"Racing Perfection."
Two simple words to describe a track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule that is not only popular by the fans, but also by the drivers. If you walk through the garage of this 3/4th-mile, D-shaped track and try to find a driver that doesn't like racing here is literally impossible.
It's almost a combination of the speed achieved at Charlotte combined with the action you would see at Bristol. It doesn't hurt that Richmond thrives on racing at night.
When track officials elected to move both races to under the lights on a Saturday night, the fans loved every bit.
It's appropriate that this track comes after an off week as drivers are already in a good mood as they had a chance to relax, unwind and enjoy the Easter holiday with their families. Now they return to a track that has brought many great moments in the sport's history.
That just makes it much harder for our writers to pick a winner. Even after Talladega, somehow no one actually predicted the winner. So how will they fair this week?
Here's the picks for Saturday night's Crown Royal Presents the Matthew and Daniel Hansen 400:
Misan Ayuka (SB Nation): Kyle Busch
No commentary available.
James Broomhead (The Checkered Flag): Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yep, I’ll drink the cool-ade. Jr.’s 2011 to date has been on the up and up after a few years of the kind of mediocrity that had many (including myself) wondering if there was anything other than his surname keeping in a race seat.
So far he looks to be back on form and for Richmond (a place he was (in)famously spun from the lead by Kyle Busch can ‘Little E’ finally break that losing streak?
Kelly Crandall (Speedway Media): Kyle Busch
While teammate Denny Hamlin is certainly going to be a favorite this weekend it's Busch will all the momentum and things going right in 2011. Heading in Saturday night he's won the last two spring events at Richmond and there's no reason he can't make it three.
Summer Dreyer (Next Time By): Denny Hamlin
Hamlin has obviously had a less than stellar start to the 2011 season. However, Richmond is the absolute perfect track for this driver to start making a step in the right direction, starting with his Short Track Showdown on Thursday night.
Richmond is a track where Hamlin has dominated on many occasions, and I'm fully expecting him to be up front this weekend.
Billy Fellin (Richmond Times-Dispatch): Kyle Busch
He's the two-time defending race champion and he just rocks at RIR.
Michael Hirshbein (Fan Vs. Fan): Kyle Busch
No commentary available.
Christopher Leone (On Pit Row): Kyle Busch
The two-time race defending champion, of course. Last year, Rowdy dominated by leading 226 of 400 laps, including the first 140, and getting by Jeff Gordon for the final five circuits to cement his first victory of the season.
Through two short track races this year, he’s been the top driver as well, scoring a series-best 90 points and leading 304 of 1000 laps.
Kara Martin (Speedway Media): Kyle Busch
No commentary available.
Ryan O'Hara (Speedway Media): Jeff Gordon
Last year this was his race to win at the end, but a lot of late race cautions set him up for a restart with Kyle Busch, which he lost.
Dustin Parks (All About Horsepower): Denny Hamlin
Who to choose from Joe Gibbs Racing, since both the 18 and 11 are just outstanding at this track. I finally decided to go with Hamlin simply because this is his home track. He needs a dose of home cooking to get his season back on track.
I still don't believe in the "Jimmie Johnson curse" until he actually misses out on the Chase, and I don't see that happening. He won here last fall to earn the top seed in the Chase, a race I attended no less.
So I'm going to the well and picking the FedEx Toyota. Hopefully a delivery of a trophy is on the horizon.
Sal Sigala Jr. (3 Wide and 1 To Go): Kyle Busch
Busch has finished each race at Richmond on the lead lap, with an average finish of 5.2 which makes him a serious threat anytime he visits one of his favorite short tracks during the season.
In 12 starts, he has only finished outside the top-10 twice, with the remaining 10 finishes all being top-fives. Last season Busch won from the pole while leading 226 of the 400 laps which were run, and finished second while leading zero laps in September of that same year.
Rob Tiongson (The Podium Finish): Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Saturday night might be one for Kyle Busch to go for a three peat at Richmond, but most eyes will be on the No. 88 Chevy of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. He's won here three times and has a solid chance to nab his fourth victory at this famed 3/4th mile track.
Richmond is probably as good of a shot for Junior to wind up in Victory Lane before the All-Star race, an event his fans hope he'll be a part of not by vote, but because of a win.
Standings following Talladega:
Sal Sigala Jr. (286) Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished fourth (1)
Kelly Crandall (283) Clint Bowyer finished second (0)
Billy Fellin (256) Clint Bowyer finished second (1)
Ryan O'Hara (256) Kevin Harvick finished fifth (1)
Rob Tiongson (253) Kevin Harvick finished fifth (1)
Kara Martin (244) Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished fourth (0)
Christopher Leone (240) Carl Edwards finished sixth (1)
Dustin Parks (235) Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished fourth (0)
Misan Ayuka (235) Jamie McMurray finished 21st (0)
James Broomhead (227) Carl Edwards finished sixth (0)
Michael Hirshbein (209) Juan Pablo Montoya finished 30th (1)
Summer Dreyer (206) Denny Hamlin finished 23rd (0)
Final Thoughts: While the picks this week were not surprising, there usually is some surprises at this track when NASCAR comes to town. Let's face it, we all didn't expect to see only three cautions last fall, one of which was for light rain. But it's not those kind of races that fans want to see.
It's a short track, so don't be surprised if tempers start to boil, especially with a victory on the line.
Find out if "Racing Perfection" provides a perfect finish by watching FOX at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday night.
Summary of Picks:
Kyle Busch-7
Dale Earnhardt Jr-2
Denny Hamlin-2
Jeff Gordon-1
Written by:
