NASCAR Federated Auto Parts 400

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Matt Kenseth Dominates at Richmond as Chase Field is Set

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Track News

 

Joe Gibbs Racing brought guns to a knife fight on Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway.

But Joe Gibbs Racing’s Matt Kenseth did his teammates one better — he brought a howitzer.

Leading 352 of 400 laps in a race he owned from the outset, Kenseth pulled away from Kyle Busch after a restart with 18 laps left and won the Federated Auto Parts 400 by 0.951 seconds over his teammate.

Kenseth’s fourth victory of the season, tying him for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series lead with Jimmie Johnson and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch, meant the 16 drivers who started the race in playoff-eligible positions stayed there. Continue reading →

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Preview

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Track News

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Next Race: Federated Auto Parts 400

The Place: Richmond International Raceway

The Date: Saturday, Sept. 12

The Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET)

TV: NBCSN, 7 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 300 miles (400 laps)

Chase Clinch Scenarios for Richmond

Jamie McMurray will lock up his first career Chase berth simply by starting the race on Saturday night. For three others, it’s a little tougher – but certainly doable. Ryan Newman clinches by finishing 31st or better; Jeff Gordon by finishing 17th or better; and Paul Menard by finishing ninth or better – and that’s all regardless of who wins the race. If there’s a repeat winner, the scenarios become less daunting. For winless drivers beyond Menard, there will be some frayed nerves. If there’s a repeat winner, Clint Bowyer is in good shape, needing only a finish of 28th or better. For those winless drivers lower in points than Bowyer, a Richmond win is realistically the only path to the Chase.

Here’s a full look at the Chase clinch scenarios for Saturday night’s race:

Regardless of Who Wins at Richmond…

Jamie McMurray clinches by starting the race.

Ryan Newman clinches by finishing 31st or better; 32nd with at least one lap led; or 33rd with the most laps led.

Jeff Gordon clinches by finishing 17th or better; 18th with at least one lap led; or 19th with the most laps led.

Paul Menard clinches by finishing ninth or better; tenth with at least one lap led; or 11th with the most laps led. Continue reading →

Keselowski Dominates Richmond as Newman and Biffle Claim Last Chase Spots

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

The car and driver to beat in the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup identified themselves emphatically on Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway.

Brad Keselowski led all but 17 of 400 laps in winning the Federated Auto Parts 400, the last race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season. In the process, he won his fourth race of the season and secured top seeding for the ten-race Chase, which starts Sunday, September 14 at Chicagoland Speedway at 2 pm ET on ESPN.

Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle secured the last two of the 16 Chase spots on points, Newman with a solid ninth-place run, Biffle with a much shakier 19th-place finish, two laps down.

But it was Keselowski securing the 400th victory across all racing series for team owner Roger Penske. Continue reading →

Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Preview

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

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Last Call: Sense Of Urgency Reaches Boiling Point At Richmond

A numbers game will play out under the lights at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday night.

There will be winners. And losers. With way more hopes popped than champagne bottles. But for the few who do earn a spot in this thrilling new playoff – the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – they know this: After a grueling 26-race regular season … they have earned it.

That numbers game? To start with… Continue reading →