Notes: Bowyer looking to repeat, stay atop points (cont'd)

Series-only regulars making moves in standings

A pack of cars came steaming off of Turn 4 on the last lap of the Aaron's 312 this past Saturday, and many of the series-only regulars were vying for the top spot -- eight of the top-12 finishers were Nationwide regulars.

Four drivers, in particular, made big moves not only on the track, but also in the series standings.

David Stremme (No. 64 Chevrolet) was a big force in the pack at Talladega netting a second-place finish. It was his second top-five and fifth top-10 of the season. Stremme moved up three positions in the rankings from 16th to 13th, and currently is 28 points behind Bobby Hamilton Jr. (No. 25 Ford), who is in 10th place. Stremme's best finish at Richmond was eighth in 2004.

Hamilton kept his car out of trouble on Saturday to post his first top-five and second top-10 of the season. His third-place finish propelled Hamilton five spots in the standings and into the top 10, a significant move after not running in Mexico. Boris Said was behind the wheel of the No. 25 there. Hamilton does have two top-five finishes at Richmond in 2003-04, but was 22nd this past fall.

Mike Bliss (No. 1 Chevrolet) mounted a last-lap effort that resulted in his first top-five and fifth top-10 of the season. He also moved up in the series point standings two spots to fifth. Bliss has a best finish of fifth at Richmond, recorded last fall. NASCAR's Loop Data statistics have Bliss in the top 20 in Driver Rating (86.5) and Average Running Position (16.7).

Jason Leffler (No. 38 Toyota) posted his third top-10 start and second top-five finish at the famed facility this past weekend. Leffler maintained his top-10 ranking (eighth), but his finish at Talladega was his first top-five of the season. His best finish at Richmond was fourth in 2004.

In the Loop: Edwards, Bowyer projected up front

Each week, the Nationwide points battle between Carl Edwards and Clint Bowyer intensifies. Bowyer currently owns a seesawing lead of 27 points.

Seemingly, their statistics mirror each other at each upcoming track. The same holds true at Richmond, where each have a win.

Edwards' victory came in 2005, while Bowyer's came during last season's spring race. Check out the tale of the tape between the two drivers at Richmond:

• Driver Rating: Bowyer edges Edwards, 102.7 to 102.5.
• Average Running Position: Edwards leads Bowyer, 9.7 to 12.4.
• Fastest Laps Run: Bowyers leads Edwards, 136 to 71.
• Laps in the Top 15: Edwards leads Bowyer, 84.7 percent to 77.1 percent.

But, of course, this won't be a two-horse race. Look for series-regular Jason Leffler to make a charge to the front. Leffler has been solid at Richmond in his career, posting top-fives in the fall race of 2004 and the spring race of 2005. The last time the series raced there, Leffler scored an 11th-place finish.

Since 2005, Leffler has a Driver Rating of 91.1 and an Average Running Position of 13.3 with 33 Fastest Laps Run, and has run 71.6 percent of the Laps in the Top 15.

And, as usual, Kyle Busch should pose a serious threat for a Victory Lane visit. He was brilliant in last year's Richmond fall race, leading 227 of 252 laps in a win. In the victory, Busch scored a perfect Driver Rating of 150.0 and a race-high 72 Fastest Laps Run. Overall, Busch has a Richmond Driver Rating of 96.6 and an Average Running Position of 12.6.

Nationwide Series, etc.

• Nationwide Insurance and series drivers Clint Bowyer and Landon Cassill (No. 5 Chevrolet) will team up with DRIVE SMART Virginia, a program to encourage motorists to drive safely and stop texting while driving, from 4-6 p.m. ET Thursday at Richmond's Hermitage High School. Students and community members can see firsthand the impact texting has on their driving abilities while racing in a Nationwide Series simulator. The event is open to the public and includes a driver autograph session, the Nationwide show car, a photo imaging station, giveaways and a chance to win a VIP race weekend experience at Richmond.

Shepherd

• Jeff Green (No. 31 Chevrolet) hopes to make his season debut at Richmond driving for Key Motorsports. Green won this race at RIR in 2000. The team has been plying its trade in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series over the past five years.

• Two-time champion Kevin Harvick (No. 33 Chevrolet) will make his 200th career series start Friday. Harvick has compiled 32 wins, 16 poles, 102 top-five and 146 top-10 finishes in his previous 199 starts. His 32 wins are second on the all-time list, 16 behind leader Mark Martin. Harvick, with four wins at RIR, has the opportunity to tie Martin for the most wins at the track.

• Morgan Shepherd (No. 89 Dodge) posted a 13th-place finish at Talladega this past weekend, his highest finish since an 11th-place result, also at Talladega in 2003.

• Ryan Hackett (No. 76 Ford) aims for his series debut this weekend at Richmond. Hackett has experience on dirt and NASCAR late-model competition.

• Brad Keselowski (No. 88 Chevrolet) was the fastest in the final test session at Richmond this past March and will run a Blue Angels paint scheme just like the Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets upon his return Friday. Keselowski flew with the Blue Angels in a two-seater in February. Also this week Keselowski and his team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., will make an aircraft carrier trip Thursday off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla.