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Charlotte is NASCAR's home and Daytona is the sport's mecca, but the track at Martinsville is just as important to team owner Rick Hendrick. The car salesman from Virginia won his first NASCAR race as an owner at Martinsville Speedway - but wasn't there to see it. He was in a church in Greensboro, N.C., that day. That's OK: His teams have gone on to win 16 Cup races at Martinsville, more than at any other track. This week, Hendrick is looking to the historic half-mile to remedy his ailing teams. Not since 2003 has Hendrick Motorsports arrived at this spring stop still seeking its first Cup win of the season. Hendrick won that 2003 race, starting a stretch of three wins in four races. Should his four-car team not fare well Sunday at Martinsville, questions about what's wrong will grow louder and harder to ignore. It's obvious his teams are not as strong as other s on the 1.5- to 2-mile tracks but, even in down times, Martinsville has been Hendrick's rock. Jeff Gordon's average finish there is an impressive 7.2. Teammate Jimmie Johnson has been even better, winning the track's past three races and posting an average finish of 6.1. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr., who joined the team this season, has seven top-10 finishes in his past 10 Martinsville starts. With that kind of success as a backdrop, Martinsville figures to give the Hendrick teams a place for momentum to swing their way. -- The Virginian-Pilot

Hendrick banking on its track record at Martinsville | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com