In seasons past, we knew a lot – everything, really – at this point, just days prior to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup cut-off race at Richmond International Raceway. We knew what Driver X needed to do to leap frog Driver Y for a Chase spot. We knew what finishing position would guarantee a coveted Chase spot, no matter what any other driver did. We knew who was in, and who was out.
Rain in the Atlanta area delayed that knowledge, as anticipation spikes and the Richmond analysis must be squeezed into three days rather than the usual five.
Storylines will grow and mature once the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series runs the rain-delayed race on Tuesday. Still, with or without the Atlanta lead-in, there are a number of drama-filled storylines for Saturday’s Richmond race (aka One Last Race To Make The Chase), one of the most important events of the season.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series opens the Richmond weekend with typically exciting short-track action under the lights, in Friday night’s Virginia 529 College Savings 250.
An open week awaits the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The break gives us time to dissect a wild championship battle, and an unlikely points leader.
Storylines for all three series follow…
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
Hometown Kid Now Wild Card Wonder
No one knows what kind of Chase hopes Denny Hamlin will have once Richmond rolls around. But if he’s in dire need of a victory, the timing’s nice.
Hamlin, from Chesterfield, Virg., shrugs off any hometown-track pressure at Richmond. He has either won or finished second in three of the last four starts. His average finish in 11 starts is 7.5, and leads the series in Driver Rating, with a 120.4.
Currently in the No. 2 Wild Card spot thanks to his Michigan victory, another win – be it at Atlanta or Richmond – would likely clinch his sixth Chase berth in six full-time seasons.
Hamlin looks to extend a five-race winning streak by Joe Gibbs Racing. The longest win streak by an owner at Richmond is seven, by Petty Enterprises from 1970-73. Richard Petty won all seven.
Junior A Richmond Favorite
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s win drought currently stands at 117 races. By Richmond, it could be at 118. After Richmond, it might be 0.
Earnhardt, with three Richmond wins, shares the active wins lead at the .75-mile track with Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Terry Labonte and Kyle Busch.
Earnhardt’s last win came in May of 2006.
What Happens After Richmond?
Things will look very different, standings wise, after Richmond.
Right now, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson share the points lead. After Richmond, Busch could have a 30-point lead over Johnson (or as many as 50 or as little 10). Here’s what will happen after the checkered flies.
After Richmond, the top 10 drivers in points will set the first portion of the 12-driver Chase field. Spots 11 and 12 will go to those drivers outside the Chase with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20. A Wild Card tie goes to the driver with the best points position.
All Chase drivers will have their points reset to 2,000. Then, for only the top 10, three bonus points are added for each win during the 26-race regular season.
About Those Bonus Points…
Starting in 2007, seeding for the Chase field were set by number of wins over the first 26 races.
Jimmie Johnson, winner of the last five championships, has never entered the Chase with less than three victories.
Currently, only two drivers inside the top 10 have three or more wins – Kyle Busch (four wins) and Kevin Harvick (three wins). Brad Keselowski has three, but would not earn bonus points for them unless he lands in the top 10 – still a mathematical possibility.
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