Denny Hamlin. Jimmie Johnson. Jeff Gordon. The three Musketeers of Martinsville.

In the last five years, the trio combined for eight wins and 22 finishes of fifth or better. It would be crazy to not pick this trio to win Sunday. Maybe I’m nuts.

Hamlin is hosed, and Johnson is resigned:

Hamlin went all in to sink Jimmie Johnson and busted out. Since Daytona in February, it’s looked like a dark cloud has hovered over the entire team. Hamlin and Mike Ford look like they’re headed to Divorce Court. It’s just a bad vibe. Not even four wins in five years can change that kind of karma.
 
As for Johnson, of all the comments that floored me, it was 5-time saying he wanted the best points finish possible.

What? Martinsville is race Johnson has to win. I need to hear a sense of urgency. I don’t.

Jeff Gordon seems cursed:

Gordon looked like the driver to beat after 26 races. Yet the Chase has offered Gordon nothing but bad beat after bad beat. He had the same kind of bad luck a few years back his historically great season was only trumped by Jimmie Johnson. As much as I like Gordon, maybe he should replace Regis full-time. Kelly Ripa is probably nicer to look at than Alan Gustafson.

With that said, here are my fake picks, up a fake 55 dollars with just four races to go.

20 fake dollars on Kevin Harvick at 6/1
Harvick won here earlier in the year. The taste of yummy hot dogs resonates.

10 fake dollars on Brad Keselowski at 15/1
Dude won at Bristol and needs a grandfather clock.

8 fake dollars on Carl Edwards at 15/1
Who is leading the points?

5 fake dollars on Kurt Busch at 7/1
Only to make the math even.

7 Fake dollars on Matt Kenseth at 28/1
Who won last week and is second in the points?

The Martinsville Musketeers are hard to go against. Well find out Sunday if they’re right to go against. Here’s what The Spread thinks, and insert random catchphrase here.

Jimmie Johnson 6/1
Denny Hamlin 6/1
Kevin Harvick 6/1
Jeff Gordon 7/1
Tony Stewart 7/1
Kyle Busch 8/1
Field 10/1
Clint Bowyer 15/1
Carl Edwards 15/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr 15/1
Brad Keselowski 15/1
Kurt Busch 25/1
Ryan Newman 25/1
Matt Kenseth 28/1
Kasey Kahne 28/1
Jeff Burton 30/1
Greg Biffle 35/1
Mark Martin 35/1
Martin Truex Jr 35/1
Joey Logano 35/1
Jamie McMurray 35/1