Old school racing at Martinsville

Week six in the NASCAR season and the Sprint Cup boys are packing up all their gear and heading to Martinsville, Virginia to the only track that has appeared on the Sprint Cup circuit every year of NASCAR's existance. Martinsville Speedway is the sight of this weekend's Goody's Cool Orange 500 and here are my picks for the men to beat.

Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet (Hendrick Motorsports)Last Week: 18th place finish in the Food City 500

Career at Martinsville: 6.2 Avg. Finish, 4 wins, 8 Top 5's, 11 Top 10's

Why he could win: Johnson has been the man at Martinsville for the last year and a half. He has three straight wins at the track and has been basicly unbeatable. The last time he didn't win at Martinsville he started on the pole and finished 3rd at the spring event in 2006. Odds on favorite anyone?

Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet (Hendrick Motorsports)

Last Week: 5th place finish in the Food City 500

Career at Martinsville: 14.8 Avg. Finish, 7 Top 5's, 7 Top 10's

Why he could win: Anyone remember a few years ago at Martinsville when Dale Jr. had half of his front end missing and he was still one of the fastest cars on the track? Yeah, that's why i'm picking him this week.

Tony Stewart, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota (Joe Gibbs Racing)

Last Week: 14th place finish in the Food City 500

Career at Martinsville: 12.3 Avg. Finish, 2 Wins, 6 Top 5's, 10 Top 10's

Why he could win: The last man to win at Martinsville before Jimmie Johnson became dictator at the track, Stewart has always been good at Martinsville. Seeing him run up front will be no surprise to anyone this weekend.

And this week's underdog is....(insert drumroll here)....

Ken Schrader, No. 49 Microsoft Small Business Toyota (BAM Racing)

Last Week: 41st place finish in the Food City 500

Career at Martinsville: 17.2 Avg. Finish, 1 Top 5, 18 Top 10's

Why he could win: Before being involved in a wreck not of his doing last week Schrader was poised for a great finish. I expect the same of Schrader and BAM Racing this week, who oddly enough picked up sponsorship from Microsoft and switched to Toyota this week in association with Bill Davis Racing. Is this a sign of good things to come for Schrader and BAM Racing???