Unpredictable track shouldn't have to be a roll of the dice

Picking a winner on one of the restrictor-plate superspeedways is not unlike choosing the right lottery numbers. So many things have to go right to put a driver in position to win, but only one thing needs to go wrong to send a team behind the wall for extensive repairs. More

Unpredictable track shouldn't have to be a roll of the dice

Picking a winner on one of the restrictor-plate superspeedways is not unlike choosing the right lottery numbers. So many things have to go right to put a driver in position to win, but only one thing needs to go wrong to send a team behind the wall for extensive repairs. More

Martin poised for another good run at Richmond

In a two-day show, there is not a lot of time to get the setup right. There was plenty of on-track activity on Thursday, but it was dedicated to the Nationwide and developmental series. Cup drivers had to roll off the hauler fast on Friday, practice smart, and qualify in a very short period of time. Scenarios like that typically put a premium on experience and it is no coincidence that Mark Martin posted the fastest single lap in the morning session, while Jeff Gordon jumped to the top of the speed chart in final practice. For Gordon, that was a huge improvement over how he looked most of the day. The No. 24 experimented during the first session and much of final practice as well, but they became faster as the day progressed. Martin used the first practice to set up his car for qualification and concentrated on long runs in final practice. That paid off with the fourth-quickest, 10-lap average in the second session and upgrades his handicap from one of dark horse in this week’s preview to a favorite. With three consecutive Richmond top-10s entering this weekend, he is poised to earn a fourth. Controversy can be galvanizing. Matt Ken More

Martin poised for another good run at Richmond

In a two-day show, there is not a lot of time to get the setup right. There was plenty of on-track activity on Thursday, but it was dedicated to the Nationwide and developmental series. Cup drivers had to roll off the hauler fast on Friday, practice smart, and qualify in a very short period of time. Scenarios like that typically put a premium on expe More

Look for Kyle Busch to rebound, Bowyer to continue short-track streak

No matter what form of racing is preferred, Richmond International Raceway fits the need. With long, sweeping corners and a continuously curving frontstretch, this short track behaves like a speedway. A driver who gets the entrance to Turn 3 correct will keep his momentum all the way to Turn 2. Richmond is the original home of side-by-side racing on a short track. The skills needed to go fast on this track are also the same as on both unrestricted, intermediate speedways and short tracks, so successful drivers at Richmond will have the complete package needed to succeed in NASCAR. Drivers who pop to mind immediately on short tracks such as Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer scored top-fives last year along with speedway aces like Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth. This is also a track on which past performance predicts future success. Last year, 44 percent of the field finished the fall Federated Auto Parts 400 within six positions of how they ran in the Capital City 400, including a sweep of the top five for Tony Stewart, and top-10 streaks for Brad Keselowski, Mark Martin, and Bowyer. More

Look for Kyle Busch to rebound, Bowyer to continue short-track streak

No matter what form of racing is preferred, Richmond International Raceway fits the need. With long, sweeping corners and a continuously curving frontstretch, this short track behaves like a speedway. A driver who gets the entrance to Turn 3 correct will keep his momentum all the way to Turn 2. Richmond is the original home of More