CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Denny Hamlin heads to Martinsville Speedway this weekend knowing he needs a good run to jump start his season.
Hamlin was the popular preseason pick to unseat four-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson this season. Johnson has won three of the first five races of the year, and Hamlin is struggling to keep pace.
Hamlin has no wins, hasn’t finished inside the top 10 and is 19th in points.
But Martinsville is a good track for him. Hamlin has eight top-10 finishes in nine career starts, and beat Johnson there last October for his second career Martinsville victory.
Johnson, though, is a six-time Martinsville winner.
