Tag Archives: Federated Auto Parts 400

Sprint Cup Chase Tracker – Atlanta

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ChaseTrackerAtlanta300x400The clock is ticking down on the last Race to the Chase at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday night, September 7th – coming up this weekend. One last chance for eight drivers to grab a Wild Card spot for the 2013 ten-race Chase for a Sprint Cup championship.

After the race at Atlanta, six competitors have claimed their place in the Chase’s top-ten including, Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth. Seventh-place Dale Earnhardt Jr faces the least pressure among non-qualifiers, needing only a finish of 32nd or better in the 400-lap race at Richmond to enter the post season competition.

Joey Logano, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch complete the provisional top-ten – 16, 14 and six points ahead of 11th place Jeff Gordon. Each with one victory, Logano and Biffle have some Chase insurance as potential Wild Cards if they should fall out of the top-ten. 

This week’s Sprint Cup Chase tracker analyzes driver Race to the Chase average-finishes – Kentucky to Atlanta – and their more recent five-race average-finishes – Pocono to Atlanta. And as in previous Chase Tracker posts, there are a few surprises in store. 

Wild Card Contenders

Richmond is all about which drivers will secure their place in the Chase by grabbing a Wild Card in the last race of the regular season. And it is certainly a tight competition this year and several drivers moving between the top-ten and chasing a Wild Card spot.  

Kasey Kahne with two wins, holds the first Wild Card ticket into the post-race season and is just ten points away from tenth-place qualification. Will he race his way into tenth-place at Richmond, leaving another open Wild Card spot for those outside the top-ten? Kahne is definitely one to keep an eye on throughout Richmond’s night of racing on Saturday. If Kahne does move into the top-ten, his two wins will give him a better Chase starting spot at Chicagoland. 

Martin Truex Jr holds the second Wild Card for the Chase and is only 15-points away from the top-ten. His third-place finish at Atlanta, after finishing 35th at Bristol certainly moves his team in the right direction heading into the last race of the regular season. Truex could also race his way into the top-ten at Richmond, leaving his Wild Card spot for another contender. Continue reading →

Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 Preview

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Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet, leads the field to start the race under caution due to weather in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8, 2012 Photo - Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet, leads the field to start the race under caution due to weather in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8, 2012
Photo – Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

It all comes down to Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway. It will be the drivers’ last chance to put themselves in the Chase. In past years, Richmond has produced surprises, upsets, and much more. This year has already produced tons of shocking moments and more on race day adds to the drama of the season. Drivers who don’t hold a spot in the playoffs will have one thing on their minds during the race. To be in it, they need to win now. Continue reading →

Jeff Gordon takes Second Wild Card; Jimmie Johnson the Favorite

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#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr takes the Green Flag at Richmond.
Photo – Getty Images

By Jordan Dodson

Saturday night started out with a down pour of rain and ended with a down pour of excitement.

As wild card teams went into Richmond International Raceway this week, they all knew their individual scenarios to make the Chase. The #2 wild card drivers were Joey Logano, Marcos Ambrose, Ryan Newman, Paul Menard, Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon. Kasey Kahne already held the first wild card spot because of his two wins during the regular season. The remaining bubble drivers needed a win to get into the Chase, with the exception of Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch, who were separated by just 12-points.  The stage was set to play out on Saturday night. Continue reading →

Bowyer Comes Back from Spin to Win at Richmond

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Bowyer celebrates a win at Richmond
Photo – Getty Images

By Jason Schultz

The race that didn’t end until after 1:00 AM Eastern Time sent Clint Bowyer to victory lane for the second time this season.

Bowyer had previously won at Sonoma in June, earlier this season. This win gave Bowyer more bonus points heading into the Chase that will begin at Chicagoland Speedway next weekend. Continue reading →

Federated Auto Parts 400 Preview

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Photo- Getty Images

By Jason Schultz

Race Info

Date- Saturday September 8th, 2012

Location- Richmond, Virginia

Start time- 7:43 PM EST

Distance- 400 Laps, 300 Miles

Broadcast TV- ABC

Broadcast Radio- MRN  Continue reading →