After 25 long weeks, numerous miles of travel, and thousands of laps, Saturday night, under the bright lights of the Richmond International Raceway, 43 drivers went into battle for a win in the Chevy Rock and Roll 400. Of those 43, 11 drivers had an opportunity to put their name in one of the remaining eight positions for the 2009 Chase for the Championship.
It was Mark Martin and Martin Truex Jr. leading the charge when the green flag fell, but the driver everyone knew was going to run hard and well was right behind them, the hometown driver Denny Hamlin. It didn’t take long for him to put the No. 11 FedEx Toyota out front as he passed Martin on the fourth lap for his first lead of the night.
One lap later the first caution came out when Scott Speed spun out and backed into the turn 2 wall. No cars came to pit road except for Matt Kenseth and a handful of others. Kenseth came into the race in 12th position, and was running mid-pack when he pitted complaining of a very ill-handling race car.
The green flag came back out on lap 9, and Hamlin put on a clinic on how to run Richmond. He began lapping cars and opening up his lead until the second caution came out on lap 44. Points leader Tony Stewart got loose and slid up into Reed Sorenson, causing both cars to spin out in the third turn.
All cars came to pit road for new tires and some fuel, but Hamlin did not give up his lead as he came out ahead of Jeff Gordon and Martin. The green flag came out on lap 50, but just as quickly was pulled when Regan Smith stopped on the track with mechanical trouble.
The green came back out on lap 63. In only four short laps, Gordon was able to put his No. 24 DuPont/National Guard Wounded Warrior Chevrolet out front. The battle between Hamlin and Gordon would continue as the race continued. Gordon would continue to lead as a debris caution came out on lap 106. Even with the tight area on pit road, the No. 24 team got Gordon out front and he would lead the field to the restart.
Gordon would keep his car out front until Hamlin was able to pass him on lap 151. Another debris caution on lap 172 jumbled up the field. This time it was Gordon getting the advantage off pit road, but it wasn’t by much.
The green flag came out on lap 180, but Hamlin was hunting for the lead position, and he got the top spot just three laps later. Gordon and Hamlin then went into a duel for the lead. Gordon grabbed the top spot on lay 189, but had to yield to Hamlin on lap 194. Gordon would get the lead back on lap 204 just before the sixth caution flag came out as Smith once again had trouble, this time with a blown tire sending him into the wall.
The lead cars again came to pit road for service, most of them asking for adjustments. This time it was Hamlin getting the edge off pit road, and he was ready to lead the field back to green. Hamlin would go on to open up a two second lead before he caught up to and maneuvered around lapped traffic.
The caution would come out again on lap 278 as Truex Jr. wrecked on the front stretch. The pit stops did not change the lead cars as Hamlin beat out both Gordon and Kurt Busch.
Hamlin led the field to the restart as it was getting down to crunch time, not only for the win, but the Chase. Behind Hamlin, Kyle Busch was making a charge to get to the front as he ran sixth. One of his close contenders, Brian Vickers, ran a couple spots back in seventh, but had a lead on Busch in the standings as they ran.
The yellow flag came out for debris on lap 319, and pit stops were once again the name of the game. Hamlin once again beat out the field, but behind him Vickers made up three spots as he came out fifth, while Busch came out seventh.
The field restarted on lap 324, but quickly slowed as Michael Waltrip spun down the front stretch. No cars came to pit road as Hamlin once again brought the field to green. Hamlin would continue his run up front as behind him the battle for positions became important. Busch continued to have his difficulties as he fell back as far as eighth, while Vickers stayed just a couple spots ahead to possibly get his Red Bull team into the Chase. With 40 laps left, Kyle was standing 26 points out of the Chase, but he was not giving up.
The final caution came out on lap 380 when Brad Keselowski had his engine blow up. Pit stops were the name of the game as the lead cars came to pit road for the final time. Hamlin once again had a flawless stop and led the cars off pit road. Meanwhile, Vickers lost a couple spots on pit road as Kyle made it out in sixth, with Vickers in seventh.
The field got it’s final green flag on lap 386. Hamlin immediately jumped out and got a challenge from Kurt Busch. Behind them, Kyle made a move to get into fourth position around Gordon, but Gordon hung on for the position. Despite Vickers being behind Kyle in the running order, as they ran he had a slight lead on Kyle in the standings. Vickers would move up to seventh with only five laps left.
However, up front it was no question who the dominant car was on this night. Hamlin got the lead on lap 207 and never looked back. In front of his home crowd, it was the No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry taking the checkered flag in the Chevy Rock and Roll 400. Kyle Busch would come home fifth with Vickers in seventh. Despite the better finishing position, it was Vickers getting the final spot in the Chase.
In victory lane, Hamlin was ecstatic of getting his first win at his home track.
“This is my house,\” Hamlin said. \”It has been for the last two years — we just haven\’t got the win to show for it. Finally, our FedEx Toyota showed that we\’re a championship contender.”
Meanwhile, Vickers got the chance to savor the moment of being in the Chase for the first time.
\”We picked a really good night to figure this place out,\” said Vickers. \”[Crew chief] Ryan [Pemberton] and the guys did a tremendous job, and this was probably the best car I\’ve ever had [at Richmond].\”
Busch, on the other hand, had to wonder what could have been. After last year where he dominated the first 26 races of the year, Busch found himself on the outside looking in. But in defeat, he was quick to point out that he didn’t miss the Chase because of his run Saturday night, but more due to his entire season to this point.
“It\’s not just [Saturday night], or it\’s not just last week that\’s kept us out. It\’s been the past 26 races that unfortunately some days I didn\’t do my best, and we didn\’t have the best cars, or whatever it might have been,” said Busch. “So you can look at a whole different scenario or a whole different slew of things, but what it boils down to is we missed.\”
Next weekend, the Chase will begin as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series makes a drive north to New Hampshire for the Sylvania 300. In years past, this race often sets the tone for the Chase for who could be a major contender and who would have the most trouble. It was in this race last year that set Jimmie Johnson in motion to win his third consecutive title, and don’t be surprised if he uses it as a spring board to his fourth.
I would not slouch on Kurt Busch either. When the Chase debuted in 2004, this race got his run going to win his title, despite having the last starting spot in the standings. He could make another move this year, so keep an eye on the blue deuce.
Outside the Chase, there are many drivers that could easily win the race. Guys like Jeff Burton, Joey Logano and Kyle himself could take some of the spotlight away from the Chase drivers. The driver I’m choosing for this race is in the Chase, Tony Stewart. He has had the season to dream of for an owner/driver. Both his cars are in the championship hunt and he has led the points for the majority of the season.
Stewart has only lost one position when the drivers were realigned based on wins, but if there’s a driver deserving to end this dream season with the ultimate goal, it is Stewart. He’s the guy I’m keeping my eye on all weekend.
I will be in Loudon, New Hampshire for the race, with a first-hand look in the garage area and the media center. It is certainly going to be an exciting start to the Chase for the Championship. Coverage of the Sylvania 300 will be on ABC starting at 1 p.m.
RESULTS: 1-Hamlin 2-Kurt Busch 3-Gordon 4-Martin 5-Kyle Busch 6-Bowyer 7-Vickers 8-Hornish 9-Harvick 10-Newman
NOTABLE FINISHES: 11-Johnson 12-Kahne 13-Biffle 15-Edwards 17-Stewart 19-Montoya 21-Earnhardt Jr. 25-Kenseth
CAUTIONS: Ten cautions for 53 laps. Lap 5-8 (Speed spin), 44-49 (Stewart, Sorenson spin), 57-62 (Smith problem), 106-110 (debris), 172-179 (debris), 204-210 (Smith tire), 278-286 (Truex Jr. wreck), 319-324 (debris), 327-332 (Waltrip spin), 380-385 (Keselowski engine).
LEADERS: Martin 1-3, Hamlin 4-66, Gordon 67-108, Waltrip 109, Gordon 110-150, Hamlin 151-175, Gordon 176-182, Hamlin 183-188, Gordon 189-193, Hamlin 194-203, Gordon 204-206, Hamlin 207-400. 11 lead changes among four drivers.
CHASE STANDINGS: 1-Martin, 5040 points 2-Stewart, -10 3-Johnson, -10 4-Hamlin, -20 5-Kahne, -20 6-Gordon, -30 7-Kurt Busch, -30 8-Vickers, -30 9-Edwards, -40 10-Newman, -40 11-Montoya, -40 12-Biffle, -40
