AJ wins!

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup rookie driver AJ Allmendinger got a handle on NASCAR’s shortest and flattest track to take his first stock car victory this weekend. Utilizing several restarts, AJ took as much practice as he could get to pick the best line around the half-mile track, but it wasn’t until he selected the loaded No. 48 car of Jimmie Johnson that he found his way to victory. “Everyone tells you Martinsville is hard on your legs and feet because of all the braking, but my thumbs are what cramped the most," Allmendinger said later.

While he prefers to play Madden NFL 07, often beating fellow team members on his PSP or PS3, AJ knew he needed to master Martinsville on NASCAR 07 before he had any real chance for the April Fool’s Day edition of the Goody’s Cool Orange 500. But on Sunday’s race day, AJ had less good fortune, struggling with the handling of his real race car while keeping an eye in the rear view mirror. Qualified at 40th, AJ completed his second-ever NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race two spots better running in 38th. Toyota PR