Kevin Harvick opened up the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule this month with a riveting win at the Atlanta Motor Speedway last Sunday. That’s his second win since May. Will he sustain that kind of momentum? It’s going to be easier said than done for Harvick, with lots of great drivers vying for a win this Wednesday at Martinsville Speedway, where 500 rubber-burning laps will test all competitors. Below is a preview of the 2020 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500.
For the second time since May, Harvick ruled on the track last Sunday, winning the 2020 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 in Hampton. With that victory, Harvick is again looking to build another streak of top-10 finishes. He kicked off the season with a fifth-place finish at the 2020 Daytona 500 then went on to have six successive top 10s, including a win at the 2020 Real Heroes 400 at the Darlington Raceway, the first race since the season’s return to action following the COVID-19 postponement. Speaking of streaks, Harvick has also finished inside the top 10 in each of his last five appearances at the Martinsville Speedway. He has one career win there, so far, which he got way back at the 2011 running of the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500.
Hamlin has been a bit unpredictable of late, as he’s alternated sub-10 finishes and top 10 finishes over his last four starts. After a fifth and a win at the 2020 Real Heroes 500 and at the 2020 Toyota 500, respectively, Hamlin has gone 29th at the 2020 Coca Cola 600 and 17th at the 2020 Alsco Uniforms 500. But he also finished runner-up at the 2020 Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 and fifth at the 2020 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. With all that ups and downs for Hamlin, what makes us think that he’s a favorite? Well, Hamlin has won at Martinsville Speedway five times in 28 career races there. It’s difficult not trusting that kind of record.
Last year’s champion has yet to snag a win this year, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a driver to watch, especially at the upcoming race in Ridgewood. Busch is fresh off a runner-up finish at Hampton last Sunday. Prior to that, he was fourth at the 2020 Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500. Busch fans can feel it. Busch can feel it. Success is going to be sooner than later for the Team Joe Gibbs driver, and that could come this Wednesday at Martinsville Speedway, where he’s won twice. Furthermore, Busch has finished inside the top 10 in eight of his last nine starts there.
Newman continues to be steady behind the wheel even though he’s not winning any so far this season. Over his last three starts, he’s finished outside of the top 10, but his worst performance over that stretch was a 17th-place campaign at the 2020 Alsco Uniforms 500. His lone top-10 finish to date this year was at the 2020 Daytona 500, where he got involved in a scary crash and finished ninth overall. You can’t just count out Newman in Ridgewood, however. He has 17 top 10s in 36 career starts there, with a win in 2012. Last year, he was 10th at the 2019 First Data 500.
Suarez had an embarrassing showing last Sunday, as he finished just 31st overall. Suarez, who’s currently only 32nd in the standings, has zero top 5s, zero top 10s, and just a solitary top 20, so far this season. As a sleeper, though, it’s not that bad to have him as a punt play, considering he’s finished inside the top 10 in two of his last two trips to the Martinsville Speedway.
Kenseth got back into top-level stock car racing as the replacement for the fire Kyle Larson of Chip Ganassi Racing. After making his season debut with a 10th-place finish at Darlington Raceway last month, Kenseth went through a slump that saw him finish no better than 23rd in the next three races. He’s on the upswing now, though, as he’s finished 19th at the Bristol Motor Speedway and 15th at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
