Rock and Roll 400: Quintessentially Richmond
September 4th, 2008 by mikeIs there a better track for stock cars than Richmond?
Aside from the Daytona 500, it’s hard to picture a race with greater anticipation than the September Richmond event.
- It’s only 400 laps.
- A Saturday night race.
- Passing is possible but is tougher than simply ducking under a car and going.
- Richmond is always packed.
- Four or five drivers will develop ulcers during the weekend trying to make the Chase.
Let the Bleeding Ensue
Clint Bowyer and David Ragan are only 17 points apart for the final Chase spot.
Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon are all pretty safe bets to make the Chase.
Some just need to start the race while others like Kenseth and Gordon need to finish 24th or better to ensure their passage.
Denny Hamlin (from Virginia) needs a finish higher than 21st to control his own destiny, but can also make it with other scenarios. See Foxsports for every permutation or simply watch the pretty green, yellow and red colors on Saturday night.
What Happened Last Year
Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson alternated at the front leading a combined 295 laps.
In the end Johnson jumped on everyone on one of the final restarts to cruise to his second straight win. Gordon, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr also staged an excellent three-way battle up front before Junior blew another engine.
Over/Under
Tell me how many times each of these things will get mentioned by the ESPN crew on Saturday night.
- Denny Hamlin is from Virginia.
- Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards are rivals.
- Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr have bad blood from the last Richmond race.
- Joey Logano is only 18.
- Michael Waltrip is the worst driver in NASCAR, period. (just kidding, Clint Bowyer will be too busy to be in the booth)
Notes and Thoughts
- Speaking of Logano, he will hopefully make his Cup debut in the #02 car that Brandon Ash has made so famous. I say hopefully because tropical storm Hanna may affect the qualifying schedule. With no owner points to rely on Logano would be axed.
- While Logano will garner most of the hype this weekend, two other top prospects will make their NASCAR debuts. Austin Dillon, grandson of Richard Childress, will make his Nationwide debut at Richmond and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Marc Davis will make his Truck debut with Randy Moss’ team.
- One of the small things that adds some fun to the Chevy Rock and Roll weekend is usually a few cool Rock and Roll paint schemes. For some reason there aren’t any this year. What gives? No Kiss, No Elvis, not even Usher for his legion of NASCAR fans.
Who Will Win?
Denny Hamlin was almost untouchable this spring. He won the pole and led 381 of the first 382 laps. Of course then he was touched, got a flat tire and 24th. This time around he will take care of business and lead 403 (Green-White-Checker) laps. Did I mention he’s from Virginia? Wow!
Meanwhile the final Chase spots will pretty much take care of themselves. The only driver with any real concern is Bowyer, but he is very good at Richmond and will hold off that young whippersnapper, David Ragan. Unless Ragan takes offense to such a derogatory nickname and it motivates him to finish in the top 5.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:54 am
On the Over/Under we can also add:
“Nobody drives the car as sideways as Kyle Busch.” and of course Dr. Jerry will have numerous exclamations of “He drove the wheels off that thing.” Oh…one more. Dale Jarrett will say “at this point right now” a half-dozen times.