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.
Track position determines the winner. That's how Mark Martin won. Martin pitted earlier than most of the leaders last spring. When those in front pitted later on, Martin moved into the lead. He led the final 64 laps to win for the first time at Martinsville since 1992.