Post Race Report - Richmond
Event: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevy Rock & Roll 400 (Race No. 26 of 36)
Location: Richmond International Raceway; Richmond, Va.
Top-five finishers: Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin
Race recap: Jimmie Johnson led 32 of the final 34 laps to win the rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond on Sunday. The race was originally scheduled to be run on Saturday night, but was postoponed until Sunday due to anticipated heavy rains.
For Johnson, it was his fourth victory of the season and his third in the past seven races.
The race had several stages after polesitter Kyle Busch jumped out to lead the first 28 laps. Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr, pretty much controlled the action through lap 235 before handing over the reins to the combination of Tony Stewart and David Reutimann for the next 125 circuits. But in the end it was Johnson, who ultimately took the top spot from Stewart and held on for the win.
In all there were 22 lead changes among 10 drivers, with Reutimann leading the most laps with 104. The race was slowed by 14 cautions for 71 laps.
The big news on the day was the conclusion of NASCAR's 26-race regular season, leading into the 10-race playoffs that start at New Hampshire next Sunday. Kyle Busch, by virtue of his eight regular season wins, will begin the "Chase for the Championship" in first place, followed by Carl Edwards (six victories) and Johnson (four). Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer fall next in line with one victory each, followed by Stewart, Harvick, Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth (no victories) in a tie for eighth place.
Companion event:
The NASCAR Nationwide race was delayed from Friday to
Sunday because of rain and was won by Carl Edwards. The Roush-Fenway
driver led 34 of 250 laps, well short of Clint Bowyer's race high 195.
Bowyer currently leads Edwards by 207 points in the championship
standings.
Goodyear quote -- Rick Heinrich:
"This combination of Goodyear Eagles
was the same one we used at Richmond this spring and will be used at
New Hampshire next weekend. Both NASCAR races were run after weather
delays form previous days, and the Sprint Cup race presented the teams
with an extra of being run during the day instead of at night as was
originally scheduled. Our tires looked great all day and performed up
to expectations."
