By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
NASCAR is in the middle of a several race stretch where no track is less than two miles long. That is broken up this week with the short track at Richmond. Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and defending champion Chris Buescher are the favorites. Tire grip is one of the issues coming up for this weeks race. In this edition of he said it… NASCAR drivers give their thoughts on this weeks race.
Austin Dillon love Richmond
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Where does Richmond rank on your short-track favorites?
“In my opinion, Richmond Raceway is one of the best short tracks in the country. It is fast, it is a fun track, and it is also one of the most challenging for a driver to keep up with the track conditions as rubber lays down and the temperature drops throughout the day. It is very difficult to keep the car’s balance the entire time. As a race fan, it is a good place to enjoy a race, and it is fun to watch the strategy part of 400 laps play out during the race. Some guys will take multiple sets of tires during a stage, while others will only take one set of tires and try to make a full run on that one set. The racing action is slick and enjoyable.
The Olympic Break is Over
Bowman on racing at Richmond Raceway:
“It’s been refreshing to have the Olympic break.. but I’m certainly ready to get back racing. It’s always nice to compete at Richmond (Raceway). We got a win there (Richmond Raceway) back in 2021 and this spring Blake (Harris) and I qualified well. I think we learned a few things and hopefully we can use that knowledge to perform well this Sunday in the night race.”
Four Chances Left
How is the option tire going to influence the competition over the course of the weekend?
“We have four opportunities to punch our ticket to the playoffs. The option tire will be a new variable and a new challenge for the teams to overcome. I’m ready to get back to work after the break and finish the year strong.”
Rowdy’s last stand
Rowdy at Richmond:
Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch may be sitting on the outside looking in, but the series’ seasoned veteran will look to capitalize on his playoff pressure experience to secure one of the final four postseason positions. The 39-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada, native is one of only two drivers to earn multiple championship titles in the series’ elimination era. In addition, Busch holds the record for the most consecutive appearances in the Championship Four with five over the last 10 years.
Faced with a must-win scenario, Busch will have a boost of confidence as the Team Chevy driver heads to a track that has fared statistically well for him throughout his storied career. Busch is the series’ winningest active driver at Richmond Raceway with six trips to victory lane in 37 career starts. The two-time champion has earned top-10 finishes in 11 of his last 13 starts at the track – a stretch that also includes a sweep of the wins in the 2018 events and four podium finishes. Busch also leads the series’ active drivers in runner-up finishes (seven), top-fives (19) and top-10s (28).
Roy J. Akers is a multi-media reporter and covers several sports for www.skyviewsports.net