Annoying multi-caution finish to the end of last week’s race at COTA, here we come to Richmond: a much smaller oval that had extensive green flag runs last year, including the entire run to the finish that saw TWO pit cycles go through it. I was there live, and there wasn’t much “action” for the “Action Track,” but it was what it was: Richmond!
Here’s what to look for:
-Qualifying was rained out but Alex Bowman will start 1st. He finished 8th last Spring, and tends to do better in this race than the Fall. He was our 2021 winner, and today he doesn’t even need to pass anybody to repeat.
–Denny Hamlin had a courageous charge through the field to take the checkers last year, his first Richmond Spring victory. Today he’ll start 11th, and will no doubt be up on the wheel.
–Kevin Harvick won in the Fall, and he’ll start 10th today. It was one of the only times last year that he looked like things were going the way they’re supposed to, how does today’s race treat him?
–Martin Truex Jr. has three Wins in the last ten races here, and carries a 5.8 average finish. He’s finished 7th or better since the Fall of 2018.
–Kyle Busch has scored ten Top 10s in his last ten starts, and is currently riding a streak of three straight 9th place finishes. If I had to pick, I’d wager him to finish better than 9th today. He has six career Wins at Richmond.
I ate a load of food last week at Epcot, now we’re back home and just one meal this afternoon…
The Sailor Sandwich! I’ve never heard of this, but guess what? I already ate it! Good stuff, packs a nice meat punch in the mouth, the pastrami and knockwurst are a solid 1-2. Felt like a bar fight of delicious, the swiss amplified the mustard and rye, too. Great job, Leese! Yum!
Coverage of the race starts on FS1 at 3:30pm, green flag scheduled for 3:39pm.
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