TOYOTA OWNERS 400
Richmond International Raceway
By Richard Tix
NASCAR heads to RIR and will wrap up its third short track in four races at Richmond. This is a far stretch from most of the 1.5 mile tracks we saw on the NASCAR Goes West tour. It has brought a few extra drivers to the forefront and even gave us a new first time winner in 2015 (Kenseth at Bristol).
After this NASCAR will start hitting some more 1.5's again and we will not see a short track stretch quite like this. So, soak it in NASCAR fans! Some of these tracks are my favorite on the season because a few bumps and bangs will not ruin your "aero" and end your day. These guys can grab that wheel and grit there teeth around this track for turn after turn.
Drivers start to get impatient and tempers start to flair. In the end most of the time the fans get a great show and sometimes it even gets fans more upset then the actual drivers in the race. So, lets end this short track run with a bang this Saturday night at Richmond!
After this NASCAR will start hitting some more 1.5's again and we will not see a short track stretch quite like this. So, soak it in NASCAR fans! Some of these tracks are my favorite on the season because a few bumps and bangs will not ruin your "aero" and end your day. These guys can grab that wheel and grit there teeth around this track for turn after turn.
Drivers start to get impatient and tempers start to flair. In the end most of the time the fans get a great show and sometimes it even gets fans more upset then the actual drivers in the race. So, lets end this short track run with a bang this Saturday night at Richmond!
The Good
- Jeff Gordon- Each week not many drivers have as much as experience as Gordon does track to track. In Gordons last five RIR starts he has three runner up finishes plus and 8th and 11th place finish (4 top 10's and 3 top 5's in 5 races). Maybe RIR is Gordons first win of 2015?
- Kevin Harvick- Harvick has two win's at RIR since 2011 (Fall 2011 and Spring 2013). He also has only one finish of higher than 11th since then (7 races). Top off running well here with the fact that he has been on fire in 2015 and he has to be a front runner to win this weekend.
- Ryan Newman- RCR is fighting his penalty, but it seems like Newman is focusing on the racing. Last week Newman posted a top 5 at Bristol. This week he will take a three race RIR top 10 streak and try to extend that. RIR might be one of Newmans better shots at winning in the first 26 races yet he only has one win here (2003).
The Middle
- Dale Earnhardt Jr- In Jr's last six starts here he has three top 10's but his average finish is around 9.66. That is actually very consistent. However, the six starts before that he only had two top 20's and three top 25's with an average finish of 24.83.
The Bad
- Denny Hamlin- Does this mean he will finish poorly here? No, but DH's last 4 here has not been very impressive and the bad luck has hit him hard. His best finish in those 4 is 18th which is also his only top 20. But, he does know Richmond well and has run well here in the past. He very well could turn it around and finish top 5.
- Cole Whitt- In only three starts here Cole has only picked up 1 top 30, 1 top 35 and 2 top 40's. That is enough in a young career to get you on this list.
- Michael McDowell- In 9 career starts at Richmond McDowell only has one finish better than 39th. One! He hasn't had the best equipment, but at some point you have to start pushing for at least top 35's at tracks like this.
Track Stats
- Richard Petty once won 7 RIR races in a row, 9 of 10, and 12 of 17. All were from 1967 to 1975
- In 2013 Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards won from the 17th and 26th positions. Joey Logano won in 2014 (Spring) from the 17th position as well.
- Ford has won 3 straight races at RIR
- Michael Waltrip has 45 career starts at RIR and no wins or top 5's. He does have two career top 10's though
- In 44 tries, Jeff Gordon has 6 total career Poles at RIR. He also has 2 wins, 18 top 5's and 28 top 10's
- Penske Swept RIR last season. Joey Logano in the Fall and Brad Keselowski in the Spring
Richmond International Raceway
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Race
|
Date
|
Cars
|
Winner(s)
|
St
|
Car
|
1953-06
|
4/19/1953
|
27
|
Lee Petty
|
'53 Dodge
|
|
1955-16
|
5/22/1955
|
28
|
Tim Flock
|
22
|
'55 Chrysler
|
1956-12
|
4/29/1956
|
24
|
Buck Baker
|
1
|
'56 Dodge
|
1957-16
|
5/5/1957
|
22
|
Paul Goldsmith
|
7
|
'57 Ford
|
1958-46
|
9/14/1958
|
22
|
Speedy Thompson
|
1
|
'57 Chevrolet
|
1959-23
|
6/21/1959
|
22
|
Tom Pistone
|
12
|
'59 T-Bird
|
1959-38
|
9/13/1959
|
16
|
Cotton Owens
|
1
|
'59 T-Bird
|
1960-19
|
6/5/1960
|
19
|
Lee Petty
|
10
|
'60 Plymouth
|
1960-43
|
10/23/1960
|
19
|
Speedy Thompson
|
3
|
'60 Ford
|
1961-17
|
4/23/1961
|
12
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'60 Plymouth
|
1961-44
|
9/10/1961
|
25
|
Joe Weatherly
|
7
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1962-10
|
4/1/1962
|
25
|
Rex White
|
20
|
'61 Chevrolet
|
1962-47
|
9/9/1962
|
33
|
Joe Weatherly
|
2
|
'62 Pontiac
|
1963-15
|
4/7/1963
|
25
|
Joe Weatherly
|
3
|
'63 Pontiac
|
1963-47
|
9/8/1963
|
26
|
Ned Jarrett
|
7
|
'63 Ford
|
1964-09
|
3/10/1964
|
27
|
David Pearson
|
10
|
'64 Dodge
|
1964-53
|
9/14/1964
|
33
|
Cotton Owens
|
3
|
'64 Dodge
|
1965-07
|
3/7/1965
|
22
|
Junior Johnson
|
1
|
'65 Ford
|
1965-49
|
9/18/1965
|
37
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'65 Dodge
|
1966-19
|
5/15/1966
|
30
|
David Pearson
|
4
|
'64 Dodge
|
1966-44
|
9/11/1966
|
29
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'66 Dodge
|
1967-16
|
4/30/1967
|
24
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'67 Plymouth
|
1967-42
|
9/10/1967
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
2
|
'67 Plymouth
|
1968-06
|
3/24/1968
|
20
|
David Pearson
|
16
|
'68 Ford
|
1968-41
|
9/8/1968
|
28
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'68 Plymouth
|
1969-14
|
4/13/1969
|
28
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'69 Ford
|
1969-43
|
9/7/1969
|
25
|
Bobby Allison
|
25
|
'69 Dodge
|
1970-05
|
3/1/1970
|
26
|
James Hylton
|
3
|
'69 Ford
|
1970-40
|
9/13/1970
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'70 Plymouth
|
1971-06
|
3/7/1971
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
30
|
'70 Plymouth
|
1971-46
|
11/14/1971
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
11
|
'71 Plymouth
|
1972-03
|
2/27/1972
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
3
|
'72 Plymouth
|
1972-25
|
9/10/1972
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
3
|
'72 Plymouth
|
1973-03
|
2/25/1973
|
30
|
Richard Petty
|
8
|
'73 Dodge
|
1973-23
|
9/9/1973
|
34
|
Richard Petty
|
5
|
'73 Dodge
|
1974-03
|
2/24/1974
|
28
|
Bobby Allison
|
1
|
'74 Chevrolet
|
1974-24
|
9/8/1974
|
27
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'74 Dodge
|
1975-03
|
2/23/1975
|
22
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'74 Dodge
|
1975-26
|
10/12/1975
|
28
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
2
|
'75 Chevrolet
|
1976-04
|
3/7/1976
|
30
|
Dave Marcis
|
2
|
Dodge
|
1976-23
|
9/12/1976
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-03
|
2/27/1977
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-23
|
9/11/1977
|
28
|
Neil Bonnett
|
2
|
Dodge
|
1978-03
|
2/26/1978
|
30
|
Benny Parsons
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1978-23
|
9/10/1978
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1979-04
|
3/11/1979
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
9
|
Oldsmobile
|
1979-24
|
9/9/1979
|
26
|
Bobby Allison
|
2
|
Ford
|
1980-03
|
2/24/1980
|
31
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1980-24
|
9/7/1980
|
29
|
Bobby Allison
|
2
|
Ford
|
1981-03
|
2/22/1981
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
7
|
Buick
|
1981-24
|
9/13/1981
|
32
|
Benny Parsons
|
4
|
Ford
|
1982-02
|
2/21/1982
|
32
|
Dave Marcis
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1982-23
|
9/12/1982
|
31
|
Bobby Allison
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1983-02
|
2/27/1983
|
32
|
Bobby Allison
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1983-23
|
9/11/1983
|
30
|
Bobby Allison
|
6
|
Buick
|
1984-02
|
2/26/1984
|
32
|
Ricky Rudd
|
4
|
Ford
|
1984-23
|
9/9/1984
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-02
|
2/24/1985
|
30
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-21
|
9/8/1985
|
30
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
22
|
Chevrolet
|
1986-02
|
2/23/1986
|
31
|
Kyle Petty
|
12
|
Ford
|
1986-22
|
9/7/1986
|
29
|
Tim Richmond
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-03
|
3/8/1987
|
32
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-22
|
9/13/1987
|
30
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
1988-02
|
2/21/1988
|
32
|
Neil Bonnett
|
3
|
Pontiac
|
1988-22
|
9/11/1988
|
36
|
Davey Allison
|
1
|
Ford
|
1989-04
|
3/26/1989
|
36
|
Rusty Wallace
|
2
|
Pontiac
|
1989-22
|
9/10/1989
|
36
|
Rusty Wallace
|
6
|
Pontiac
|
1990-02
|
2/25/1990
|
36
|
Mark Martin
|
6
|
Ford
|
1990-22
|
9/9/1990
|
36
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-02
|
2/24/1991
|
35
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
19
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-22
|
9/7/1991
|
36
|
Harry Gant
|
13
|
Oldsmobile
|
1992-03
|
3/8/1992
|
35
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1992-22
|
9/12/1992
|
35
|
Rusty Wallace
|
3
|
Pontiac
|
1993-03
|
3/7/1993
|
36
|
Davey Allison
|
14
|
Ford
|
1993-23
|
9/11/1993
|
36
|
Rusty Wallace
|
3
|
Pontiac
|
1994-03
|
3/6/1994
|
37
|
Ernie Irvan
|
7
|
Ford
|
1994-24
|
9/10/1994
|
38
|
Terry Labonte
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1995-03
|
3/5/1995
|
38
|
Terry Labonte
|
24
|
Chevrolet
|
1995-24
|
9/9/1995
|
38
|
Rusty Wallace
|
7
|
Ford
|
1996-03
|
3/3/1996
|
40
|
Jeff Gordon
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-24
|
9/7/1996
|
40
|
Ernie Irvan
|
16
|
Ford
|
1997-03
|
3/2/1997
|
43
|
Rusty Wallace
|
7
|
Ford
|
1997-24
|
9/6/1997
|
42
|
Dale Jarrett
|
23
|
Ford
|
1998-13
|
6/6/1998
|
43
|
Terry Labonte
|
16
|
Chevrolet
|
1998-25
|
9/12/1998
|
43
|
Jeff Burton
|
3
|
Ford
|
1999-11
|
5/15/1999
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
21
|
Ford
|
1999-25
|
9/11/1999
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
2
|
Pontiac
|
2000-11
|
5/6/2000
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
2000-25
|
9/9/2000
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2001-11
|
5/5/2001
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
7
|
Pontiac
|
2001-26
|
9/8/2001
|
43
|
Ricky Rudd
|
9
|
Ford
|
2002-11
|
5/5/2002
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
3
|
Pontiac
|
2002-26
|
9/7/2002
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
25
|
Ford
|
2003-11
|
5/3/2003
|
43
|
Joe Nemechek
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-26
|
9/6/2003
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
4
|
Dodge
|
2004-11
|
5/15/2004
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2004-26
|
9/11/2004
|
43
|
Jeremy Mayfield
|
7
|
Dodge
|
2005-11
|
5/14/2005
|
43
|
Kasey Kahne
|
1
|
Dodge
|
2005-26
|
9/10/2005
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
5
|
Ford
|
2006-10
|
5/6/2006
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
10
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-26
|
9/9/2006
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-10
|
5/6/2007
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-26
|
9/8/2007
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2008-10
|
5/3/2008
|
43
|
Clint Bowyer
|
31
|
Chevrolet
|
2008-26
|
9/7/2008
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2009-10
|
5/2/2009
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
14
|
Toyota
|
2009-26
|
9/12/2009
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
3
|
Toyota
|
2010-10
|
5/1/2010
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
1
|
Toyota
|
2010-26
|
9/11/2010
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
14
|
Toyota
|
2011-09
|
4/30/2011
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
20
|
Toyota
|
2011-26
|
9/10/2011
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
2012-09
|
4/28/2012
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
5
|
Toyota
|
2012-26
|
9/8/2012
|
43
|
Clint Bowyer
|
4
|
Toyota
|
2013-09
|
4/27/2013
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
17
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-26
|
9/7/2013
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
26
|
Ford
|
2014-09
|
4/26/2014
|
43
|
Joey Logano
|
17
|
Ford
|
2014-26
|
9/6/2014
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
1
|
Ford
|
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