Fast Forward ~ The Toyota Owners 400 At Richmond Preview
4/25/2013
Jim Fitzgerald And Staff
“The future is like a
corridor into which we can see only by the light coming from behind.”
–Edward Weyer, Jr.
Well, we’re not in Kansas anymore.
This week, that statement is absolutely true. Last week, not so much. The 2013 Sprint Cup Series heads into
Richmond this week for the Toyota Owners 400, the final short track race in the
first half of the season. This race
historically has a knack for talking smack and paying back on the action track.
The Track:
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Length: 3/4 Mile D-Shaped Oval
Banking: 14 degrees in turns 1-2;
14 degrees in
turns 3-4;
2 degrees on
the backstretch,
8 degrees on the front stretch
Pit Road Speed/Length:45 MPH/1260
Ft
The Race:
400 Laps/ 300 Miles
Defending Champion: Kyle Busch, 105.202 MPH
Most recent winner: Clint Bowyer, 100.019 MPH
Track Record: Dale Jarrett, 109.047 MPH- September 1997
Race Record: Rusty Wallace, 108.499 MPH- March 1997
Qualifying record: Brian Vickers, 129.983 MPH- May 2004
TV:FOX, 7:00PM EST 4/27/2013
The History:
1946-Richmond holds first race at what was then called
the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, on a half mile dirt track.
April 19, 1953- Richard Petty wins the first Cup race.
1964-Temporary lighting was used to run the Spring race on a Tuesday night.
1961- The venue name was changed to the Virginia State
Fairgrounds
1961-Richard Petty becomes the youngest winner of a
Richmond race at 23 years, 9 months, 21 days.
1968- The track was paved with asphalt.
1969- The track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds
Raceway
1970- The track was re-measured to .542 miles.
February 22, 1988-Construction begins after the spring
race to enlarge the track to a ¾ mile D-Shaped Oval
Sept 7, 1991-The first race under permanent lights is
run.
Sept 7, 1991-Harry Gant becomes the oldest winner at the
track at 51 years, 7 months, 28 days.
1999-First year both races were run under the lights.
For a track that has undergone many changes, from name to
size to surface, one thing has been the same for the last four years, and that
is the winner of this race. Does this
driver make my contenders for this week?
Read on…
The
Contenders:
Who do I think will have a shot to win at Richmond?
Kyle Busch: My Momma
didn’t raise a dummy. Streaks become
streaks and stay streaks until they end.
Busch’s numbers here are just incredible. He has 16 starts, 4 wins, 12 top fives, and 13 top tens. Solid numbers, but remember,
they also missed the boat here last year with a 16th place finish,
costing them a spot in the Chase. Those
four wins are consecutive in the Spring race here, and
he has to be considered a favorite again.
Clint Bowyer: In 14 starts, Bowyer has two wins and six other top tens. He has only finished
off of the lead lap once, and won here in the fall last season.
Dale
Earnhardt, Jr: One pole, three wins, nine top 5s and eleven top 10s in
27 starts does not automatically equal a sure pick, but after a strong start to
the season, but slipping in the past few races, the No. 88 team is due for a
rebound, and this is as good of a place as any.
Tony Stewart: Stewart has
three wins at Richmond, but they all came before 2003. That’s quite a dry spell. However, 4 top tens
in the last four races might mean a return to glory. Overall Stewart has 19 top tens in 28 starts and only two DNFs.
Kasey Kahne: This track
has KK written all over it, or at least it would seem like it. Wide sweeping turns, a bubble in the front
stretch….sounds like Vegas and Kansas, doesn’t it? Kahne won here in November, 2005, and in 18
starts has 4 top fives and 7 top tens. With two of those top fives
coming in the last two spring races here.
DARK HORSE
PICK-Brian Vickers: Vickers is my dark horse pick this week. Still in the 11 car which has been great here
in the past, and Vickers is really talented on the short tracks.
There are my picks for this week at Richmond, but let’s look
back and see how I did with my Kansas picks.
Tony Stewart: Never a
factor and finished 21st.
Greg Biffle: Also not a
factor, and finished 19th.
Not looking good for me here…
Jimmie
Johnson: Johnson led nine laps and finished third.
Matt Kenseth: Ahh, sweet victory!
Kenseth dominated the day, was never passed for the lead under the
green, and went on to win over Kasey Kahne.
Jeff Gordon: Did not lead
and finished 13th.
DARK HORSE
PICK-Martin Truex, Jr: Truex led 46 laps and finished 4th.
This week, my numbers are one win, three top fives, and a 13th, 19th, and 21st. Quite the mixed bag…
Race Pro Picks!
Before we get to the Kansas picks, let’s back it up and
see how our pros did at Texas.
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Wins |
DNFs |
Alabama |
48 |
42 |
264 |
306 |
0 |
0 |
PattyKay |
48 |
42 |
223 |
265 |
0 |
0 |
Mr. Seven |
1 |
37 |
223 |
260 |
0 |
0 |
Jim |
20 |
48 |
209 |
257 |
1 |
1 |
Kevin |
43 |
36 |
215 |
251 |
0 |
0 |
Brian |
48 |
42 |
205 |
247 |
1 |
1 |
Here are our picks for the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond,
at 7:00 PM on FOX:
PattyKay (@MamaPKL): Looking into my crystal ball, I see the Saturday
night brawl... I mean race... at Richmond very clearly, and it's a mixed bag.
Up front most of the night I see only one Ford, and it
has a #99 on the roof. I see two Chevys, both from HMS... the #5 and the #88. I
see three Toyotas, #15, #18 and #55, and that tells me the strength this week
is from the Toyota garage. Martin has always been good here, and Bowyer is good
on any short track we visit, but the guy in that #18 from JGR has time to make
up and something to prove this week, so it's Kyle Busch I'll be riding with at
Richmond. Oh, and one more thing I see in the Crystal Ball is a major crash for
Alabama Fitz, bringing him back down to my level. :) Let's go racin'
boys!
Brian: There was a time when I would have picked Denny Hamlin on
this track, without thought or hesitation.....now is not that time, considering
his health issues. The Buschmaster, however, refuses
to lose, or at least drives that way when he hits the track in Richmond. Kyle
is the #1 rated driver at this track, and this of
course is based on his numbers, and not his personality. I'm eating Peanut
M&M's this week, and watching Kyle in the Winner's Circle, acting like
a.....Kyle.
Kevin (@KEVDOGG329):
This
week NASCAR heads back to the short tracks. Due to Denny Hamlin not being
cleared to race this weekend at the time of making my pick, I am taking the No.
11 car, regardless of the driver. If Denny is not cleared my pick is Brian
Vickers, due to Brian showing in his part-time role that he can do well on the
short tracks, and contend for the win. Also with Brian driving the No. 11 he
will have one of the best teams in recent years at Richmond. However if Denny
Hamlin is cleared to race Saturday, he will be returning to his home track, where
he has a great record. Either way, I see the No. 11 heading to Victory Lane
Saturday night.
Mr. Seven:
I think I’m just going to take whoever finished in
seventh place. Deal with it.
(Editor’s Note: Mr. Seven will be given credit for the
points of the seventh place finishing driver each week.)
Alabama: With four consecutive
wins in the spring race at Richmond, one might suppose that it would seem that
the No. 18 car has this figured out and is the team to beat this week. Count me in, too. I’m taking Kyle Busch to win in Richmond this
Saturday Night!
Jim (@Forewasabi): I thought
about picking Rusty Wallace, or maybe Harry Gant, but then I realized that this
was not the early ‘90s. After that, my
pick became clear. The last time Kasey
Kahne finished second in a race he won the following week. Where did he finish last week? Second place. I feel like the action on the track, the
style of racing, and a fast Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 car are all going to add
up to a single number for Kasey Kahne: 1
So, there are my challengers and our pro picks for the Toyota
Owners 400 at Richmond. Forty-three
drivers vying for the top stop, and maybe an edge as
we visit the last track in the regular season schedule for the first time this
year. Settled in Henrico County,
Virginia, I like to call Richmond “The Little Track That Could” as it has
endured time and change, and has aged oh-so-gracefully. Graceful might be a rare word used on
Saturday night, however. It’s short
track racing at its best!
“You guys
hungry?”
“No, we had
subs.”
“SUBS?!” -The Old Richmond Crew (I miss it…)
Remember to follow me on Twitter @Forewasabi Sometimes I give stuff away.
Jim Fitzgerald @Forewasabi
PattyKay Lilley @MamaPKL
Kevin Abraham @KevDogg329
Marshall Gabell @Gabell_Racing
Who is YOUR pick to win this week?