These driver selections represent my roster before Yahoo’s qualifying deadline. Active and inactive drivers should be selected after qualifying and all practices take place. I will post any changes, as well as my final active roster in our Fantasy NASCAR Forum. Also, be sure to check out our Yahoo Driver Rankings before selecting your final qualifying roster.

A List

1. Jimmie Johnson (8 starts remaining)

Johnson, who has already won three of the first five races this season, absolutely owns Martinsville. The four-time Champ has won five of the last seven Sprint Cup races at Martinsville, including this race last season. Johnson’ average finish of 2.0, and no, 2.0 is not a typo, over the past two seasons is tops among all Sprint Cup drivers. Hot driver + best racetrack = L-O-C-K.

2. Jeff Gordon (9)

Many people might have Denny Hamlin in this spot, but I’m going with Jeff Gordon. In the past two season’s, Hamlin’s average finish at Martinsville is 2.3, while Gordon’s is 3.8. Hamlin has won two of the last four races here, while Gordon hasn’t won since ’05. So why Gordon?

Hamlin has a better average finish in recent years than Gordon, but not by much. Also, I like to look at momentum to pick my weekly rosters as well. Gordon did not run well at Bristol last weekend, but Hamlin was even worse. Denny has not gotten off the start we all expected and currently sits 19^th in the points standings. There is no reason this team should not contend for a Top 5 Sunday, but Hamlin’s knee issues and slow start to the season are enough to convince me to give Gordon the nod.

Besides, at a racetrack where I fully expect to start Johnson, Gordon has the best average starting position over the past two seasons at 3.0 (ahead of 2^nd ranked Johnson’s 8.8). Qualifying is extremely important at a one-groove racetrack like Martinsville and Gordon has a great shot at getting us qualifying bonus points.

B List

1. Ryan Newman (8)

Newman’s 6.5 average finish at Martinsville in 2009 led all current B-Listers and ranks 5^th among all Sprint Cup drivers. The Rocketman also won the pole here in October, giving us another shot at qualifying bonus points.

After a decent points week at Bristol, I’m back in start-saving mode again and Newman makes it easy with last year’s finishes at Martinsville.

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8)

Junior had a great car at Bristol last week and scored a solid Top 10. Considering he is currently not seen as a “9 start B-List driver”, I was thrilled to grab that finish while saving starts. Earnhardt’s momentum and 8^th place finish in this race one-year ago get him a spot on this week’s roster.

3. Jamie McMurray (9)

Continuing with the start-saving theme, JMac will grab this week’s third B-List spot. McMurray scored a Top 10 at Bristol and quietly recorded the 2^nd highest average finish at Martinsville last season (8.0) among current B-List drivers. Juan Pablo Montoya was fast here last year, so McMurray certainly has the equipment to run well Sunday.

4. Kevin Harvick (8)

Behind Newman and McMurray, Harvick ranks third among current B-List drivers with an average finish of 10.5 at Martinsville in 2009. Just like last week, I’d be thrilled to get my two starts with some combination of Newman/Earnhardt/McMurray and will use Harvick strictly in an emergency role.

C List

1. A.J. Allmendinger (8)

The Dinger finished 9^th in this race last year, which was the best among current C-List drivers.

2. Paul Menard (9)

Menard posted finishes of 25^th and 23^rd at Martinsville in 2009 and has been running well enough this year to expect at solid Top 20 Sunday.

These driver selections represent my roster before Yahoo’s qualifying deadline. Active and inactive drivers should be selected after qualifying and all practices take place. I will post any changes, as well as my final active roster in our Fantasy NASCAR Forum. Also, be sure to check out our Yahoo Driver Rankings before selecting your final qualifying roster.

A List

1. Kyle Busch (9 starts remaining)

Busch won the very first COT race, which happened to be at Bristol,
and has been fast there ever since. Kyle swept both Sprint Cup races
in Thunder Valley last year and is a lock for this week’s A List.

2. Denny Hamlin (9)

Although Hamlin has gotten off to a slow start this season, his record
at Bristol is hard to ignore. In 2009, Hamlin’s average finish of 3.5
was the 2nd best among all Sprint Cup Drivers (Kyle Busch was #1).

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These driver selections represent my roster before Yahoo’s qualifying deadline. Active and inactive drivers should be selected after qualifying and all practices take place. I will post any changes, as well as my final active roster in our Fantasy NASCAR Forum. Also, be sure to check out our Yahoo Driver Rankings before selecting your final qualifying roster.

A List

1. Mark Martin (8 starts remaining)

Martin finished 5^th at Atlanta in September, and more importantly, was the Chevy representative for the Goodyear Tire test here in January. As a result, that team has a head start on the field and I expect them to unload very fast Friday.

2. Jeff Gordon (9)

Although Gordon has to be disappointed settling for a third place finish at Las Vegas Sunday, the 24 was once again fast at a 1.5 mile racetrack. Atlanta, like Vegas, is a 1.5 miler, so Gordon should pick up right where he left off last weekend.

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A List

1. Kyle Busch (9 starts remaining)

Busch, a native of Las Vegas, is the defending race winner and has won the last two poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

2. Mark Martin (9)

While I love Kyle Busch this week, he is still a high risk/high reward fantasy option. Mark Martin is a great complement to Busch due to his consistency. Kyle’s aggression and Mark’s patience give this week’s A-List a ton of flexibility, which is a huge advantage early in the season.

Martin did blow an engine in this race last year, but the 5 car was fast at all of the 1.5 mile racetracks in 2009, so I fully expect Crew Chief Allen Gustafson to unload a rocket ship Friday.

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These driver selections represent my roster before Yahoo’s qualifying deadline. Active and inactive drivers should be selected after qualifying and all practices take place. I will post any changes, as well as my final active roster in our Fantasy NASCAR Forum. Also, be sure to check out our Yahoo Driver Rankings before selecting your final qualifying roster.

A List

1. Jimmie Johnson (9 starts remaining)

Johnson finished 9th in this race last season and won at Auto Club Speedway, while leading the most laps, in October. Jimmie also led the most laps at Michigan last season, a sister track to Auto Club, before gambling and losing on fuel mileage.

In Yahoo’s format, drivers who qualify in the top four positions receive bonus points. These can add up over a season and make a huge difference in your standings. Johnson leads all drivers with a 1.8 average starting position in the last four races at Auto Club.

I like saving most of Johnson’s starts until later in the season, but getting him on your roster early is a safe way to navigate through the first few races while we wait for the A List to shake out.

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