Kevin Harvick predicts Martinsville winner

Kevin Harvick only made it to Victory Lane once at Martinsville Speedway over the course of his NASCAR Cup Series career. Still, he has a grandfather clock, and nobody can take that away from him, one of the more unique trophies in all of the sport.

Who will join Harvick, being able to say they’re a winner at the famed Virginia short-track? During the latest episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, the former NASCAR Cup Series champion locked in his prediction for the Cook Out 400 this coming Sunday.

“I’m taking the 11. I’m taking Denny Hamlin,” Harvick said, riding with someone who’s already won at the track in the past. “I think that this is his track. I think they have put themselves in a position to take advantage of the weekend, and this is the week that he goes to Victory Lane.”

Nobody can blame Harvick for riding with Hamlin at Martinsville. The veteran wheelman has immense experience at the short-track, as he’s won five times in 38 tries. However, his last dub came a little less than ten years ago. He’s due for another grandfather clock, and Harvick believes he’ll get it done.

Meanwhile, Kaitlyn Vincie is thinking a driver who’s had some tough luck in 2025 will rise above and take the checkered flag in Old Dominion: “I’m taking Ryan Blaney,” she proclaimed. “He’s won two of the last three races there. I think he’ll have a little chip on the shoulder after the engine failure and be more motivated than he normally is.“

Blaney seemed primed for his first win of the 2025 season, dominating most of the Straight Talk Wireless 400 through two stages. However, a blown engine ended up being the downfall of the No. 12 team. Instead of a trip to Victory Lane, Blaney took a trip to the garage, where he finished P36.

Thankfully for Blaney, he’s headed to a track in Martinsville that he’s more than fond of, and Vincie is confident in him getting back on track. He’s won in Virginia twice, including last season’s playoff date for the short-track. Back-to-back dubs at Martinsville is certainly possible, and it’d vindicate Harvick’s co-host.

Finally, Mamba Smith decided to walk the road less travelled with his prediction: “I really wanted to go Chase [Elliott], because of what they did at the last [Martinsville race]. But you know what? After watching Bowman Gray, and after his win at Las Vegas — now, we’re back to another short track. Let’s go with it, why not? Josh freaking Berry,” Smith predicted. 

“Backyard of Wood Brothers. I think this is where he got his first Xfinity win, at Martinsville, and he’s won the Late Model race, I’m quite sure, more than once. Like, let’s go.”

While Berry didn’t fare too well in two prior Cup Series starts at Martinsville, he did win earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and he got to Victory Lane at the track in the Xfinity Series back in April 2021, racing for JR Motorsports. With his new lease on life driving for the Wood Brothers, don’t count Berry out, especially when it comes to a short-track.

Alas, the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour crew has locked in their predictions — Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Josh Berry. Time will tell if they’re right, but it’s anyone’s guess who ends up taking the checkered flag at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. Tune in to the Cook Out 400, with coverage beginning at 3 p.m. ET on FS1.