Finding Martinsville mastery: ‘Once you get it, you get it’ – Nascar

The current trio of list-toppers have prevailed here in cars that span multiple body styles, with and without rear wings and splitters and before “reduced-downforce aero package” ever became a part of NASCAR’s technical lexicon. Change in the sport often comes in waves, but Martinsville’s old-school characteristics remain constants.

“There is just a certain rhythm to this place, and it’s still Martinsville even though we have different generations of cars and aero balances on the cars,” Johnson said. “It’s still slow in the corner, which mechanical grip is key. When you hit on something here it usually lasts a long time because it’s a track that requires mechanical grip and not aero grip.”

Several highly decorated drivers are still searching to unlock Martinsville’s secrets to at least get their names on the list in pencil, chalk or dry-erase. Chase contender Matt Kenseth is 0-for-33 at Martinsville over the course of his career. Fellow Chaser Carl Edwards is 0-for-24. Kyle Busch finally broke through this spring on his 22nd try, but has work still to do to achieve a level of stature on the list of Martinsville dominators.

Among Chasers, Joey Logano (0-for-15) is on similar footing. He’ll start on the front row Sunday for the fifth straight time at Martinsville, alongside Coors Light Pole winner Martin Truex Jr. (0-for-21).

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There’s a privilege to membership on Martinsville’s list, which typically starts with a figurative light bulb appearing over a driver’s head. Johnson remembers his a-ha moment distinctly, going a lap down to leader Tony Stewart here early in his career before discovering the rhythm needed to artfully navigate Martinsville’s confines.

For the Chase-worthy drivers who have yet to scratch the win column, Sunday — with the postseason stakes elevated — would be an opportune time for their own awakening.

“This track is one of those tracks where once you kind of figure it out and what it is, it seems that just continues every time you’re here,” Logano said, “and that’s why I think you see a lot of people here with so many wins. There are so many drivers that have a ton of wins here at this race track because once you get it, you get it. I don’t think the track changes much where you’re looking for something completely different, so we’re just trying to hone in on what that is and we’ve made steady progress at that.”