The next stop on the Nextel Cup schedule is Richmond International Raceway
Next Saturday is Cinco de Mayo; celebrating the defeat of Napoleon’s army in Mexico on May 5, 1862. Expect a big NASCAR-style celebration as the Nextel and Busch Cup Series teams head to Richmond International Raceway to battle it out under the lights.
Richmond has been labeled by many as the “edest” track on the circuit. The 3/4 mile track offers up to 2 groves that produce excellent side-by-side racing while allowing cars to reach highway-like speeds.
Of all the current drivers with 2 or more races at Richmond, Kyle Busch has had the most success. In 4 starts, Busch has an average finish of 3rd.
Other drivers to consider:
Denny Hamlin – Average 8th Finish
Dale Earnhardt Jr – 10th Average Finish
Clint Boyer – Average Finish 11th
Ryan Newman – Average Finish of 12th
Next week’s schedule:
Nextel Cup: @ Richmond International Raceway (all times EST)
05/04/07 – 11:15 am NASCAR Nextel Cup Practice: Crown Royal Unveils the Jim Stewart 400
05/04/07 – 06:10 pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Qualifying: Crown Royal Unveils the Jim Stewart 400
05/05/07 – 07:30pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Aaron’s Crown Royal Presents the Jim Stewart 400
Busch Series: @Richmond International Raceway
05/04/07 – 10:10 am NASCAR Busch Series Practice – Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI Racing
05/04/07 – 4:05 PM NASCAR Busch Series Qualifying – Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI race
04/05/07 – 8:00 PM NASCAR Busch Series Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI race
Craftsman Truck Series, through May 18 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Jeff Gordon tops Earnhardt in pro wins!
Watching the closing time of the 499 at Aaron’s yesterday, I never would have guessed that Jeff Gordon could win. He was mired in 16th position in a single pack with 10 laps to go. Eventually Gordon, with the help of teammate Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, began to storm the lead cars.
After swinging and weaving, and working his way to the front, Gordon was able to overtake Jamie McMurray’s lead position before the penultimate caution flag went up. Then, on the first lap of what was meant to be a green-white checkered finish, Gordon claimed victory as chaos erupted deep in the pack. In a green-white checkered finish, NASCAR will end the race if a caution comes out.
For some, Gordon’s win was hard to swallow. The win, Gordon’s 77th in the Cup Series, put him ahead of the late Dale Earnhardt on a day that would have been Earnhardt’s 56th birthday. But for many, Gordon’s win is further validation that we’re seeing a future legend make his mark in the history books.
Hendrick teams continue to dominate the 2007 season!
Six out of nine. That’s the number of races won by a Hendrick driver (6) out of nine races so far in the 2007 season. By combining resources among four Cup teams and staffing each team with some of NASCAR’s best, Rick Hendrick he has racked up more wins — 155 total among all Cup teams — than any other owner in NASCAR history.
Tired of losing to DEI in restrictor plate racing, Rick Hendrick appointed a specially staffed group within his organization to research and develop top-tier restrictor plate cars for his four Cup teams. The panel paid off! ! In the last 14 restrictor plate races, Hendrick Motorsports has combined for 8 wins; a winning percentage of 57%.
Through some ingenious organization by Rick Hendrick, he has built the premier team in NASCAR history. He found that unity is strength by dividing the cost of running key operations, such as the engine department, among all the teams. That kind of business savvy makes Rick Hendrick one of the best owners in all of professional sports!
Summary of Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway
Yesterday’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway gave fans the restrictor plate action they love! The 2.67-mile-long track is the longest on the circuit and allows power-restricting cars to race at speeds approaching 200 mph while swarming like a huge swarm of bees.
While the action during the race was non-stop, the finish was anticlimactic. Under the final caution of the day, Jeff Gordon claimed the flag and the 77th career win from him. Final caution was stirred during the green-white checkered finish as cars collided all the way down the stretch. When the yellow flag fell, Gordon was in the lead.
Loving fans graced Gordon by showering him with beer cans from the stands. However, Gordon shrugged off the negativity and celebrated his historic victory.
How the best pilots did:
Jeff Gordon made a charge late in the race that only he could pull off. Coming from 16th with 10 laps remaining, Gordon teamed up with Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson to charge at the front of the field. At the last caution of the day under a green-white chip condition, Gordon earned his 77th victory of all time. He now sits comfortably in first place, 203 points ahead of second place Jeff Burton.
Tony Stewart had a tumultuous week that was anything but staged. Earlier last week, Tony made comments on his weekly Sirius radio show that some of NASCAR’s call-out debris warnings are similar to WWE’s stage performances. Unfortunately for Stewart, the 6 am Friday morning meeting with Mike Helton, followed by the late-race crash at Talladega, was all too real. Stewart finished the race in 27th position and is now sixth in the points.
Dale Earnhardt Jr had one of the strongest cars of the day, but fear of running out of gas may have kept Earnhardt from contending for the win. Jr finished in 8th position and is now 13th in points.
Jimmie Johnson is exhibiting the same championship form he had last year. The defending champion finished in second place, his sixth top 5 of the year. He now he ranks fourth in points.
Kevin Harvick returned to his best form by finishing fourth at Talladega. Last year’s Busch champion now sits seventh in points.