Only Phoenix, which has had nine consecutive different winners, has a longer streak. Few can explain Martinsville's unique list of winners, although John Andretti tried. Hamilton, who won the spring 1998 race, says a new tire could end Martinsville's streak. The tire Goodyear will bring was used last year at other tracks but not at Martinsville. Previously, there was a bigger drop-off, forcing teams to pit more often.
Fewer pit stops mean fewer chances to make adjustments and make the car better.
It's a real good tire, but it's a hard tire, which means it's going to last for a long time, which means it's going to be harder to pass, like at Bristol. Elliott Sadler gave the Wood Brothers their first victory in eight years when he ran the final 162 laps on the same set of tires to win at Bristol two weeks ago. A few crew chiefs who tested at Martinsville say that the tires can last about 150 laps - about the distance between fuel stops. That could influence what happens late in the race. Pit strategy dictates track position.