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The Toyota Owners 400 was more predictable than any of the races we’ve handicapped so far in 2022, but that does not necessarily mean the Blue Emu 400 at Martinsville Speedway will follow. When NASCAR implemented stage racing, they forced teams to start making decisions about what is most important: points at the end of the day, or at the end of stages. And with unique winners continuing to pile up, points – no matter when they are earned – are more important now than ever.
When NASCAR implemented stage racing in 2017, they changed how drivers and teams approached each weekend. With race points on the line and a playoff bonus point for winning stages, drivers must decide if it is worth racing hard to win the stage, or if they want to employ some other strategy.
The free-to-play NASCAR Pick ‘Em game is simple to play, but with equally matched drivers in each stage, it’s not always easy to determine who will lead their group. Each week, players pick one of four drivers to finish best in Stage 1, Stage 2, and when the checkers wave.
Participants can compete for weekly cash prizes, with a $10,000 jackpot available for any participants who earn a perfect score. There will also be at least $1,000 awarded each week in guaranteed cash and prizes, even if there is no player with a perfect score.
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Best Finish, Stage 1
Matchup: Kyle Busch, William Byron, Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace
Keys: Longshots and dark horses have made a statement at the ends of races, but they have not been the drivers who’ve dominated stage points. Chastain has earned the seventh-most stage points this year with Wallace deep in the standings at 21st.
Edge: Byron. He has the second-most points earned this season with nine segments spent accumulating them. He’s also won two stages so far, which makes him one of only four drivers to do so.
Best Finish, Stage 2
Matchup: Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex, Jr.
Keys: Especially with the series lopping off 20 percent of this race, it is important to set oneself up for the final run to the checkers. Since a driver cannot short pit like they do on a road course, track position at the end of Stage 2 is critical.
Edge: Truex. Joe Gibbs Racing seems to have figured out the NextGen car – at least on short tracks. Truex has the most stage points at Martinsville over the past three years. In fact, his 72 points are 10 more than the closest competitor, Chase Elliott.
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Best Finish, Final Stage
Matchup: Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano
Keys: The eighth race of the season will likely showcase a new winner and that puts Elliott and Logano in the spotlight. They are not our pick to win outright, however, as it seems JGR has turned their ship around.
Edge: Hamlin. We don’t think he will win two in a row on the heels of his Richmond victory, but Hamlin will be in the mix with a top-five finish and that could be all it takes to be the top finishers among this foursome.
Top-three, Race Results
We missed on Truex last week, but he ran well nonetheless, so it’s time to double down. Truex for the win over teammate Hamlin and then one of the Hendrick mates. We’ll go with Elliott as he claws his way back toward the front.
Segment Points and Wins, 2022
Driver | Segment | Segment | Segments |
66 | 3 | 9 | |
64 | 2 | 9 | |
59 | 11 | ||
56 | 9 | ||
49 | 11 | ||
46 | 3 | 6 | |
42 | 1 | 7 | |
35 | 2 | 5 | |
33 | 1 | 5 | |
33 | 6 | ||
29 | 1 | 5 | |
27 | 4 | ||
26 | 5 | ||
25 | 5 | ||
23 | 1 | 3 | |
22 | 6 | ||
21 | 4 | ||
19 | 4 | ||
16 | 3 | ||
15 | 6 | ||
13 | 4 | ||
13 | 4 | ||
9 | 2 | ||
9 | 2 | ||
6 | 2 | ||
5 | 1 | ||
5 | 1 | ||
4 | 1 |
Segment Points and Wins, Martinsville
Driver | Segment | Segment | Segments |
72 | 2 | 9 | |
62 | 3 | 9 | |
54 | 1 | 7 | |
52 | 2 | 6 | |
44 | 1 | 8 | |
42 | 9 | ||
40 | 7 | ||
30 | 7 | ||
24 | 7 | ||
24 | 3 | ||
19 | 1 | 3 | |
16 | 6 | ||
16 | 4 | ||
16 | 2 | ||
11 | 2 | ||
9 | 2 | ||
5 | 2 | ||
4 | 2 | ||
4 | 1 | ||
2 | 1 | ||
2 | 1 | ||
1 | 1 | ||
1 | 1 |
