By Hank Kurz Jr.
The Associated Press

MARTINSVILLE, Va. - Midway through their 10-race playoff, the Nextel Cup contenders are at the shortest and slowest oval on the NASCAR circuit - a place four-time series champion Jeff Gordon insists can be as damaging to title hopes as the fastest tracks.

The nearly flat half-mile Martinsville Speedway reminds no one of high-banked and ultra-fast Talladega but presents its own set of problems.

"At Talladega, everybody talks about avoiding the big one," said Gordon, third in the competition among the top 10 racers. "There, it's one big wreck that collects 17 cars. At Martinsville, it's 17 little wrecks that collect several cars."

Gordon has firsthand knowledge of the problems a driver might encounter at Martinsville, where he has three consecutive poles and has five career victories.

It also could have been three straight victories, but Gordon was unlucky in Martinsville's spring race. Running second to Dale Earnhardt Jr., Gordon's Chevrolet was damaged by a chunk of concrete that broke loose from the track, and he finished sixth.

Even worse for Gordon, now 74 points behind series leader Kurt Busch and 50 back of Earnhardt, was management's decision to resurface since the last race.

"The new racing surface is smooth with a lot of grip," he said.

Many drivers welcomed the resurfacing, though some have wondered whether a faster surface will make for a one-groove track with passing virtually nonexistent.

"I'm somewhat fearful of that," said Tony Stewart, sixth in the standings. "But no one will truly know until we all get there and start running on it."

Two years ago, Busch surprised himself by winning on the .526-mile oval. In that race, a quick pit stop with 91 laps to go gave him the lead and taught him that timing - and luck - are keys to succeeding on the narrow track with extremely tight turns.

Nextel Cup