Posted on by Holly Cain

For the second consecutive week and third time of the seven-race old season, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney will start from the Busch Light Pole – earning the top position Saturday in qualifying for Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Blaney’s No. 12 Ford Mustang turned in a lap of 119.782 mph to take the top position by only .20 over William Byron in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

Blaney – who, remarkably, has only a single top-10 finish in 11 starts at the 0.75-mile Richmond track – was fastest in his first group as well as topping the final qualifying session.

RELATED: Starting lineup | Full guide for Sunday | Get to know Sunday’s schemes

“It means a lot,” Blaney told FS1. “Honestly, I didn’t think I got a very good lap. It was kind of an ugly lap on my end. Really proud of the 12 group.

“Track position means a lot here,” he continued. “Especially how my past history is here, I need all the track position I can get. Good start to the weekend, just got to keep it up and keep tires under it, that’s the biggest thing. We’ll see what tomorrow holds. Should be fun.”

Kyle Busch will start the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota third, alongside Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe. Busch’s six wins at Richmond is most among active drivers and he is one of three former winners to advance to the top 10 in qualifying.

The Richmond track has historically been a good venue for the Joe Gibbs Racing team, which is still looking for its first victory of the 2022 season. Five different Gibbs drivers have accounted for eight wins in the last 12 Richmond races.

Petty GMS Motorsports’ Erik Jones will start fifth, alongside JGR driver Martin Truex Jr., who has won three times in the last five Richmond races. SHR’s Kevin Harvick, another three-time Richmond winner, will start sixth alongside last weekend’s COTA winner, Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet.

Christopher Bell (No. 20 JGR Toyota) and Aric Almirola (No. 10 SHR Ford) rounded out the top 10 in qualifying. Defending race winner Alex Bowman will start the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28th in the 37-car field.

PRACTICE: Session results | Weekend schedule

Busch set the tone in the lone 20-minute practice session, posting 26 laps at a best time of 22.558 seconds and a top speed of 119.691 mph. Chris Buescher and Blaney timed in just behind the No. 18 at 22.628 and 22.689 seconds, respectively. Busch’s teammate, Christopher Bell, and Briscoe rounded out the top five. Three-time and most recent Richmond winner Martin Truex Jr. finished eighth on the practice leaderboard.

Contributing: Staff reports

Posted on by Sean Montgomery

Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway
(⏰ 3:30 p.m. ET | 📺 FOX | 📻 MRN, SiriusXM)

Everything you need to know for NASCAR’s return to the East Coast and the seventh regular-season Cup Series race of the 2022 campaign. 

Race-day info 📝

Where: Richmond, Virginia
Approximate start time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Forecast: A slight chance of showers before 9 a.m. ET. Sunny, with a high near 67 degrees, according to NOAA.gov
Race distance: 400 laps | 300 miles
Stages: 80 | 180 | 400
Pit-road speed: 40 mph
Caution car speed: 45 mph
The purse: $7,110,735
Richmond 101: Get the full lowdown | Weekend schedule
Starting lineup: Qualifying order for Saturday
Pit stalls: Sunday’s stall assignments | Expert pit analysis

Key things to watch 🔑

Practice and qualifying: An important note that came from Saturday’s sessions was the attention to off-throttle time. Drivers who were able to roll through the center of the corner and pick the gas back up earlier looked much stronger throughout the morning. Ryan Blaney once again flashed his exceptional 2022 speed with a blazing pole lap, inching past William Byron to make up the front row for Sunday’s race. While three of the four Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas advanced to the Final Round of qualifying, drivers admitted they were a bit off from the usual dominance shown here. Nonetheless, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Christopher Bell each start in the top 10. Virginia native Denny Hamlin was the odd one out in 13th. All told, these numbers aren’t concerning for the organization at one of its best tracks and wouldn’t be much of an ‘off day’ at all for many other teams.

Blaney now has a series-leading three Busch Light Pole Awards in just seven ’22 races but hasn’t seen much success at Richmond in the past. With only one top 10 and an average finish of 22.2, will this be the race he finally turns it around?

Big story line: What’s up with Joe Gibbs Racing? Through six races this season, the organization has zero wins and only one driver currently in the top 10 in Cup Series standings: Martin Truex Jr. in seventh. Though wins have been increasingly hard to come by with the parity seen in the Next Gen car, it’s surprising to see Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell sitting 22nd and 23rd, respectively, in points. Hamlin won 15 races in the three seasons prior to 2022 but has struggled to find a foothold this year with a trio of DNFs and six straight finishes of 13th or worse. As many questions have been asked to this point, they could all be answered at Richmond. JGR has won eight of the last 12 races at the Virginia track, with Truex’s 2021 playoff victory being the most recent, and Hamlin finished runner-up in both Richmond races a season ago.

All it could take for JGR is just one of its drivers getting to Victory Lane to spark that overall championship form we’re accustomed to seeing. | Full JGR, Richmond analysis

Who’s hot? Who’s not?: With a strong nod to Ross Chastain for being the most in-form driver on the planet right now, Chase Elliott has quietly begun to pick up the pace. Elliott ranks atop the board in the regular-season points standings and has three finishes of ninth or better in the last four races. The 2020 Cup Series champion has found an impressively strong run of consistency while he keeps searching for his first win of the season. On the cold front, Aric Almirola has slowed down from his blistering pace to start the season — from the only driver with three top 10s in the first trio of races to three straight finishes of 12th or worse. Looking to regain momentum at Richmond, he finished sixth in this race a season ago.

Driving under the radar: Steady as he goes. That has been the theme for Martin Truex Jr.’s season so far. The No. 19 pilot has led laps in half the races this year and reeled off back-to-back finishes inside the top eight to creep his way up the points leaderboard. Under the radar so far this season, Truex will be in full focus at Richmond, a track he has dominated lately more than anyone else. He won three of the last five races here, has six consecutive top fives and is primed to make his first big statement of 2022 on Sunday.

 

Richmond Raceway

Race-day staples ✅Bowman Com Powerrankings Hero

Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles.

• Paint Scheme Preview: Colors are ready to roll at Richmond | Choose a favorite
• Power Rankings: Alex Bowman proving to be weekly contender for wins | Where does he rank?
• Fantasy Fastlane: Expect a strong JGR showing at Richmond | Top plays, sleepers
• NASCAR betting: Odds for Richmond spring race | BetMGM odds

Catch the pack 💨

Read up on the top headlines from the week leading up to Sunday’s race.

• Suspensions: No. 23 team hit with penalties after loose wheel at COTA | Latest penalty report
• Track profile: Richmond Raceway | Learn more about the Virginia track
• Analysis: Is Richmond where JGR turns the season around? | See what the numbers say
• Time for No. 20?: Christopher Bell has a positive outlook for Richmond | Read what he said
• On the calendar: RFK Racing appeal of L2 penalties to be heard April 7 | Latest information
• Checking the boxes: Next Gen car passes key tests at COTA | Detailed analysis
• Giving back: 23XI Racing announces tuition program for 2022 | More details
• A star: Linda Beard shining as team owner | Full heartwarming story
• Hello, old friend: Where are they now? Catching up with Derrike Cope | See what he’s up to
• Richmond rally: Michael Conti holds off Graham Bowling for eNASCAR win | Watch the finish
• Backseat Drivers: What’s Trackhouse Racing’s ceiling in 2022? | Do you agree with their take?
• NASCAR Snapshot: Giselle Zarur of FOX Deportes | Hear her story
• ‘Rocket Man’ returns: Ryan Newman competing in Whelen Modified Tour action at Richmond | See how he got there | Results

Get in on the action 💰

NASCAR Fantasy Live
NASCAR Creative Design

Think you know NASCAR? Put your mettle to the test with gaming, fantasy.

• Play it LIVE: Full guide to 2022 NASCAR Fantasy Live game | Get the FAQ
• BetMGM: Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano anchor Richmond’s featured matchups | Who’s got your vote?
• The Action Network: Early bets for Richmond | Catch up with tips from the experts
• Weekly props: Will Toyota top the field at Richmond? | Make your picks
• Going all the way: NASCAR betting: 2022 Cup Series championship odds | See them here

Returning to Richmond 🕷

Richmond Raceway has had its share of storied history, hosting 130 Cup races since 1953. Take a look at some important track information. 

• First things first: Drivers with their first win at Richmond Raceway | See the full list
• Spring forward: All-time wins in Richmond Raceway spring race | Who has the most?
• Remember when: Most memorable moments at Richmond Raceway | How many do you remember?
• Last spring: Alex Bowman races past Denny Hamlin for the win | Race recap | Watch highlights from the race

Fast facts ⏩

Hard-hitting, race-relevant statistics, brought to you by the experts at Racing Insights.

• Joe Gibbs Racing has won eight of the last 12 races at Richmond, including the 2021 playoff race won by Martin Truex Jr.
• Aric Almirola is the only driver to complete every lap this season. His last DNF came in May 2021.
• In both races at Richmond in 2021, Denny Hamlin finished runner-up, led the most laps and won both stages in each.
• The final green-flag run was 146 laps or more in three of the last five races at Richmond.
• Chase Elliott leads the series standings despite having just one top-five finish this season, coming last week at Circuit of The Americas.

Say what? 🎙

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Notable quotes from the stars of the sport heading into Sunday’s race.

• “I’m always excited to go to Richmond. I have been fortunate to have had a lot of success there throughout my career and especially the last few years. No matter what car you’re racing, you’re always going to fight the same things there. You have to be able to turn the middle and have good drive off if you want to have any chance, especially on the long run. Richmond is very unique compared to the tracks we have been to so far with this car, so it’s really going to be up to us to unload close and fine tune on it during practice and qualifying to be ready for the race, but I have a lot of confidence in Chris (Gabehart) and our team that we can do that.” — Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, on his mindset heading into Saturday. 

• “I think for me I feel like I needed to be a little bit more aggressive, understanding how important track position is. As soon as the race starts it’s time to go. It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, I’ve got 500 miles to go. I’ll figure it out.’ Well, if you lose a couple spots those guys that passed you are really smart. They’re really good and they’re hard to pass back, so you end up spending more time trying to pass them than you would trying to move forward or whatever it might be, so more recently that’s been my focus is to get a little bit more aggressive over time and get a little bit more on the offensive instead of the defensive against these guys – just kind of take the fight to them and see what we’ve got.” — Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford, on his mentality at the track. 

• “We have two incredible race car drivers. I’ve said this about Daniel (Suárez) all along, and I’ve said it about Ross (Chastain) for the 10 years that I’ve known him. These are championship-caliber talents. We just need to get them in a spot where they can shine. And Chevrolet is strong right now. Our preparation is on point. Everybody is super motivated, so workflow is super effective during the week.” — Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, on his motivation and performance as a team and manufacturer. 

Posted on by Staff Report

Seven NASCAR Cup Series teams lost a crew member and pit selection for Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) after failing pre-qualifying inspection twice on Friday evening.

RELATED: Richmond weekend schedule | See this weekend’s paint schemes

The No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet of Austin Dillon, the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet of AJ Allmendinger, the No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford of Chris Buescher, the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota of Bubba Wallace, the No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet of Justin Haley, the No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet of Greg Biffle and the No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. were the teams with the inspection infractions.

Car chief Ryan Chism (No. 3 RCR Chevrolet), car chief Andy Seuss (No. 16 Kaulig Chevrolet), car chief Josh Sisco (No. 17 RFK Ford), car chief Zach Marquardt (No. 23 23XI Toyota), car chief Jaron Antley (No. 31 Kaulig Chevrolet), engineer Nick Ollila (No. 44 NYR Chevrolet) and car chief Joe Gwilt (No. 47 JTG Chevrolet) were the crew members ejected.

The Nos. 31 and 44 failed three times. As a result, those teams will not be permitted to qualify and will have to serve a pass-through penalty after taking the green flag on Sunday.

UPDATE: On Sunday, the No. 2 Team Penske Ford of Austin Cindric was sent to the rear for unapproved adjustments. He was originally slated to start 20th.

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

RICHMOND, Va. — After finishing last in the opening race of the 2022 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season in February at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway, Justin Bonsignore was in need of a rebound.

That came Friday at Richmond Raceway, where Bonsignore triumphed in the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150, the second race of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

Bonsignore started from the pole and led early, but pit strategy shuffled him out of the lead and into the pack for much of the race. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Tommy Catalano was the star of the race, taking multiple turns at the front of the field as he appeared destined for his maiden Tour win.

However, Bonsignore had other plans.

RELATED: Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150 race results

Restarting seventh with 49 laps left, Bonsignore worked his way to second and set off in pursuit of Catalano. It took Bonsignore 20 laps to run down Catalano, but once he did, the fight for the lead was on.

With 11 laps left, Bonsignore made the move to Catalano’s inside. The two stayed side-by-side for the next lap before Bonsignore ultimately emerged with the race lead. He led the rest of the way for his first Tour win of the year and 32nd of his career.

“It’s been a long seven weeks, just driving home from work every day and you’re like, ‘Man, we are dead last in points,’ ” Bonsignore said. “Deep down we know New Smyrna was out of our control. You’re going to have parts failures in this series. It was just important to come back and try and have a good day.

“It’s nice to bounce back. More than anything it’s the confidence that it’ll give our team.”

Catalano settled for second after leading a majority of the race. It’s his best Tour finish in 51 starts dating back to 2018.

“It’s one of those deals where you’re so excited, but at the same time, you’re disappointed,” Catalano said. “We came here with the goal of finishing in the top 10. A good day for us would have been a top-10 finish. To come 10 laps short of winning the race is definitely nothing to hang our heads on.”

Chuck Hossfeld rallied late to finish third, with Kyle Ebersole overcoming a spin during qualifying to finish fourth ahead of Tyler Rypkema in fifth.

Eric Goodale, Jimmy Blewett, Jon McKennedy, returning NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Donny Lia and Ron Silk completed the top 10.

Ryan Newman, making his first Tour start of the season for the debuting SS Racing team, led a few laps early in the race before fading to a 13th-place finish.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season resumes May 14 at New York’s Riverhead Raceway.

Posted on by Staff Report

Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150

Richmond Raceway

21 Rr Virginiaracinglovers150 Modified 4c

  • Race results
Pos. Car No. Driver Sponsor Laps Diff.
1 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communication Inc. 150  –
2 54 Tommy Catalano FX Caprara 150 0.374
3 2 Chuck Hossfeld Gershow Recycling 150 5.984
4 5 Kyle Ebersole Ebersole Excavating Technique Chassis Ford 150 6.113
5 32 Tyler Rypkema Northeast Drilling/MWSCO 150 6.454
6 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing 150 7.022
7 7 Jimmy Blewett John Blewett, Inc. 150 7.517
8 79 Jon McKennedy Middlesex Interiors 150 10.784
9 3 Donny Lia Propane Plus – SYP 150 10.938
10 16 Ron Silk Blue Mountain Machine and Future Homes 150 12.843
11 64 Austin Beers* Dell Electric/Lumiere Electrical 150 13.833
12 77 Max McLaughlin Curb Records 150 18.204
13 39 Ryan Newman Pacematic/PSR Products 149 1 Lap
14 34 J.B. Fortin Red Camel Racing/Johns Fuel/John Tree Removal 149 1 Lap
15 82 Craig Lutz Horton Ave Materials/Riverhead Building Supply 149 1 Lap
16 36 Dave Sapienza SAP Enterprises 149 1 Lap
17 44 Bobby Santos, Jr. Thinkliteair/Harshaw Paving 149 1 Lap
18 24 Andrew Krause Supreme Mtg 149 1 Lap
19 55 Jeremy Gerstner Jerry Hunt SuperCenter/KD Construction 149 1 Lap
20 22 Kyle Bonsignore Chalew Performance/MIT 149 1 Lap
21 71 James Pritchard, Jr. Freeway Tire Pros & Automotive 148 2 Laps
22 26 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscape/TRC Electrict 148 2 Laps
23 20 Ed McCarthy* McCarthy Marine Sales 85 65 Laps
24 97 Bryan Dauzat Brother in Law Motorsports 78 72 Laps
25 07 Patrick Emerling Captain Pip Marina 62 88 Laps
26 29 Spencer Davis Ionx Supreme Lubricants 55 95 Laps
27 01 Melissa Fifield Pine Knoll Auto Sales 21 129 Laps
  • Race statistics

Fastest Qualifier: Justin Bonsignore, Time: 21.503 seconds, Speed: 125.564 mph

Time of Race: 1 hrs., 16 mins, 40 secs

Average Speed: 88.043 mph

Margin of Victory: 0.374 seconds

Caution Flags: Laps 13-16 (Car No. 97 flat tire, no contact, no Free Pass); 51-58 (Car No. 55 spin no contact, Free Pass No. 26); 63-69 (Car No. 07 spin, contact, Free Pass No. 55); 80-84 (Car No. 97 contact, ); 97-101 (Debris, no Free Pass). 5 for 29 laps.

Lap Leaders: Justin Bonsignore 1-11, Kyle Bonsignore 12-17, Justin Bonsignore 18-53, Chuck Hossfeld 54-58, Ryan Newman 59-60, Tommy Catalano 61-97, Max McLaughlin 98-107, Tommy Catalano 108-139, Justin Bonsignore 140-150.

Total Laps Led: Tommy Catalano 69, Justin Bonsignore 58, Max McLaughlin 10, Kyle Bonsignore 6, Chuck Hossfeld 5, Ryan Newman 2. 8 changes involving 6 drivers.

Posted on by Staff Report

Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150

Richmond Raceway

21 Rr Virginiaracinglovers150 Modified 4c

  • Qualifying results
Pos. Car No. Driver Sponsor Best Time Best Speed
1 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communication Inc. 21.503 125.564
2 32 Tyler Rypkema Northeast Drilling/MWSCO 21.719 124.315
3 77 Max McLaughlin Curb Records 21.739 124.201
4 22 Kyle Bonsignore Chalew Performance/MIT 21.762 124.069
5 39 Ryan Newman Pacematic/PSR Products 21.762 124.069
6 54 Tommy Catalano FX Caprara 21.815 123.768
7 44 Bobby Santos, Jr. Thinkliteair/Harshaw Paving 21.831 123.677
8 3 Donny Lia Propane Plus – SYP 21.921 123.17
9 79 Jon McKennedy Middlesex Interiors 21.949 123.012
10 7 Jimmy Blewett John Blewett, Inc. 21.962 122.94
11 20 Ed McCarthy* McCarthy Marine Sales 21.963 122.934
12 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing 21.965 122.923
13 64 Austin Beers* Dell Electric/Lumiere Electrical 21.993 122.766
14 2 Chuck Hossfeld Gershow Recycling 22.032 122.549
15 24 Andrew Krause Supreme Mtg 22.039 122.51
16 16 Ron Silk Blue Mountain Machine and Future Homes 22.044 122.482
17 29 Spencer Davis Ionx Supreme Lubricants 22.064 122.371
18 34 J.B. Fortin Red Camel Racing/Johns Fuel/John Tree Removal 22.114 122.095
19 82 Craig Lutz Horton Ave Materials/Riverhead Building Supply 22.2 121.622
20 5 Kyle Ebersole Ebersole Excavating Technique Chassis Ford 22.204 121.6
21 7 Patrick Emerling Captain Pip Marina 22.269 121.245
22 36 Dave Sapienza SAP Enterprises 22.269 121.245
23 55 Jeremy Gerstner Jerry Hunt SuperCenter/KD Construction 22.32 120.968
24 71 James Pritchard, Jr. Freeway Tire Pros & Automotive 22.515 119.92
25 97 Bryan Dauzat Brother in Law Motorsports 22.603 119.453
26 26 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscape/TRC Electrict 23.115 116.807
27 1 Melissa Fifield Pine Knoll Auto Sales 23.608 114.368
Posted on by Staff Report

Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150

Richmond Raceway

21 Rr Virginiaracinglovers150 Modified 4c

Position No. Name Time Lap No. Laps
1 22 Kyle Bonsignore 21.604 6 22
2 32 Tyler Rypkema 21.651 38 46
3 79 Jon McKennedy 21.671 6 46
4 51 Justin Bonsignore 21.674 14 47
5 54 Tommy Catalano 21.756 41 41
6 34 J.B. Fortin 21.762 4 41
7 2 Chuck Hossfeld 21.796 35 38
8 58 Eric Goodale 21.827 24 42
9 16 Ron Silk 21.833 42 43
10 20 Ed McCarthy 21.854 5 39
11 5 Kyle Ebersole 21.91 43 50
12 7 Jimmy Blewett 21.922 38 39
13 64 Austin Beers 21.922 12 43
14 39 Ryan Newman 21.93 32 32
15 36 Dave Sapienza 21.932 34 34
16 44 Bobby Santos Jr. 21.938 5 32
17 07 Patrick Emerling 21.954 2 25
18 77 Max McLaughlin 21.956 32 32
19 3 Donny Lia 21.971 21 47
20 24 Andrew Krause 21.977 14 40
21 82 Craig Lutz 21.979 10 44
22 29 Spencer Davis 22.069 5 31
23 97 Bryan Dauzat 22.153 46 49
24 71 James Pritchard Jr. 22.294 30 37
25 55 Jeremy Gerstner 22.305 22 22
26 26 Gary McDonald 22.344 29 31
27 92 Anthony Nocella 22.706 3 3
28 01 Melissa Fifield 23.814 8 15
Posted on by Terrin Waack

Joe Gibbs Racing, home to four NASCAR Cup Series winners, hasn’t won a premier-series race since Sept. 26 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Six more races passed after that in 2021 and six races have passed in 2022.

This Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM) would be the perfect opportunity to end the winless drought at 12 races since the sponsor doubles as Joe Gibbs Racing’s manufacturer. And the venue, Richmond Raceway, could be the reason it happens. The 0.75-miler is the team’s most successful track on the schedule with 17 wins, which also tops the competition.

RICHMOND: Weekend schedule | Betting odds | Paint schemes

Most recently, and therefore most importantly, Joe Gibbs Racing has won eight of the last 12 races at Richmond.

Screen Shot 2022 03 31 At 3.55.46 Pm

*Note: There was only one race at Richmond in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two of those victories even saw a 1-2-3 finish from Joe Gibbs Racing. Following Martin Truex Jr. across the finish line in September 2021 were current teammates Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell, in order. Further back in September 2019, Kyle Busch came in runner-up and Hamlin rounded out third.

Actually, the only race in that group that didn’t see at least one Joe Gibbs Racing pilot in the top three at the checkered flag was September 2017.

All this is quite the contrast to the present. Joe Gibbs Racing has two top-five results among its four drivers through six races. Busch and Bell have one apiece. Busch was fourth at Las Vegas. Bell was third at Circuit of The Americas.

Meanwhile, Truex’s best showing has been seventh at COTA. Hamlin’s is 13th at Phoenix Raceway.

Screen Shot 2022 03 31 At 3.55.32 Pm

Joe Gibbs Racing’s odds of being victorious in Virginia, according to BetMGM (as of Thursday afternoon), stand as: Truex and Busch both at 9-1, Hamlin at 10-1 and Bell at 14-1.

Busch’s six career victories at Richmond lead all active drivers, the most recent coming in 2018. Truex’s three wins all came in the past five races. Hamlin also has three, last in 2016. Bell hasn’t won, but he placed fourth (spring) and third (fall) in the two 2021 stops and also led laps (10) in the latter.

A Toyota parked in the Toyota Owners 400 Victory Lane would be fitting, and Joe Gibbs Racing could make it happen.

Screen Shot 2022 03 31 At 3.55.18 Pm

Posted on by Press Release

PHILADELPHIA – Comcast is committed to helping people access the transformative power of the internet and to closing the digital divide. Once again, the company is leveraging the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash platform to continue to make an impact.

Since 2018, the company has donated both laptops and more than $200,000 of funding to racing communities. Comcast has also installed free WiFi inside community centers, as part of its Lift Zones program, in markets where the popular and highly competitive four-race series takes place. The 2022 installment kicks off this weekend with the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway. Based on their finishes at Circuit of The Americas last Saturday, the Dash 4 Cash eligible drivers are: AJ Allmendinger, Austin Hill, Noah Gragson and Sam Mayer.

RELATED: Learn more about Xfinity Dash 4 Cash

Dash 4 Cash will then continue at Martinsville Speedway on April 8, Talladega Superspeedway on April 23 and Dover Motor Speedway on April 30. Lift Zones have been established in each of these markets, with partners including The Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge and the Green Beret Project.

“We’re proud to support the Dash 4 Cash program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said Matt Lederer, Comcast’s vice president of brand partnerships and amplification. “It’s exciting to have an extra incentive for this week’s qualifiers, and we’re proud to continue to work alongside our partners to bridge the digital divide in the communities where we live, work and race.”

Comcast’s Lift Zones program provides free WiFi inside community centers that serve students, families, veterans, seniors and adults. These are just a few of the more than 1,000 Lift Zones the company has established across the country. Additionally, the company is introducing more people to the power of the internet through its Internet Essentials service, which provides low-income households with fast and reliable internet access for as little as $9.95 per month. Internet Essentials is the nation’s largest and most successful private-sector broadband adoption program in the country.

“Comcast continues to make a lasting, positive impact in the Martinsville community through its commitment to digital equity,” said Joanie Petty, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge in Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia. “The Lift Zone at our Teen Center enables our local students year-round by providing a place to access the internet for free to complete their school work. We are thrilled by the support Xfinity has provided.”

Xfinity is bringing NASCAR fans closer to the sport they love and making a positive impact within the Martinsville community by offering free ticket giveaways starting April 1 at Xfinity retail stores in Danville, Virginia (158 Holt Garrison Pkwy, Danville, Virginia 24540) and Lynchburg, Virginia (4010 Wards Rd, Lynchburg, Virginia 24502). Two-hundred tickets will be available at each store on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last (no purchase necessary). Fans can stop by either store to pick up tickets (max four per person) and learn more about Xfinity products and services.

During this year’s Dash 4 Cash race weekends, Comcast will provide free tickets and driver meet-and-greet opportunities for local nonprofit organizations, like the YMCA of Greater Richmond, Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge and the Green Beret Project. Lift Zones and Internet Essentials are both key components of Comcast’s Project UP initiative developed to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. Having reliable internet and the tools and information necessary to navigate the digital world is critical to opportunity and success. Comcast is helping bridge the digital divide by providing internet, technology and resources to the communities and people in need.

Backed by a $1 billion commitment to reach millions of people, Project UP encompasses the programs and community partnerships across Comcast, NBCUniversal and Sky that connect people to the internet, advance economic mobility and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators. For more information on Project UP and the latest news on efforts to address digital inequities, visit https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/project-up.

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

Richmond Raceway is ready to host the first points race at a true short track for the Next Gen car.

NASCAR returns to the 0.75-mile track Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) for the Toyota Owners 400, a race won last year by Alex Bowman, who led the final 10 laps to steal the victory on a late restart.

With 400 laps ahead, get ready for all the action to come at Richmond:

SETTING THE GRID

Saturday, Cup Series drivers will get onto the track for practice on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. ET (FS1), with the 37 entered teams separated into Group A and Group B, determined by a metric that factors results and fastest laps from last week’s race at Circuit of The Americas in addition to points position. Each group will be allotted 15 minutes of practice.

After practice, each group will go out for single-car qualifying for two laps. The fastest five cars from each group will advance to the second round, in which the 10 remaining drivers will fight for the pole award.

RELATED: Richmond schedule | Cup Series standings

RICHMOND HISTORY

— NASCAR Cup racing at Richmond Raceway began in April 1953 when Lee Petty claimed the victory at what was then called the “Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds,” a 0.5-mile dirt track that stood through the first Richmond race of 1968. The track was then paved and remained a half-miler until the fall 1988 event, when the track was reconfigured to its current shape and geometry.

— The first scheduled night race on the 0.75-mile configuration was in September 1991, won by Harry Gant. It marked his second win in a streak of four straight that month. 

— The backstretch grandstands were removed after the 2015 season, following the removal of the Turn 3 grandstands in 2014. That reduced seating capacity by 9,000 seats.

— Sunday marks the 131st NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond.

— There was only one race at Richmond in 2020, the first time in 62 years Richmond had only one race due to the pandemic.

— Richmond is the seventh race of the 2022 season, the earliest for a Richmond race since 1997 when it was the third event on the schedule.

Source: Racing Insights

GOODYEAR TIRES

Richmond Raceway has played a significant role in Goodyear’s tire development for the Next Gen vehicles, the tire supplier said in a press release. Richmond played host to the inaugural 18-inch tire test in December 2019 and again in March 2021.

This weekend, teams will utilize the same tire compound Goodyear brought to Phoenix Raceway on March 13, marking the first time teams return to a track with a familiar compound this season.

“With such a steep learning curve with this car and the 18-inch tire, returning to tracks on the same package really helps teams start to put things together,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing. “Richmond is now considered a high-tire-wear track, so teams and drivers will have to mange their tires. As tires wear and the track takes rubber, drivers will have multiple grooves, making for some great racing with a lot of passing.”

This tire will also be used in June at Worldwide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

RICHMOND STORY LINES 

— Joe Gibbs Racing has dominated lately at Richmond Raceway, winning eight of the last 12 races there and 17 in total, the team’s most at any track.

— While JGR has been electric at Richmond, including two 1-2-3 finishes in the past five events, the team has struggled in 2022, collecting a combined two top fives (Kyle Busch, fourth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; Christopher Bell, third at COTA) and no wins from its four drivers through six races. Toyota last won with Bubba Wallace in October 2021 at Talladega Superspeedway.

— Ross Chastain scored his first career win last week at COTA, notching his fourth consecutive top-three finish. Before this stretch, Chastain had a total of three top fives in 117 starts.

— Chase Elliott leads the points standings with a series-best average finish of 11.0 and earned his first top five of the season last week at COTA by finishing fourth.

— The final green-flag stretch at Richmond was 146 laps or more in three of the last five Richmond races.

Source: Racing Insights

WANNA BET?

Chase Elliott is still searching for his first oval win since November 2020 at Phoenix, but he’s the odds-on favorite to win Richmond at 8-1, according to BetMGM as of Thursday morning.

Elliott, who won the championship with that Phoenix win, has three top fives in his last six races at Richmond. The other results are 15th, 13th and 12th.

Behind him are three drivers to watch: Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Larson, all of whom are posted at 9-1 odds. Hendrick Motorsports’ Larson is a threat anywhere, but JGR has been exceptional at the 0.75-mile track and Truex was victorious last time here in September. Busch is the active leader in Richmond wins (six), top fives (18) and average finish (6.9). Their results this season haven’t been exceptional, but that could change Sunday afternoon.

Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick and Ryan Blaney are each listed at 12-1 odds, but the right bet here feels like Reddick. Chastain has been phenomenal in each of the four unique tracks the last few weeks, but Reddick has proven he can run up front. Richard Childress Racing has run well here as of late, too, with an impressive showing from Austin Dillon in the 2020 playoffs. Reddick, who finished fifth at COTA after restarting on the front row in overtime, could reap the benefits of the team’s Richmond knowledge Sunday.

RELATED: Odds for Richmond

FANTASY LIVE

Want to manage a team and race your way to the top of the leaderboards? Check out NASCAR Fantasy Live, which is open now. The free-to-play game lets you choose your drivers each week and show off your crew-chief instincts by garaging a driver by the end of Stage 2, and there is a $25,000 prize for the winner.

The 2022 Fantasy Live points leaders are Chase Elliott (202), Ryan Blaney (187) and Joey Logano (183). 

How to play: Fantasy Live | Set up a team today!

ALSO ON NASCAR.COM

Get additional camera views by logging on to NASCAR Drive, where each week a select number of in-car cameras will be available — as well as a battle cam and an overhead look.

NASCAR has partnered with LiveLike to add fan engagement in the NASCAR Mobile App. Log in to the mobile app during the race for polls, quizzes, the cheer meter and more — and see instant results from NASCAR fans like you.