There was a bit of James Taylor in the mix over race weekend at Richmond. Yes, I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain.

Not in that order, but it was there.

The rain was Friday. The sun was out for practices and qualifying for the Nationwide ToyotaCare 250 and the K&N Series Blue Ox 100.

However, just before the clock ticked over for Sprint Cup qualifying for the Toyota Owners 400 the skies went dark and opened up. There was wind and lightning and rain. The scheduled start of the ToyotaCare 250 was on hold. Then it stopped and the track dryers were racing to get it done. Covers were coming off cars. Fans were getting back in the seats. Drivers were suiting up.

Then it rained again.

Then the preps began again.

Once it was actually race time it was over 3 hours from the scheduled start time. The race ran past midnight. The K&N Blue Ox 100 was pushed to early Sunday.

It was Kevin Harvick in the JRM Racing / Tide #5 Chevy that proved to be the midnight man to beat. Out front for 202 of the 250 laps he took the checkers and brought it to Victory Lane. Car owner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was there to greet him. Chase Elliott came in 2nd and also gave Harvick a “congrats” in winner’s circle. Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson and Brian Scott rounded the top 5.

The fire came Saturday night in the Toyota Owners 400. Two cars lit up in the front as tires and brakes went hot and caught fire. The right front of Clint Bowyer’s #15 went up first. Trying to not lose position he actually made a quick pit, exited to go around again while it was beginning to burn but by the end of the backstretch it was a rotating blaze where a wheel used to be.

It was a gamble that put the #15 in the garage. Perhaps it was some kind of Karma return from the start.

Due to the rain the starting positions were set from practice times which put rookie Kyle Larson on the pole. The green flag dropped and before the first turn Bowyer had tucked under Larson in a tight fit and sent the #42 up the track in a tire-smoking spin. Larson went from first to last in a quarter lap. Bowyer, later on, parked the #15 from the fire. Racing Karma or just racing…?

Reed Sorenson was also caught up in fire-tire issue as his front end lit up in a flaming light show. Reprtedly, at least 3 other cars had issues with tires going hot. Goodyear is reviewing the tire compound as it became evident the tires were going well before the fuel at Richmond.

Beyond tire fires the race went off with the lead held and challenged by Gordon in the #24, Earnhardt, JR. in the #88, Keselowski in the #2 and Kenseth in the #20. Joey Logano stayed close enough as well to challenge and lead and was there at the final restart to take the front and the checkers.

Yes, a Ford won the Toyota Owners 400…

Joey Logano and the Penski / Pennzoil #22 Ford went to Victory Lane for the second time this season. It is another notch sending him closer to “The Chase” which will set finally on the next return to Richmond International Raceway on September 6th.

Jeff Gordon challenged but came in behind Logano for 2nd. He finished a few spots ahead of Matt Kenseth extending the points lead of the #24 to 5. Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. round the top 5 in Sprint Cup points. Logano’s win puts him in the 6th slot, 49 points off the lead. Keselowski, Johnson, Newman and Vickers fill out the top 10 out of Richmond.

Wins are not everything, it seems. Kevin Harvick also has 2 wins this season but is stalled back in 20th place for points. Gordon has not had a win yet this season and is leading.

There was fire and there was rain at Richmond. The fire must be the indicator as the season is still just heating up.

Apparently it’s hot back in the pack also. The heat was up in the garage following the race as Casey Mears and Marcos Ambrose had a push-shove-fist finish out of their cars. They were going for the 18th spot and one or the other didn’t like the moves of one or the other. NASCAR has fined them for actions detrimental to the sport and they have both spoken, cleared the air and come away with fingers crossed.

That last is speculation…

The Toyota Owners 400 was race #9. The next and 10th points race of the season is on at Talledega. Only racing will tell who exits, who gets caught and who wins.

Let’s go racing!

PHOTOS: RIR – Nationwide ToyotaCare 250

PHOTOS: RIR – Sprint Cup Toyota Owners 400