Fantasy racing fans, you still have time to vote on the People's Pitstop lineup for this Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. While you ponder your votes (remember, 2 from the A List, 4 from the B List and 2 from the C List), here are some things to know about this week's site.
Track basics. Martinsville Speedway, with its famous "paper clip" shape, is the shortest track NASCAR uses. It's only 0.53 miles long, and it's been hosting races since 1948. That's right; it's even older than Mark Martin.
Recent winners. Jimmie Johnson (2009), Denny Hamlin (2008), Johnson (2007)
Who wins here a lot. Jeff Gordon has 7 wins on this track in the Sprint Cup series. Johnson (you may have heard of him) has 6.
We hardly knew ye, wing. I guess if the NHL can change its rules on head shots in the middle of its season, NASCAR can change the look of its cars in the middle of its season. This week marks the return of a rear spoiler, replacing the three-year-old wings. So does this mean all those folks designing pink cars with kitties for Kyle Busch have to resubmit their designs?
So what's with the clock? In 1964, Martinsville Speedway's founder, H. Clay Earles, found a way to distinguish his race from all the others on the NASCAR circuit and support local businesses. He awarded the winner a grandfather clock from a nearby manufacturer. The tradition stuck, even though the manufacturer has changed.
For a more thorough preview of Sunday's race, click here to download a PDF from the fine folks at Yahoo Sports.
We'll be back tomorrow with the poll results.
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