NASCAR Martinsville 2022: Odds, drivers, how to watch, preview, picks for the Blue-Emu 400

The first NASCAR Cup Series race of the 2022 season will be held at Martinsville Speedway. The half-mile paperclip is the only track that remains from NASCAR's original schedule in 1949. It has seen all generations of drivers take the checkered flag, from Red Byron in 1949 to Alex Bowman in 2021.

NASCAR heads to Martinsville for the first Saturday night race of the 2022 season. The Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 will take place at Martinville Speedway. Martini Speedway is the only track that remains from NASCAR's original schedule in 1949.

The Blue-Emu 400 at Martinsville is shortened from 500 to 400 laps. Denny Hamlin, 41, won last weekend at Richmond. Kevin Harvick is on a 50-race winless streak. Martin Truex Jr. has won three of the last five races at this track. The past two weeks have seen a renewed debate over the ethics of moving another driver out of way in order to win. Last fall's race at the Circuit of Americas saw Alex Bowman get into and spin Dennifer Hamliin. Ty Gibbs ran John Hunter Nemechek up the racetrack in the final corner to take the win at Rix.

The Blue-Emu 400 at Martinsville is shortened from 500 to 400 laps. Denny Hamlin, 41, won last weekend at Richmond. Kevin Harvick is on a 50-race winless streak. Martin Truex Jr. has won three of the last five races at this track.  The past two weeks have seen a renewed debate over the ethics of moving another driver out of way in order to win. Last fall's race at the Circuit of Americas saw Alex Bowman get into and spin Dennifer Hamliin. Two weeks ago at Circuit the Americas, A.J. Allmendinger laid the bumper to Ross Chastain on the final lap.

Denny Hamlin won last week. Hamlins could have won both races at Martinsville last year. He led 276 laps in the spring and 103 laps last fall.