The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will spend another week “short trackin'” as they head to Richmond International Raceway for the Toyota Owners 400.
This weekend’s race may hold even more significance to the drivers and teams since this will also be the location of the final race of the regular season. That means if a team has not made the NASCAR playoffs by the time the season returns to the track in September, data gathered this weekend could help the team get into the Chase at the last minute.
Last weekend was quite a short track race as the teams battled at Bristol, although it was a day late due to rain. Jimmie Johnson came out on top of that battle with his second consecutive win in the 2017 NASCAR season.
This weekend’s race will demand similar abilities from both the driver and the cars. The 0.75-mile track has 14 degrees of banking through the turns that will demand good handling from the car and steady hands from the drivers. The track has enough room to get three, four and even five wide while racing for position down the front and back stretches. However, being more than two wide through the turns could be a very dangerous proposition for the drivers. That doesn’t mean some won’t try it.
The pit crews will need to be on top of their game and the crew chief will need to be thinking fast to get the cars in and out of the pits without losing precious time on pit road that equates to positions on the track. Drivers will also need to be thinking not only on the track, but also on pit road. A mistake on the track can lead to a crash while a mistake on pit road can lead to a penalty. Both of those situations can result in the loss of the chance to even finish well let alone win the race.
Below is the list of the best performers at Richmond International Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers.
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Richmond
- Kyle Busch – 110.8
- Denny Hamlin – 109.9
- Kevin Harvick – 109.9
- Kurt Busch – 95.0
- Brad Keselowski – 94.7
- Clint Bowyer – 93.5
- Jimmie Johnson – 90.6
- Matt Kenseth – 89.6
- Ryan Newman – 89.5
- Kasey Kahne – 87.4
NOTE: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2016 races (24 total) among active drivers at Richmond International Raceway.
Kyle Busch holds the most wins at the track among active drivers. He has a total of four trips to Victory Lane at Richmond during his Cup Series career.
Last year’s race was won by Carl Edwards who has stepped way from NASCAR racing. Carl’s win last year was paired with his win the previous week at Bristol. As pointed out earlier Jimmie Johnson won last week’s race at Bristol. Could Jimmie replicate the back-to-back short track wins that Carl achieved in 2016? Jimmie has three wins at Richmond in his career, so it is possible.
Denny Hamlin won the last Cup Series race at Richmond just before the start of the 2016 Chase. He also has three wins at the track and could be a contender for the win this week.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced Tuesday (4/25) that the 2017 NASCAR season would be his last behind the wheel as a driver. He has won three times at Richmond. Will his announcement this week be a distraction or a motivation to get that fourth win?
Kevin Harvick has also been to Victory Lane three times at Richmond International Raceway. While Kevin hasn’t had a bad start to the 2017 season, he hasn’t captured a win yet. Could this be the week that changes?
Clint Bowyer has been performing well with his new team. He has had his Stewart-Haas #14 Ford at the front often. However, like his teammate Kevin, he has not found his way to Victory Lane yet this year. Clint has won twice at Richmond during his career. Will this weekend be number three?
Kurt Busch started the year by winning the Daytona 500 while Matt Kenseth has yet to be the leader on the last lap of the race driving under the checkered flag this season. Both drivers have won twice at Richmond and could get the win this weekend.
Four active drivers have a single win at Richmond. Those drivers are Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski. Could one of these four be the victor this weekend?
Any of these previous Richmond winners have the chance to win at Richmond. But, so do any of the drivers that haven’t won at the track previously. When NASCAR hits the short track so many variables can affect the outcome in the race. One major crash could change which cars are even in the race let alone have a chance to win. With the new stage racing format, those unknown variables seem to have multiplied for the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
We will get to see it all unfold Sunday, April 30th starting at 1:00 PM central time (2:00 PM eastern time) when the Toyota Owners 400 races for 400 laps (300 miles) around Richmond International Raceway … that is provided there isn’t any rain.
By: Buck Stevens
