When the checkered flag waved over Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Great Clips Toyota, it secured his spot in the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup. At the same time, the top 10 drivers in the standings also have their spots locked in. Tony Stewart, who had a dismal night, is locked in based on victories this season, but is in jeopardy of falling out and having to rely on the wild card spot to make the field.
After that position, the battle couldn’t be hotter.
One of those wild card spots is likely secured by Kasey Kahne, who’s two victories already this year are the most among drivers in positions 11-20.
The rules of the wild card are the two drivers that are in positions 11-20 in the points, and have started all the races this season, will make the final two spots in the Chase, although their victories will not yield any bonus points towards the seeding, as they will remain positions 11 and 12 in the Chase field.
After Kahne, things begin to get a bit murky, but a closer look reveals it’s realistically a battle between two drivers with a rich history at Richmond.
Up first, Kyle Busch, a driver who usually is a lock to be in the top-10 each year, has seen a lot of struggles this year because of engine failures during the summer months. This caused him from being a top-10 contender to hoping for some miracles on the track. Now, he returns to a track that is extremely good for him. Among active drivers, he has the most wins at Richmond (4) and also has 12 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in his career at the 0.75-mile track.
No doubt he is the favorite heading into the final regular season race, however the driver he will have to battle for that final spot is one that is hungrier than ever to make a title run. That man is Jeff Gordon.
A season of bad luck, with engine woes, accidents, and freak occurrences have relegated Gordon to being on the outside looking in on the Chase. His only good luck of the season for the most part came weeks ago when an accident at the front of the field left him inherit the lead at Pocono, and then with rain beginning to fall secured his lone win of 2012.
Gordon does have great statistics at Richmond, two wins, 15 top-fives and 24 top-10’s, but those mean nothing if he can’t battle for a championship. Gordon has only missed the Chase field one time in his career, which was in 2005. He doesn’t want a repeat performance, and he’s going into Richmond looking for just one thing…a win.
Three other drivers have one win and are inside the top-20 in points, Marcos Ambrose, Ryan Newman and Joey Logano. However, all three need to have great luck themselves and bad luck amongst the two drivers previously stated to have any chance at the final wild card spot.
This is certainly one race no one should miss, especially since it’s a Saturday night, short-track race, and so much is at stake. ABC has coverage of the final regular season race beginning at 7 p.m.
RESULTS: 1-Hamlin 2-Gordon 3-Keselowski 4-Truex Jr. 5-Harvick 6-Kyle Busch 7-Earnhardt Jr. 8-Menard 9-Kenseth 10-Martin
NOTABLE FINISHES: 15-Biffle 22-Stewart 23-Kahne 34-Johnson 36-Edwards
CAUTIONS: 6 for 31 laps. Lap 40-43 (Oil on track), 131-134 (Debris-BS), 243-247 (#42 accident-T1), 266-269 (Oil on track), 271-279 (#48, 22, 39 accident-BS), 321-325 (#1 accident-FS).
LEAD CHANGES: 18 among 7 drivers. Stewart POLE, Biffle 1, Stewart 2-9, Johnson 10-15, Kyle Busch 16-34, Hamlin 35-40, Kyle Busch 41-81, Hamlin 82, Harvick 83-84, Kyle Busch 85-90, Hamlin 91-134, Harvick 135-173, Hamlin 174-176, Harvick 177-215, Hamlin 216-221, Harvick 222-242, Harmlin 243-281, Truex Jr. 282-321, Hamlin 322-327.
TIME OF RACE:Â 3 Hrs, 32 Mins, 45 Secs.
AVERAGE SPEED:Â 142.020 MPH
MARGIN OF VICTORY:Â 0.378 Seconds
POINT STANDINGS (Top-10, Wild Cards): 1. Biffle, 879 points**; 2. Earnhardt Jr, -8**, 3. Kenseth, -21*; 4. Johnson, -31**; 5. Truex Jr, -41*; 6. Keselowski, -48*; 7. Hamlin, -57*; 8. Bowyer, -68*; 9. Harvick, -72*; 10. Stewart, -110*. WILD CARDS: Kahne (11th, 2 wins), Kyle Busch (12th, 1 win).
**Already qualified for 2012 Chase
*Qualified for 2012 Chase in this race
