MARTINSVILLE, VA (Sept. 10, 2007) – A year ago, the SUBWAY 500 at Martinsville Speedway was the race that changed the Chase.

All but one position changed in last fall’s SUBWAY 500 at Martinsville Speedway, shuffling the deck for the final four races. As the only short-track stop in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup, expect the same type of action this time around in the SUBWAY 500 on October 21.

Jimmie Johnson, the points leader heading into the Chase, has been exceptionally strong at Martinsville. He won the SUBWAY 500 last fall and came back with a win in the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 in the spring. He has three wins in just 11 Martinsville starts.

His Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, second in the points at the start of the Chase, is the reigning king of Martinsville with seven wins and 16 top-five finishes in 29 starts on the half-mile oval.

Native Virginian Denny Hamlin could be the SUBWAY 500 dark horse, though. He has just four Martinsville Cup starts, but was second last fall, third in the spring and won the pole for the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 in the spring. He’s just in his sophomore Cup season, but has tons of Martinsville experience after running several Late Model Stock events here.

The difficult and tight Martinsville Speedway racing surface may be the biggest player in the SUBWAY 500. It always produces tight, action-packed racing. Last fall there were 16 lead changes and 18 caution periods.

Following is a look at how the 12 drivers in the Chase have fared at Martinsville: