By Erica Renee Davis
Special for FOX Sports
So you thought this weekend’s NASCAR race on FOX at Martinsville Speedway was going to be like other races we’ve seen this season? Well, former Daytona 500 champion and current FOX Sports NASCAR analyst Jamie McMurray spoke with us to set the record straight.
“It’s extremely flat, so there are no banks in the corners,” McMurray explained of Martinsville Speedway. “It’s the same size as Bristol, but the corners are very flat. That means it’s a totally different track, even though it looks like Bristol from an aerial shot.”
And according to Jamie, Martinsville’s flat corners aren’t the only features that add to its uniqueness.
“Martinsville is the only track on the NASCAR circuit that was around when NASCAR started. It’s the only track that has run every race.”
When it comes to running races, McMurray has more than a few to brag about.
In 2010, he took a big win at the Granddaddy of Them All, the Daytona 500. McMurray then won the Brickyard 400, becoming one of three drivers to win both in the same year.
But it is the Daytona 500 that is dearest to his heart.
“Even after 13 years, I can still close my eyes and see the last half of the lap. It’s great how that memory sticks in my head,” he recalled. “The cool thing about when I won Daytona is, at the beginning of the year, I honestly didn’t even know if I was going to have a job. But then we went out in the first race and won the biggest one. you can win.”
Jamie went on to relive the most exciting moment of his career.
“My wife and I had only been married for six months, and I remember seeing her waiting for me in Victory Lane. So it was very emotional for me. After everything we’d been through, we hadn’t even to say nothing about it. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
If the drivers preparing for this weekend’s race at Martinsville are anything like McMurray was behind the wheel, concentration will be key to crossing that finish line first.
“On race day, it’s very difficult to describe what goes through your head as a driver. But I would wake up a different person because you start to focus on what’s going to happen. And it’s a very long day of ‘sponsor appearances before. to a long race. The race itself is three hours long.
“But once they get in the car and put on the helmet, that’s when they’ll relax.”
And if relaxing this weekend is more up your alley, imagine up to $5,000 playing FOX Bet Super 6.
FOX Bet Super 6 is a free contest where you can choose six different results in the NASCAR Stage 2 race with the NOCO 400 at Martinsville Speedway to win by Clint Bowyer $5,000. You just have to download the FOX Bet Super 6 App on your phone or mobile device, make your picks and submit your selections before the race starts this Sunday.
Playing FOX Bet Super 6 is always free, easy and fun. And by the way, really people to win!
Before you put the pedal to the metal on the way to making your FOX Bet Super 6 picks with this weekend’s picks Race NASCAR on FOXcheck out this expert insight from Jamie McMurray.
Which of these drivers will have the best result at the end of the race?
Alex Bowman, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex, Jr.
“I’m going to take Truex because he’s won there three times before.”
Prediction: Martin Truex, Jr.
Which manufacturer, Chevrolet or Ford, will have more cars in the top 20 at the end of Stage 2 and how many will they have?
1-4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or more
“I’ll take Chevy. They’ve been the strongest to start the year. Yes, Toyota has been hot recently, but that’s been at single tracks. I think Chevy, overall, has the strongest car this year.
Prediction: Chevrolet, 9
Which of these controllers – Kyle Larson or William Byron — will he have the fastest lap at the end of stage 2 and how many yellow laps will there be?
0-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21, 22-23, 24-25, 26+
“I’m going to take William Byron, and I’m going to take him because he won this race a year ago. Kyle Larson was my teammate for years, and he hates Martinsville, so I’m not going to pick him at all. And for the second part of the question, I’ll just give you a number.”
Prediction: William Byron, 22-23
Which manufacturer, Chevrolet or Ford, will have more cars lapped in the lead at the end of Stage 2 and how many will they have?
1-5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18+
“I’ll take Chevy. Ford has a couple of teams that I think won’t do well, and Chevy just has better-caliber cars and better-quality teams.”
Prediction: Chevrolet, 14-15
Which driver – Ryan Blaney or Joey Logano — will he have the best finish at the end of stage 2 and by how many positions?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8-10, 11-14, 15 or more
“I’ll take Blaney with me. And I’m going with him because his luck has been so bad this year that I feel like he’s going to have to turn around at any moment.”
Prediction: Ryan Blaney, 5 years old
Which driver – Aric Almirola or Austin Dillon — will he have the best finish at the end of stage 2 and by how many positions?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8-10, 11-14, 15 or more
“Austin Dillon. He finished third in this race a year ago. And Austin is coming off a really good run at Bristol, and I think that momentum will carry over into this weekend.
“At Bristol, Aric ran well, but the car broke down. He’s good on short tracks, but his team this year can’t seem to buy a break.”
Prediction: Austin Dillon, 3
McMurray’s parting thoughts before the NOCO 400 at Martinsville Speedway were about how he thinks the rest of this NASCAR season will play out.
“I’ll stand by what I said to start the year. I still think Brad Keselowski will win three races before the year is out. He’s going to have to run better to get there though,” laughed Jamie.
“He’s such a talented driver, and last year was horrible for him. But he’s good at a lot of different types of tracks. His team is just missing something small, but when they find it, I feel like he’s a guy that could go on. a streak.”
Are you ready to try your luck at getting into victory lane at Martinsville?
Download the FOX Bet Super 6 app and submit your picks for the NASCAR Stage 2 competition now. Then be sure to share your picks with us by tagging us @FOXSuper6 i @EricaReneeD and using the hashtag #EricaSuper6 on all social media platforms.
Buckle up and get ready to make some money!
Download the FOX Super 6 app for a chance to win thousands of dollars on the biggest sporting events every week! Just choose your picks and you could win the grand prize. Download and play today!
Get more from the NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites for information on games, news and more