chance to evaluate tire wear.
There were clouds and sprinkles in the Martinsville area Saturday, but Sunday’s forecast calls for clear skies.
Odds to Win the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500
NASCAR – GOODYS FAST PAIN RELIEF 500 – Odds To Win
David Ragan 75-1
David Reutimann 75-1
Denny Hamlin 3-1
Greg Biffle 75-1
Jamie McMurray 12-1
Jeff Burton 35-1
Jeff Gordon 12-1
Jimmie Johnson 4-1
Joey Logano 20-1
Juan Pablo Montoya 35-1
Kasey Kahne 25-1
Kevin Harvick 8-1
Kurt Busch 20-1
Kyle Busch 8-1
Marcos Ambrose 75-1
Mark Martin 20-1
Martin Truex Jr 75-1
Matt Kenseth 75-1
Paul Menard 75-1
Regan Smith 200-1
Ryan Newman 15-1
Tony Stewart 20-1
Trevor Bayne 500-1
zx Field (Any Other Driver) 300-1
AJ Allmendinger 60-1
Bobby Labonte 200-1
Brad Keselowski 75-1
Brian Vickers 75-1
Carl Edwards 20-1
Clint Bowyer 20-1
Dale Earnhardt Jr 35-1
David Gilliland 1000-1
Becca Gladden is a freelance writer and race handicapper specializing in NASCAR.
