A practical drag race ended with Denny Hamlin rolling into Victory Lane at Atlanta. On his heels was Jeff Gordon looking for any points advantage to make the “Chase”. Hamlin is in it. Gordon is a spot down and grasping for it. With one race to go we’ll see if he can roll over team mate Kasey Kahne to grab it.
Denny Hamlin just came off the win at Bristol and is looking at Richmond which he has won before. He’s in the “Chase” so enough about him, for now.
The top 10 in Atlanta litter the “Chase” field as well. Hamlin took the win and is in. Gordon, second, is just off the pace. Brad Keselowski rolled under the flag in third and holds the sixth slot in points. Martin Truex, Jr… 4th in Atlanta and fifth in points. Kevin Harvick took fifth and holds the ninth points position. Kyle Busch finished sixth and moved up a slot dancing with the wild cards. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., seventh at Atlanta and moved to just 8 points from the first points slot he held briefly just a few races ago. Matt Kenseth was in the top 10 in Atlanta and holds the third points slot.
Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer are in the “Chase” positions but Atlanta gave them a shakedown. Tony Stewart was poised for a good run starting on the pole but the #14 couldn’t hold. He is still holding the tenth slot with Kahne, Busch and even Gordon ready to strike if he falls off the game in this final bid at Richmond to clinch. Greg Biffle is on top of the ladder and just has to show up.
Richmond is on tap. Thursday, Richmond International Raceway is hosting a fan Q&A with the drivers on the cusp, in the wild and in the rough with a shot. With odds, bumpers, speed and spins all part of the deck there are 10 drivers that could get shuffled in or out. The bluffs will be bold and all bets are off to make it in.
Richmond could wind up being a roller derby. The folks at RIR are prepped with a lot of fan access available and special packages to get into the action. Virginia race fans are sure to see some high hopes, tight tensions and bent bumpers before the checkered flag falls on the twelve that make the “Chase”.
Don’t forget the run for the Nationwide Series, either. Elliott Sadler is still sitting in the points lead and Danica Patrick is in the top 10. We think that makes for some interesting bits of racing on Friday night. Can she move up? Can he stay on top? The answers come with the Virginia 529 College Savings 250
On top of that, you’ll see Matt Kenseth in the #17 before he flips to Joe Gibbs Racing to take the wheel of the #20 next year. The #20…? Yes, as Joey Logano is bouncing to Penske to take the #22. Sam Hornish, Jr., who has had the wheel of the #22 since A.J. Allmendinger was suspended for drug issues, will be somewhere in the Penske stable. He is third in Nationwide series points and carries some weight there. Roger Penske could even field a third Cup team…
Virginia fans, this weekend at Richmond and in a few more weeks at Martinsville, you’ll see these drivers in their current seats. However, be ready for some steep sale prices at their haulers in the midway. If they have hats without drivers’ names you better snatch’em up. Kenseth fans, for example, might feel weird buying a “Home Depot #20” hat but if it doesn’t have Logano’s name on it you can consider it a cheap investment on next year!
Who is in the #17 for 2013. We don’t know. We don’t care right now. We’re going to Richmond!