By the Numbers: M'ville

Martinsville Speedway holds a couple of distinctions in NASCAR as the shortest (.526 miles) and oldest (1949) track in the Cup Series.

Martinsville first opened in September 1947 as a dirt track and hosted its first NASCAR-sanctioned event the following summer. The first Strictly Stock, now Nextel Cup, race was held in 1949 and won by Red Byron, who became NASCAR's first champion that year.

Martinsville has been the dominant domain of two drivers who have helped bridge the sport's past and present -- Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon. Petty is the all-time leader in victories, top-fives and top-10s at Martinsville; Gordon holds the top spot in all three categories for active drivers.

Petty won 15 times at Martinsville. In fact, Martinsville is the last track at which the famous No. 43 car has been in Victory Lane, when John Andretti drove it in April 1999. Bobby Labonte finished third this past October and Kyle Petty was 10th, the first time since November 1999 that two Petty cars finished in the top 10 in the same race.

Gordon has seven victories at Martinsville. He's never had a DNF in 28 starts there, and his 2,206 laps led are the most of any active driver and sixth all time. Gordon has half of owner Rick Hendrick's victories at Martinsville, the most of any team in the past 25 years.

Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have combined to win four of the past five races at Martinsville and six of eight. They are the only two active drivers with an average finish inside the top 10: Johnson 7.2; Gordon 7.5.

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