Local Look: Martinsville

Event: Advance Auto Parts 500

Local papers covering: Martinsville Bulletin, Roanoke Times

Veterans helping Vickers at Martinsville

The deal: Andy Marks of the Martinsville Bulletin says Brian Vickers doesn't have much experience at Martinsville, having only raced the half-mile oval in Late Model and Allison Legacy cars, but the Nextel Cup rookie does have two big advantages in his corner.

Their names are Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

	Brian Vickers

Why we care: Vickers couldn't ask for a more successful pair of teammates than Gordon, the four-time NASCAR champion, and Johnson, a rising star with championship hopes of his own.

"Jimmy has helped me a tremendous amount and so has Jeff," Vickers told the paper. "We've all become close friends and great teammates. It's obviously helped me a tremendous amount and sometimes I feel like we've returned the favor as well.

"Having input with the organization always helps. It's worked out really good and I'm looking forward to the future."

Gordon won both poles and both races at Martinsville in 2003, while Johnson finished 10th in the spring and a close second in the fall race.

Both Johnson and Vickers tested at Martinsville last week.

"I enjoy the place," Vickers told the paper during a break Wednesday. "The Cup car has more power so it probably runs a faster time, but I think the Late Models got through the corner better because they're a little bit wider and not as heavy. It's tough with the Cup car, but I enjoy it."

For more on Brian Vickers, click here.

Cornering victory not easy at Martinsville

ALSO  •  More from the NASCAR.com Newswire  •  Complete race coverage

The deal: Dustin Long of the Roanoke Times says NASCAR's best will drive 500 laps, ponder numerous changes to the car and beat and bang for more than three hours. Yet some drivers say the winner of the Advance Auto Parts 500 on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway could be determined on a pair of concrete sections about 100 feet long.

Why we care: The driver who eases his car through the middle of the corners smoothest and gets on the accelerator the quickest could be the one who receives the grandfather clock that the track awards its winner.

That's a change from when success on this paperclip-shaped .526-mile track depended on brakes lasting all day. Brakes are not as critical because improved technology allows them to last longer.

Other than staying out of trouble, the key is how well a driver comes off Turn 2 and Turn 4. A good exit allows him to charge down the straightaway and get underneath a competitor before entering Turn 3 or Turn 1.

It worked for Gordon because he accelerated off the turns better than anyone else.

Getting the right setup is not as easy as it seems.

"Since they grounded the track, it's been really hard for me ... to find what we need in the car to make it feel good," said defending series champion Matt Kenseth.

For more NASCAR news from around the world, click here.

Gaughan making steady progress

The deal: Christian Dollarhite of the Martinsville Bulletin says having already proven himself to be one of the most congenial, fan-friendly drivers off the track, Gaughan also is busy making waves on the track, where back-to-back solid runs at Bristol and Texas have the Jasper/Penske Dodge driver ready to continue the rally.

	Brendan Gaughan

A solid finish Sunday on Martinsville's notoriously tight, paperclip-shaped oval will do just that.

Why we care: A lot has happened to Gaughan in a short period of time since Roger Penske bought into the former Jasper Motorsports during the off-season, forming Penske-Jasper Racing.

The team converted from Ford to Dodge and hired Gaughan as driver. The benefits have been enormous for the rookie, but it's still a work in progress. Teammates Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman have chassis built in-house by Penske Racing South, but Gaughan's team doesn't have that technology at its disposal just yet.

"We don't have all the Penske stuff in the door yet," the son of Las Vegas hotel and casino magnate Michael Gaughan told the paper. "This is a new program, in a sense, but it's not brand new.

"The Jasper Motorsports team was already there and a lot of great guys were already there, but when you switch manufacturers to Dodge, you switch teammates and you get more engineering help. You get more knowledge in the door. All of that is eventually going to work to our advantage."

For more news on Gaughan, click here.

Burton wants to be driving political force

The deal: Dustin Long of the Roanoke Times says Jeff Burton cringes as he discusses the Presidential election. It's one argument after another, he says, voice rising, and no details on how either candidate plans to enact change. Burton says he could do better.

	Jeff Burton

Although he's not likely to retire as a Nextel Cup driver anytime soon, 36-year-old Burton says he'd like to be a U.S. Senator one day. If so, says one political analyst, Burton needs to begin working toward that goal today.

Why we care: Burton's desire isn't unique. A few sports stars have gone to Washington after their athletic careers ended, but those in racing have not reached as far. Richard Petty served 16 years as a county commissioner before losing his bid for secretary of state in North Carolina in 1996.

NASCAR's popularity could change that dynamic. As more drivers become celebrities and the sport's fan base gains political strength, competitors could have an easier time entering politics. Former NASCAR official Kevin Triplett is running for Virginia's Ninth Congressional District seat and relies on his racing background to reach voters against 11-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher.

For more news on Jeff Burton, click here.