The NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway was supposed to be a beating and banging short track race under the lights on Saturday Night but it didn’t quite work out that way. It was supposed to be a race by some of the contenders for the Wild Card spots in the chase. Tony Stewart was supposed to race Kasey Kahne to stay in the top ten. Kyle Busch was supposed to race Jeff Gordon to Stay in the top wild card spot. A large long rain storm changed that for everyone. To begin with the race started about 90 minutes late due to rain. The first six laps were run under caution while the track was still drying which is never a good sign.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. led most of the beginning laps due to the laps run under caution and the competition caution that followed. After that, Denny Hamlin took over the race and proceeded to dominate. The whole race, rain threatened almost at every pit stop to put an end to the action. Eventually about 50 laps before half way it did. The race was red flagged and the cars were pulled onto pit road. At that point in time none of the expected drama had occurred. Sure Tony Stewart was faltering but he still was in command of tenth place. Kasey Kahne was running good but not enough to overtake Tony. Kyle Busch was not running well but neither was Jeff Gordon so there were no changes there. The track was dried and then everything changed.
The race started again at lap 155 and proceeded to go green until Clint Bowyer spun out. At lap 277 there was a final caution for rain and almost all the leaders pitted except Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin who was the leader at the time. Denny did pit just before it went to green but Clint Bowyer was able to save fuel to hold onto the win.
While Clint and Denny were trying to save fuel Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon did not have to save fuel and drove right up to second and third place after Denny had to go to pit road. With 10 laps to go Jeff Gordon was told by his crew “You have to get the 55”. He assumed he needed it in order to make the Chase, so he did. Jeff Gordon drove up to pass Mark Martin and made it into the Chase for the Sprint Cup by one point over Kyle Busch. Tony Stewart’s car also came alive after the red flag and finished fourth, holding onto tenth place over Kasey Kahne who finished twelfth. “Knowing it came down to one point last year.” Tony Said, “It was a big deal for us to stay in the top ten and get those bonus points.”
For a race that should have lasted only about 3 hours we were all treated to a strategy and racing battle all in one that lasted five hours. Jeff Gordon was second, Mark Martin Third, Tony Stewart fourth and Matt Kenseth fifth.
The Chase for the Sprint Cup has been set by race wins and point standings. Your Chase for the Sprint Cup is as follows:
Your Chase for the Sprint Cup Line up is:
Driver Points
Denny Hamlin 2012
Jimmie Johnson 2009
Tony Stewart 2009
Brad Keselowski 2009
Greg Biffle 2006
Clint Bowyer 2006
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2003
Matt Kenseth 2003
Kevin Harvick 2000
Martin Truex Jr. 2000
Kasey Kahne 2000 Wild Card
Jeff Gordon 2000 Wild Card
Brian Berg Jr. is the Lead NASCAR writer for www.RantSports.com.
Follow him on Twitter @brian_jr1 during the race and throughout the week for more NASCAR news and commentary. On Facebook at NASCAR News and Commentary
