From a NASCAR Fan’s View
The Cup Teams take on their first short track of the 2025 season and what better place to do that than Martinsville. Martinsville never disappoints when it come to drama and it really is short track racing at its finest.
Christopher Bell sits on the pole but is followed by three of the Hendrick Chevys. In fact, the Hendrick camp did qualify all four teams in the top ten. Along with Bell, Denny Hamlin, also from the JGR camp, qualified fifth and two Fords that have been showing speed almost every weekend so far. Of course, that would be the Fords of Buescher and Logano. Once again, Bubba Wallace is showing up with good speed and determination and was the best in practice but only qualified eighth. He is followed by 23XI teammate, Tyler Reddick.
Now I’ve just spent a little time talking about the top ten qualifiers but there is something I find even more interesting for the race today. Only one tenth of a second separates the top thirteen qualifiers from the pole sitter. It isn’t unusual for the qualifying times to be very close, especially at a short track like Martinsville, but it should make for interesting racing. Of course, short tracking at Martinsville always shows the importance of race and pit strategy and it is often the thing that makes the biggest difference when it comes down to the final laps.
According to his own words, Christopher Bell was surprised by his qualifying speed since he was concerned with his handling and speed in practice. From this fan’s view, I think his pole win may not be the thing that propels him to the win. Now, I’m not saying he won’t win but I am saying qualifying with the fastest one lap speed doesn’t always mean taking home the trophy. I will say this though. With the way he has started the season, this could be his fourth victory in this still early, 2025 NASCAR Cup season. I do find it interesting that, though he has those three wins, he sits fifth in the points so far this season. Of course, I realize that DNF is the biggest reason for that.
The biggest surprise to this NASCAR fan are the Hendrick teams. With their overall record at Martinsville and where they qualified for this race, there is a good chance one of the four of them could end up in Victory Lane. Alex Bowman has been showing a lot of strength so far and he could be the one that walks away with this one.
Chase Elliott may have something to say about that though. He has been running well but has been plagued by bad luck in the 2025 season so far. He has three top tens this season but has only led two laps and sits sixth in points for the season so far. He would be my most recent candidate for the song, “If it weren’t for bad luck, he’d have no luck at all.” Sure, I realize it’s not as bad as I just made that sound but he needs a good finish and nothing would help that team’s moral more than a win. (Hey, just saying, and that could be the understatement of the year.
Joey Logano is another that just can’t seem to catch a break. He has had speed but he hasn’t had consistently good finishes. Between him and Ryan Blaney, I don’t know which one wants to at least have a good finish and, yes, I know both of them would relish a win more than anything else. Whether or not their luck will change at Martinsville, I don’t know. What is very evident is that they both need to not have trouble and they both need to finish in the top ten.
I think the biggest surprise to this fan this season is Bubba Wallace. Judging from his reactions he thinks he is choking at the end of a race but I don’t see it that way. He is probably going to post a win much sooner than later and then, look out. There could be more than just win for him this season.
Okay, the race at Martinsville will happen one way or another and this fan thinks it just might be a race between the dirt track racers. I’m not ruling anyone out but I do think this one could come down to a close finish between Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick.
Of course, I could be wrong and it wouldn’t be the first time. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? Somebody totally unexpected end up in Victory Lane? Yeah, this is Martinsville and it is short track racing and that could totally be the way it ends…
Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time…
All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer
© March 30, 2025 – all rights reserved
Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com and Justafansview.com
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