Chase At Richmond International Rainway

Rain… It is as necesary as air…

However, on race day for NASCAR Sprint Cup, it is as unwelcome as a Bud hat in a Miller campsite…

The entire season blew the storm of the Chase into Richmond with wildcards and points on the line. That storm was put off as another storm blew in and kept the race in the garage for almost two hours. NASCAR and RIR staff kept things tight as the rain moved out. After all, the plan was to run under the lights. The weather was watched and the decision was held. Jet dryers and utility vehicles did a number on the track to dry it out but even then they ran the first few laps under caution.

Finally they went green on a green track with any rubber from qualifying and the Nationwide race the day before  thrown to the inner wall. The crowd braved the rain to watch Jeff Gordon blow by pole sitter Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Dale, Jr. to regain the lead shortly after.

Rain continued to threaten with a few delays but just enough for cautions and not enough to really wet the track. It was like having a kid constantly interrupt the conversation but it did give the fans plenty of time to refresh a beer and get rid of what they already had…

Several hours later…

After the delays and incident cautions, the Chase was set. Lead changes were plenty and mostly among Chase drivers. Ryan Newman had squeazed in some lead some laps but couldn’t hold. At the checkered all the drivers coming into Richmond sitting in the top 12 made it in… Except for one. Kyle Busch.

He seemed like a lock a few laps in as Gordon’s car just wasn’t in the mix despite the early run around Dale Jr. Gordon and his team struggled with the #24 for most of the race but managed to climb back up and finish with the points needed to push Busch out of it.

The Busch camp called a pit strategy and left a lug nut behind causing the points, and the slot, to slip away.

With Jeff Gordon, it was a Hendrick sweep as all four team drivers are in the Chase. Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and yes, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Tony Stewart was another whose car came in during the race. He qualified mid-pack but his team managed to pull the #14 into the race, up to the front and an eventual 4th place finish.

Clint Bowyer, a front runner for Michael Waltrip Racing, went on from a mid-race spin to lead the latter laps and win the Federated Auto Parts 400… at around 1:30am… give or take a tick or two.

Bowyer’s team mate, Martin Truex, Jr., made the Chase with Bowyer putting MWR into the mix for a championship.

The twelve in the Chase are, in order of their status following RIR:  Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon.

Rain, tension, nerves, Richmond.

The Chase is on now with ten races to figure it out. They start in Chicago. Virginia race fans get another shot at seeing the heat of the Chase at Martinsville before the final three races travel to Texas, Arizona and winding the final laps of the season at Homestead.

Let the racing begin.

Click Chase Image for Full Size (1400 X 790 pixels) Suitable for PC Wallpaper