Posted on by Zack Albert

Catch up quickly before Saturday’s running of the Toyota Owners 400

RELATED: Race lineup | Pit stall assignments | Series standings

What: 60th annual Toyota Owners 400
Where: Richmond International Raceway
When: Saturday, April 26
TV/Radio: FOX; MRN; SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.
Distance: 400 laps; 300 miles
Time: 7 p.m. ET

Pit road speed: 40 mph
Caution car speed: 45 mph

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On the front row
1. Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet. (no speed; qualifying rained out)
2. Brad Keselowski, Team Penske No. 2 Ford 

Failed to qualify
Michael McDowell, Leavine Family Racing No. 95 Ford
Dave Blaney, Randy Humphrey Racing No. 77 Ford 

Moving up front: Rookie Kyle Larson starts from the pole position, but because Coors Light Pole Qualifying was washed out by heavy rain Friday, he isn’t credited with a pole win. Still, his first front-row start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is an improvement over his previous best — an eighth-place starting spot at Phoenix International Raceway in March.

Fastest in practice
First practice: Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet (126.880 mph)
Final practice: Ryan Newman, Richard Childress Racing No. 31 Chevrolet (124.235 mph) 

History lessons: Saturday night’s race is the 116th for NASCAR’s premier series at Richmond. The venue has undergone several changes in its lifetime, starting as a half-mile dirt track in 1953, progressing to a 0.542-mile asphalt track and eventually taking its current 0.75-mile form midway through the 1988 season. Davey Allison was the first Cup Series winner on the current configuration. 

Rainy review: For all the rain that has seemingly disturbed several race weekends in 2014, Friday’s washout marked the first time Coors Light Pole Qualifying has been scrapped this year. 

Front-row success: Brad Keselowski notched the second-fastest speed in the first Sprint Cup practice at Richmond, clinching the No. 2 starting spot for the No. 2 Ford. The outcome means that Keselowski will start from the front row for the sixth time in the last eight Sprint Cup races. 

Quotable: "People are just trying to take chances to get that win and I think for us we have been I guess like a Ricky Bobby scene, we have been first or last. There has really been no in between." — Kevin Harvick, two-time winner this year, on his up-and-down season. 

"We did have us a good honeymoon — had a big bonfire at the house the other night. I was burning some brush and I look over and I was like, ‘How’s your honeymoon, honey? Pretty good, huh?’ " — Newlywed Clint Bowyer, on his post-wedding extravaganza. 

Defending Toyota Owners 400 Champion
Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet (won last April in the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) 

Former Richmond winners in field

Kyle Busch (4), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (3), Kevin Harvick (3), Jimmie Johnson (3), Tony Stewart (3), Clint Bowyer (2), Denny Hamlin (2), Jeff Gordon (2), Kurt Busch (1), Carl Edwards (1), Kasey Kahne (1), Matt Kenseth (1), Joe Nemechek (1), Ryan Newman (1). 

Fantasy sleeper (from Rotowire.com)

Aric Almirola — The Richard Petty Motorsports driver has been absolutely dynamite on the circuit’s short tracks this season. With finishes of 15th, third and eighth at Phoenix, Bristol and Martinsville, Almirola has gotten off to the best start of his career on these small ovals in 2014. Almirola will be making his fifth career Richmond start this Saturday night. In his previous four starts, he has one top-10 finish and it came in this event one year ago. In the fall of 2013 he returned to RIR and claimed a respectable 20th-place finish. The way the No. 43 Ford team is racing right now, there’s no reason to expect less than a top-15 finish from Almirola in the Toyota Owners 400.

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Plan your NASCAR weekend with these on-track times for Talladega

All times ET / TV SCHEDULE / BUY TICKETS / WEEKEND TRACK EVENTS

THURSDAY, MAY 1:

ON TRACK
— 3-4 p.m. ET: NASCAR Nationwide Series practice (Get results)
— 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. ET: NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice (Get results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 1:45 p.m. ET: Sam Hornish Jr.
— 2:15 p.m. ET: Regan Smith

GARAGECAM PRESENTED BY MOBIL 1
— 2:30 p.m. ET, Nationwide Series (Watch live)

FRIDAY, MAY 2:

ON TRACK
— 2-2:50 p.m. ET: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, FOX Sports 1 (Get results)
— 3:30-4:25 p.m. ET: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, FOX Sports 1 (Get results)
— 6:40 p.m. ET: NASCAR Nationwide Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1 (Get results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— Noon ET: Joey Logano
— 12:30 p.m. ET: David Ragan
— 12:45 p.m. ET: Matt Kenseth
— 1 p.m. ET: Jimmie Johnson
— 1:15 p.m. ET: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
— 1:30 p.m. ET: Darrell Wallace Jr.
— 1:45 p.m. ET: Chase Elliott
— 7:45 p.m. ET: Post-NNS qualifying

GARAGECAM PRESENTED BY MOBIL 1
— 1:30 p.m. ET, Sprint Cup Series (Watch live)

SATURDAY, MAY 3:

ON TRACK
— 1:10 p.m. ET: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX (Get results)
— 3 p.m. ET: NASCAR Nationwide Series Aaron’s 312 (117 laps, 311.2 miles), ESPN coverage starts at 2:30 p.m. ET (Get results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 2 p.m. ET: Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying
— 5:45 p.m. ET: Post-NASCAR Nationwide Series race

SUNDAY, MAY 4:

RACE-DAY RUNDOWN
11 a.m.: Driver/crew chief meeting
12 p.m.: Talladega Superspeedway Parade Lap
12:19 p.m.: Official welcome by Grant Lynch, chairman, Talladega Superspeedway
12:24 p.m.: Intro honorary starter, Andrea Freeman, vice president of marketing, Aarons Inc.
12:27 p.m.: Intro grand marshal, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley
12:28 p.m.: Intro honorary pace car driver, Gus Malzahn, Auburn head football coach
12:29:30 p.m.: Intro Miss Sprint Cup, Kim Coon
12:30 p.m.: FOX on air
12:30 p.m.: Driver Introductions with NASCAR Special Awards
1 p.m.: Intro presentation of colors, Alabama National Guard
1:00:20 p.m.: Invocation by The Rev. Mark Stokes, Alabama Raceway Ministries
1:00:45 p.m.: Intro national anthem
1:01 p.m.: National Anthem by "The Arsenal Brass Quintet," Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
1:02:15 p.m.: Flyby, 1 C45 and 2 T28’s
1:07:30 p.m.: "Drivers, start your engines" command by Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley
1:19:30 p.m.: Green flag, Aaron’s 499 (188 Laps, 500 miles)

ON TRACK
— 1 p.m. ET: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron’s 499 (188 laps, 500.08 miles), FOX coverage starts at 12:30 p.m. ET (Live leaderboard)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 10 a.m. ET: Randy Houser, country music artist
— 10:15 a.m. ET: Aaron’s announcement
— 10:25 a.m. ET: Gus Malzahn, Auburn University head football coach
— 4:45 p.m. ET: Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race

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Larson on the pole position after leading first Sprint Cup practice

RELATED: See the full lineup | Rain alters schedule

RICHMOND, Va. —  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Kyle Larson will make his first start from the pole position in Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400, after severe weather forced cancellation of Friday’s scheduled qualifying session at Richmond International Raceway.

Larson earned the start from the top position on the grid as the fastest driver in Friday’s opening practice at the 0.75-mile track, which will host the ninth Sprint Cup race of the season Saturday night.

Though Larson isn’t credited with an official Coors Light Pole Award because time trials were washed out, he will lead the field to green for the first time in his fledgling Cup career. Larson’s previous best starting spot for a Cup race was eighth at Phoenix in March, in the first knockout qualifying session staged in NASCAR’s foremost series. 

Had Larson not convinced his team to start the opening practice in qualifying trim, however, he probably wouldn’t be starting on the front row.

"I wanted to start off in qualifying trim and was able to kind of talk Shine (crew chief Chris Heroy) into doing it," said Larson, whose lap speed of 126.880 mph topped the speed chart in opening practice. "We came here and tested last year for Goodyear and had a good baseline, so I was pretty confident about going out in qualifying trim.

“We really laid down a fast lap, and when we switched over to race trim, we were good in that, too, so I’m excited about that. It’s going to be a good race (Saturday). It’s nice starting out on the pole. I don’t know whether I’ll count it as my first career pole, but it’s still pretty cool to start on the front row."

Brad Keselowski will start second, with the field ordered fastest-to-slowest from first practice. Clint Bowyer, a two-time winner at the Virgina short track, will start third, followed by Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick and Brian Vickers. 

Rain and lightning hit the speedway just after the NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying concluded Friday, with Brian Scott winning the pole for Friday night’s scheduled ToyotaCare 250. 

The storm and the threat of continued severe weather cleared the grandstand and temporarily called a halt to activity at the track. With a tornado watch in effect, track announcers encouraged those fans camping and planning to remain on property to secure their belongings.

Series leader Jeff Gordon starts 25th, with Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 10th and 13th, respectively. Michael McDowell and Dave Blaney failed to qualify for the 43-car field.

The National Weather Service had issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 5:15 p.m ET. The vicinity of the track is currently under a tornado watch until 9 p.m. ET. The watch means the storm may produce high winds, hail and lightning.

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Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson chime in on discussion

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RICHMOND, Va. — NASCAR Executive Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell reiterated this week the sanctioning body’s plans to develop a new engine package for next season — with modifications to horsepower, the aero package and Goodyear’s tire compounds, or a combination of all three — are under consideration.

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Drivers responded to the situation Friday at Richmond International Raceway and offered their opinions on the technical avenues NASCAR should take in the always-evolving effort to keep its racing product exciting.

And as you might expect, the views varied, especially when the issue of reducing the horsepower in engines was raised.

"I could not be more excited that they are considering the whole package,” Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards said. "When I first heard the horsepower change, I thought, ‘Oh man, this is not going to be good.’

"But to read the comments and see the word aerodynamics in there. I have worn them out. They roll their eyes when I start talking about less downforce, but I really believe it doesn’t matter if we have 500 horsepower if we don’t have aerodynamic influence it allows Goodyear to build softer tires and make the racing more dynamic.

"There would be guys with old tires, worn out tires and you could race closer. I feel like if they approach it the way they say they are going to, it is going to be great."

Other drivers say they are taking a more cautious approach — even acknowledging they have strong feelings and preferences.

"Good luck with that from a changing the rules standpoint,” the season’s only two-time winner Kevin Harvick, adding sarcastically with a laugh, "Obviously, I’m a big fan of it."

O’Donnell said this week that the sanctioning body has already met with teams at the NASCAR Research & Development Center to discuss potential changes.

He told the Des Moines Register newspaper NASCAR was in the "tweaking" stage and not ready to make any formal announcement yet.

"So we are all trying as drivers and members of the sport to say what is best for the racing,” said six-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. "If it’s reduction in power that makes competitive racing, I think we are all more than willing to get on board and to go down that road.

"We are going to go and work to change all the internals to maximize the role that the ending performs. So I sympathize with NASCAR because there isn’t an easy way to go about things.”

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‘The King’ comes back to NASCAR scene for first time since wife’s death

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RICHMOND, Va. — Donning his trademark cowboy hat and wide grin, Richard Petty posed for photographs with children from the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital Friday morning at Richmond International Raceway.

It was the first time the Hall of Famer had been at a race track since his beloved wife of 55 years, Lynda, 72, passed away on March 25. And beyond the smiles, handshakes and polite greetings, it was obvious NASCAR’s "King" was still grieving, still hurting.

His voice was soft and quivered at times speaking with a small handful of reporters.

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"I’m still surviving," Petty said, his voice full of emotion. "I’m just going to have to live. … (pause) It’s going to be different, you know. Start all over again.

"Been fortunate all the kids came home for Easter and all the kids and grandkids and that really made things good."

Petty said the three races he missed during the last month mark the longest span away from the track — ever — and he’s hopeful that being back will be a welcome distraction from what’s been a sorrowful month.

"I just felt like I needed to sort of have a little time on our own, to be gone for two, three weeks," Petty said, pausing.

"But I’m back in the saddle now, learning to live all over again.

"The things we were supposed to do for the past three weeks were kinda put off, so we started Monday and we were in Georgia Monday, on Tuesday we were in Tennessee, Wednesday in Wyoming and got up there Thursday.

"The busier they keep me, the better it’s going to be."

Both Marcos Ambrose and Richard Petty Motorsports teammate Aric Almirola expressed how pleased they were to have the boss trackside again — important not only for the team, but also for Petty.

"He’s our leader, he’s the face of our race team," Almirola said. "To have him back and have him back on top of the trailer, back in the garage area is going to be big for me as a driver, but really big for our entire race team just to have his presence. It will be huge."

Petty acknowledged that he has been so genuinely touched by the outpouring of support from within the NASCAR community during this difficult time and seemed to perk up when speaking fondly of Lynda, even laughing at one recollection.

"It’s just great that many people knew Lynda, of course she’s been around a long time, too," Petty said smiling. "She never met a stranger. Every once in awhile I’d come in the house and see people I didn’t even know; she’d invited them into the house, spend the night whatever.

"Again, it’s just going to be different (for me)," he added.

Petty was especially moved to be a part of Friday’s event with fans, children and Ambrose’s No. 9 Stanley Ford racing team. Petty helped present a $100,000 check to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and was enthusiastic about supporting the "Racing for a Miracle" program.

If Ambrose wins Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400, Stanley — through the Ace Hardware Foundation — will donate $1 million to the program. If he finishes second, the company will write a check for $500,000, and a third-place finish would net $250,000.

Petty said spending time with the children was as good for him as it was for them.

"We’ve got troubles but a lot of other people have troubles and so … like you see it with Victory Junction Gang Camp, we were so fortunate," Petty said. "We had four kids and 12 grandkids and every one of them is perfectly healthy and then you look around at all these others that aren’t.

"You just want to give back."

In this case, it appeared to be working both ways.

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See how the Sprint Cup Series drivers will line up on pit road

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The pit stall assignments are out for Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400 (7 p.m. ET, FOX) at Richmond International Raceway.

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With Sprint Cup Series qualifying rained out, the starting lineup for Saturday’s race was determined by the results of the first practice.

Kyle Larson held the top spot in Friday’s opening practice and as a result, got the first pick of pit stalls. Larson has chosen the pit stall closest to the pit road exit.

Joining Larson on the front row is Brad Keselowski, who chose a pit stall with an opening in front of him. Kasey Kahne, who will start fourth on Saturday night, also has a pit stall with an opening in front of him.

Alex Bowman, who will start 24th, has the pit stall closest to the pit road entrance.

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See the pit stall assignments for Friday’s ToyotaCare 250

RELATED: Scott wins Coors Light Pole Award | Lineup for ToyotaCare 250

The pit stall assignments are out for Friday’s ToyotaCare 250 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPNNews). 

Brian Scott won the Coors Light Pole Award for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race and had first pick of pit stalls. 

Scott chose the second pit stall off pit road at Richmond International Raceway, but has a stall open in front of him.

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Ryan Blaney is the only other driver with an open stall in front of him.

Cale Conley has the pit stall closest to the entrance of pit road.

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Wet weather hampers schedule; K&N Pro Series East race postponed until Saturday

SPRINT CUP: See the full Saturday lineup | Practice 1 speeds | Practice 2 speeds
NATIONWIDE: Full race lineup | Practice 1 speeds | Practice 2 speeds
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RICHMOND, Va. — Rain interrupted on-track activity Friday at Richmond International Raceway, canceling the Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying session and delaying the start of Friday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

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Forecasts initially called for inclement weather to potentially arrive around lunchtime. Though early practice sessions for Sprint Cup and the touring NASCAR K&N Pro Series East went without a hitch, the skies alternated between mostly sunny and mostly cloudy for the majority of the morning and early afternoon.

Rain began to fall seconds before the Nationwide Series qualifying session was over (approximately 4 p.m. ET), throwing an already busy Friday schedule into disarray. 

The Nationwide Series’ ToyotaCare 250 — the tour’s eighth race of the season — was scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET TV start time, with the green flag dropping at 7:14 p.m. That race, in fact, would be delayed by more than three hours and end early Saturday morning.

The K&N circuit’s Blue Ox 100 was tentatively scheduled to start at 9:40 p.m. ET after the Nationwide event, but that was postponed until Saturday at 9 a.m. ET.

Friday’s track-drying process began at 6:50 p.m. ET with the Air Titan 2.0 getting onto the track, but heavy rain hit the track again one hour later, forcing a re-do once the wet stuff went away.

Earlier in the day, Sprint Cup qualifying was scheduled to run at 5:10 p.m. ET, but the starting lineup was determined by drivers’ best times in the first practice, putting rookie Kyle Larson on the Coors Light Pole position.

Following Larson in Saturday’s lineup will be Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer, respectively.

Kasey Kahne and Kevin Harvick will round out the top five.

It was the first go-round on the 0.75-mile track for the Nationwide Series using the new knockout-style, multicar qualifying format. The Sprint Cup Series will have to try again when it returns to the track in September. 

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ Toyota Owners 400 is scheduled for Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET with live TV broadcast on FOX.

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Scott will lead off the start of the ToyotaCare 250

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Brian Scott won the Nationwide Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying Award on Friday at Richmond International Raceway. 

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This is Scott’s second time winning the pole at the Virginia track and his first pole of the 2014 season.

Scott secured the Coors Light Pole Award at this track last September and led the first 239 laps of the race before giving way to eventual winner Brad Keselowski on a controversial late-race restart.

Lining up second for Friday’s ToyotaCare 250 will be Nationwide Series rookie Dylan Kwasniewski. 

Ryan Blaney, points leader Chase Elliott and Trevor Bayne round out the top five.

Notable drivers that did not advance to the final round of qualifying were Elliott Sadler, James Buescher and Sprint Cup Series rookie Kyle Larson. Sadler will lineup 13th, followed by Larson and Buescher, respectively.

The Nationwide Series ToyotaCare 250 will take place Friday at 7 p.m. ET with coverage on ESPNews. 

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