CUP: Predictions - Johnson, Hamlin Headed For Showdown

Sprint Cup

CUP: Predictions - Johnson, Hamlin Headed For Showdown

Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer could surprise at Martinsville Speedway...

SceneDaily.com | Posted October 23, 2010 Martinsville, VA

Jimmie Johnson (Top) has a total of six wins at Martinsville Speedway, including five in the past four years while Denny Hamlin (Bottom) won the season’s first race in the spring for a total of three wins. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

This week’s race at Martinsville Speedway is billed as a showdown between Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin, No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the Chase For The Sprint Cup.

There’s good reason. Johnson and Hamlin not only top the points standings, but they have combined to win the last eight races at half-mile Martinsville.

This is also a showdown between No. 1 and No. 2 in our own points standings, with second-place Jeff Owens trying to close in on leader Kris Johnson with five weeks of predictions remaining.

Johnson and Owens took the high road, picking Johnson and Hamlin to race for the win on Sunday (no wonder they lead the pick ‘em standings), but Bob Pockrass and Kenny Bruce are predicting a couple of surprises.

Kris Johnson

Wins: 3
Top-5s: 51
Last week’s pick: Jeff Gordon
Last week’s points: 99
Total points: 4,245

THIS WEEK’S WINNER

Jimmie Johnson

Following the logic of Jeff Owens from last week here. Who are we kidding? It’s Johnson’s time of the year. It’s the No. 48 team doing what it does en route to a fifth straight Cup title.

It’s Johnson’s track in Martinsville – he has won five of the past eight Cup races staged here and his career average finish is a gaudy 5.4 in 17 starts.

Denny Hamlin could challenge Johnson for both the win and the title, but they are both the Hendrick driver’s to lose at this point.

Top Five

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Kurt Busch
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Jeff Gordon

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Jeff Owens

Wins: 2
Top-5s: 56
Last week’s pick: Jimmie Johnson
Last week’s points: 170
Total points: 4,172

THIS WEEK’S WINNER

Denny Hamlin

With apologies to Kris Johnson, our esteemed points leader, it is Jimmie Johnson’s time of year, but he is no longer the man at Martinsville. That honor now belongs to Hamlin, who has won the last two Cup races at Martinsville and surpassed Johnson as the King of the Paperclip. It’s only a matter of time before Hamlin will have more Grandfather clocks than Johnson.

He’ll collect his third on Sunday, gaining some ground – albeit slight – on Johnson in the Chase.

Top Five

1. Denny Hamlin
2. Kyle Busch
3. Jeff Burton
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Jeff Gordon

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