Cars race during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
By Dan Margetta and John Wiedemann
Following a break for the Easter holiday, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads back to a short track Saturday night as the Richmond International Raceway hosts the Toyota Owners 400 under the lights.
Toyota Owners 400 Richmond International Raceway 300 miles (400 laps) Saturday, April 26 7 pm ET FOX, 6:30 pm ET MRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90
It’s three quarters of a mile around the Richmond circuit, making it the largest of the short tracks the series competes at, and while technically labeled in the short track category, Richmond races a lot like the flat one mile ovals in New Hampshire and Phoenix. Historically drivers who perform well at those facilities also race strong at Richmond.
The string of unique winners was broken at the last race in Darlington with Kevin Harvick’s victory but there still remains many talented drivers without a win this season, most notably defending champion Jimmie Johnson and seven-time winner from a year ago, Matt Kenseth.
Here are some drivers to watch as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series gets back at it Saturday night in Richmond…
Jeff Gordon
Dan Margetta: While Jeff Gordon hasn’t seen victory lane at Richmond since 2000, he has consistently been one of the best performing drivers to date in this season. He has six top ten finishes in the eight races contested so far this season and has been a contender for the victory just about each week. Plus, with the emergence of young Chase Elliott closing in his mirror, the attitude around Gordon has shifted from a possible retirement date to the desire to drive ten more years. Jeff Gordon is ready to find victory lane and Saturday night at Richmond provides a great opportunity to accomplish that feat.
Clint Bowyer
John Wiedemann: I’m taking a bit of a long shot here with the selection of Clint Bowyer. Recent results make Bowyer a bit of a reach, although he really shouldn’t be. One of the most consistent racers at Richmond and a two time winner, Bowyer seems to have been neutered after the rulings following the Richmond race last fall. You’ll remember the “spin” that brought out a caution late in the race which changed the fortune of many Chase hopefuls and the following NASCAR suspensions and Chase lineup modifications. Bowyer wasn’t the same after that incident and hasn’t really broken out yet this season. I’m predicting the breakout to happen this week and a Bowyer win. Anyone want to join me on this limb?
Kyle Busch
DM: With four Richmond victories, Kyle Busch is a strong favorite this weekend as he boasts a strong 7.2 average finishing position at the .75 mile track. Kyle Busch has the luxury of already having a victory in his pocket from California earlier this year and he’s free to just race for the win this weekend at Richmond. That’s just the way Kyle Busch likes to race and he should be strong this weekend and could join Kevin Harvick as another multiple race winner on the tour.
Matt Kenseth
JW: The media is a-buzz with the lack of wins this season for both Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson. Either of those drivers could win this weekend and both have won at Richmond in the past. If I had to pick between those two drivers, I would lean towards Kenseth. Kenseth last won back in 2002 but has a streak of three top-seven finishes including a pole and 140 laps led at last spring’s race. As usual, if Kenseth unloads with a fast racecar and lays down a quick qualifying run, the field could be in trouble. The mode this month has been for Kenseth to start the race back in the pack and get better as the race goes along. Either way he starts out, Kenseth has been finishing at the front.
Denny Hamlin
DM: For a long time it was just a given that Denny Hamlin would be the driver to beat at his hometown track in Richmond. That hasn’t been the case lately though as Hamlin and the #11 team are still trying to get back on track following setbacks with injuries and just plain bad racing luck. Hamlin has two Richmond victories and has a very good 8.9 average finishing position here while leading most of the other statistical categories at Richmond. If Denny Hamlin is going to make a statement that this team is back, the hometown track of Richmond would be the best place to do it.
Carl Edwards
JW: The winner of the Richmond race last fall already has one win this season. A win this weekend for Carl Edwards would seal the envelope for an invitation into the Chase. Edward’s position of second in the point standings has him a pretty solid bet to make the Chase, but another win would be icing. Edwards has run very well at Richmond with a win and 10 top-10 finishes in 19 tries. Seven of those top-10 runs have come in the last eight races at the three quarter mile track. Expect Edwards to be in the mix on Saturday night.
Brad Keselowski
DM: Brad Keselowski has never finished in the top five at Richmond, yet he is one of the drivers to watch Saturday night as in typical Keselowski fashion, statistics virtually mean nothing when it comes to this team. The Penske Fords have been fast everywhere this season and while Keselowski has already found victory lane at Vegas, the real race performance to watch is his third place finish at Phoenix. Keselowski was one of the few drivers to challenge the dominant Kevin Harvick at Phoenix, a track that races similar to Richmond. That should make Brad Keselowski a contender this weekend despite dismal career Richmond numbers and he should not be forgotten when choosing favorites for Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
JW: Would you have guessed that Dale Earnhardt Jr has three wins at Richmond? Junior won in 2000 (his second Cup race at the track), 2004 and 2006. All of those races were spring races in the schedule. Earnhardt also grabbed the pole in the 2012 fall race and finished second in the 2012 spring race. His last two finishes were 10th and 13th place runs, but this year is different for Junior. He is more consistent than ever and consistently in the mix with the leaders. This weekend could be a return to earlier form at Richmond and possibly win number two this season.
Aric Almirola/Marcos Ambrose
DM: I’m making a double long-shot pick this weekend as Richard Petty Motorsports drivers Aric Almirola and Marcos Ambrose have both become arguably the most improved drivers on the circuit so far this season. Both have been fast and have raced up front for several weekends now and they enter Richmond with long odds in Vegas at 100-1 for Almirola and 300-1 for Ambrose. While their Richmond Resumes are not impressive, like the Penske cars, the Richard Petty Motorsports entries have shown strong improvements in both horsepower and chassis setups. They’ve both been on the fringe of finding victory lane this season and are worth a long shot pick this weekend at Richmond.
Kurt Busch
JW: Far from a long-shot, Kurt Busch has a chance to be a second-time winner this season, just like his teammate. But, Busch has been plagued by some of the strange luck that Kevin Harvick has struggled through this season. Those struggles for Busch had him drop another spot in the standings to 26th based on points. Currently he is set to make the Chase but is last in points among this season’s winners. The top thirty drivers in points cutoff to make the Chase is still there but Busch has about a full race worth of points before he would fall out of the top 30. Obviously, a win would be a big boost in the points and Chase eligibility. Busch has run good enough to win at a number of races and this weekend should be no different. The difference needed is for the luck to do a quick 180 degree turn.