It all comes down to this – the last race before the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins. Drivers, teams, and fans will all be on the edge of their seats this weekend, watching and waiting to see who will make the Top 16. Here are your four to follow, the key storylines heading into the big racing weekend at Richmond:
Wherever the Weather
This is never the first story you want to hear when talking about the racing weekend ahead, but much like the spring race at Richmond, rain is in the forecast for Saturday night. However, unlike in the spring, this weekend’s Saturday night special means more than just a chance to win the race, but also to lock into the Chase for the Sprint Cup. How could the weather change how the final race before the chase shapes up? Only time, and Mother Nature, can tell.
Bubble Watch
Much like the run up to the NCAA Basketball Tournament through March Madness, all eyes will be on those bubble drivers that can get into the Chase on points. Drivers like Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard, and Jeff Gordon may feel fairly safe right now heading into Richmond, but Clint Bowyer, sitting squarely on that bubble, cannot afford a poor race at the short track in Virginia.
On the Outside Looking In
Meanwhile, the gap has grown large between drivers on the inside of the Chase bubble, and those on the outside looking in. Drivers like Kasey Kahne, Austin Dillon, Aric Almirola, and Kyle Larson only have one way to make it into the championship hunt on Saturday night – win the race. Look for big gambles and strategy moves from many teams trying to fight for the final Chase spot.
The Big “Mo”
For those drivers that have wins this season and need not worry about racing their way into the championship battle going forward, this race at Richmond will not be an easy ride either. Many teams will battle for momentum heading into the knockout rounds, with many looking to steal some of that which Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have gathered in recent weeks.
Be sure to catch all the door-to-door action this weekend from Richmond International Raceway, starting with the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Friday night on NBCSN. Then suit up and strap in for the last race before the chase in the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond, live on NBCSN on Saturday night.
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