The NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase heads to Martinsville Speedway, the only short track in the Chase. The two point leaders in the Chase are the two best drivers on the Virginia paperclip. Both Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson claim Martinsville as one of their favorite tracks.

Since coming into the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, Jimmie Johnson has long dominated this track. With four of those races being won in the NASCAR Chase, Jimmie Johnson has won six races at Martinsville. On the flat Martinsville half mile, Johnson also has finished second twice and third twice.

The race that sets up the final run to the championship is Martinsville this is the main reason Johnson has dominated the NASCAR Chase the last four years. Johnson has won from as far back as 20th position, although qualifying is the key to his success at Martinsville.

At Martinsville, Denny Hamlin is the also dominant. Hamlin the defending race winner of the fall race and he has three wins. Hamlin, in his home state track also makes the top five consistently. Eighth is Hamlin’s worst finish in his career at Martinsville if his one crash is thrown out of the equation.

Look for Jeff Gordon to be waiting in the wings, if anything does happen to Johnson and Hamlin in this race. On the Martinsville track, Gordon was the most dominant driver before Johnson arrived on the scene. Gordon’s worst finish at Martinsville is ninth since 2003 and he has won seven times.