Reutimann snags pole for Cup race at Richmond

Reutimann snags pole for Cup race at Richmond

By Reid Spencer

Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(September 8, 2011)

RICHMOND, Va.—With all the permutations involving berths in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, one thing is certain—the front row starters for Saturday’s Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway won’t figure in the Chase battle, at least on their own accounts.

Pole winner David Reutimann (127.383 mph) and second-place starter Jamie McMurray (127.334 mph) both have been eliminated from Chase contention, but they’ll lead the field to the green flag in the race that will determine the final three contestants in NASCAR’s 10-race playoff.

The only driver to run a lap at the .75-mile track in fewer than 22 seconds (21.196) in Friday’s time trials, Reutimann won his first Coors Light Pole Award of the season and the fourth of his career.

Neither Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. nor Denny Hamlin turned in the sorts of qualifying efforts that will make protecting spots in the Chase a relatively easy task. All will start deep in the field, with Stewart qualifying 22nd, Earnhardt 27th and Hamlin 28th.

Earnhardt can lock himself into the Chase with a finish of 20th or better. Stewart needs a finish of 18th or better, and Hamlin can secure a spot with a victory. With one victory this year, Hamlin currently holds the second wild-card position.

All told, 14 drivers are competing for the three remaining Chase spots, with Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Brad Keselowski already having clinched Chase positions.

A further complication is that, by the time those drivers pick their pit boxes—a process that mirrors the qualifying results—all the good stalls will be gone.

Mike Skinner, Erik Darnell and T.J. Bell failed to make the 43-car field.