NASCAR: Richmond News

The Olympic Break is Over and its time to go racing boys

By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net

What is at stake?

There are four races left in the NASCAR regular season and the silly season started early and still continues. There are four playoff spots left. The defending champion of this race in 2023 spoke to the press earlier this week and has very high hopes both here and at Michigan next week. So to recap, there are just four races — at Richmond, Michigan, Daytona and Darlington — remain before the postseason field is set, which means it‘s an especially desperate time for those winless drivers seeking the four playoff slots that haven‘t been locked in yet.

The drivers on the bubble

As the Cup Series returns from its Olympic vacation, the stakes couldn‘t be higher. Just four races — at Richmond, Michigan, Daytona and Darlington — remain before the postseason field is set, which means it‘s an especially desperate time for those winless drivers seeking the four playoff slots that haven‘t been locked in yet.

Martin Truex Jr. is a near playoff lock

Truex Jr. is 108 points ahead of the 16th and last playoff position. Basically, he could crash out of the next three races and the 16th place driver would have to sweep before they would be tied. Of course, that does not factor into winning stages or any bonus points. Truex Jr. does have poor finishes at Michigan and Darlington finishing 28.6th place.

Ty Gibbs has to beat out other finishers close to him

Gibbs is 14th in the playoff chase. He needs to keep both Kyle Busch behind him and second that for Bubba Wallace. Gibbs needs to keep his car clean and not crash out of a race by being too aggressive. His past finishes at Michigan and Darlington match up well against Busch and Wallace. Busch needs to use his spotters and crew chief to run good strategies that help him finish 16th or better.

Chris Buescher

Chris Buescher is 15th in the playoff picture and like Truex Jr. and Gibbs, he could cement his playoff status with a win. The Fords run well at Richmond and he is the defending champion. In Buescher’s presser with reporters including myself in a conference call, Buescher knows Richmond and Michigan are his best chances for a “win and get in” scenario. One bad race and top performances by Truex Jr. , Gibbs or Wallace could spell the end for CB.

The Watermelon Man has fallen off since June.

Ross Chastain is 16th in the playoff picture but he has no momentum. Since he was warned by Rick Hendrick to stop wrecking his cars or he would face retribution, Chastain has not been the same driver. That Chastain is fighting for his playoff life right now is a testament to just how much his driving has fallen off since early in the 2022 season, when he was looking like one of the best racers in the sport. RC’s move to Trackhouse racing has not been successful and get this, he has zero top-tens since late June and an average finish of 26.5. Chastain needs to turn his season around at Richmond or his playoff chances will dim significantly.

Bubba needs to hold steady and dominate Daytona

Bubba Wallace Status: No. 17 in playoff picture, -7 to the cutline. Wallace does well at Michigan and has finished in the top ten twice in the last five races. Wallace also does well at Darlington. Wallace is strong at Daytona and that could put him over the edge in points.

Win or forget it

Both Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe could earn enough points by finishing in the top five each race and need some luck with the drivers above take a tumble like score a couple of DNF’s. Busch‘s Status: No. 19 in playoff picture, -112 to the cutline. Briscoe‘s Status: No. 18 in playoff picture, -83 to the cutline. What they need: Hope for chaos. Hey, win and you are in.