|
|
|
|
NASCAR - Nationwide - Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Preview
From The Sports Network
| |
| DATE: Friday, April 27th |
| SITE: Richmond International Raceway (1946) -- Richmond, Virginia |
| TRACK: 0.75-mile oval - 1,290 feet (Frontstretch); 860 feet (Backstretch) |
| CAPACITY: 91,000 (Grandstand Seating) |
| ANNUAL: 26th |
| TELEVISION: ESPN |
| ANNOUNCERS: Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree |
| RADIO: Motor Racing Network (MRN)/SIRIUS NASCAR Radio |
| START TIME: 7:30 p.m. (ET)/Green Flag: 7:43 p.m. (ET) |
| DEFENDING CHAMPION: Denny Hamlin |
| RUNNER-UP: Paul Menard |
| POLE WINNER: Carl Edwards (Finished 25th) |
| LAPS: 250 |
| MILES: 187.5 |
| QUALIFYING RECORD: Kyle Busch, 2004 (129.348 m.p.h.) |
| RACE RECORD: Denny Hamlin, 2011 (108.415 m.p.h.) |
| TOTAL PURSE: $1,030,524 (2011 figures) |
| PAYOUTS: 1st Place - $35,500; 2nd Place - $27,250; 3rd Place - $28,593 |
| 2011 Finish |
| Finish | Driver | Start | Finish | Driver | Start |
| 1 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | 6 | Josh Wise | 17 |
| 2 | Paul Menard | 6 | 7 | Sam Hornish Jr | 2 |
| 3 | Justin Allgaier | 5 | 8 | Ryan Truex | 20 |
| 4 | Elliott Sadler | 18 | 9 | David Stremme | 19 |
| 5 | Brad Keselowski | 10 | 10 | Jason Leffler | 16 |
| 2011 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Facts and Figures |
| AVERAGE SPEED: 108.415 m.p.h. |
| TIME OF RACE: 1 hour, 44 minutes, 11 seconds |
| MARGIN OF VICTORY: Under Caution |
| CAUTION FLAGS: 3 for 12 laps |
| LEAD CHANGES: 6 among 4 drivers |
| POLE WINNER: Carl Edwards (125.046 m.p.h.) |
| Past Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Winners (Starting Position) Car -- Speed |
| 2011 -- Denny Hamlin (11th) -- Toyota -- 108.415 m.p.h. (race record) |
| 2010 -- Brad Keselowski (4th) -- Dodge -- 91.194 m.p.h. |
| 2009 -- Kyle Busch (3rd) -- Toyota -- 86.672 m.p.h. |
| 2008 -- Denny Hamlin (3rd) -- Toyota -- 96.238 m.p.h. |
| 2007 -- Clint Bowyer (8th) -- Chevrolet -- 91.899 m.p.h. |
| 2006 -- Kevin Harvick (10th) -- Chevrolet -- 79.068 m.p.h. |
| 2005 -- Carl Edwards (5th) -- Ford -- 85.709 m.p.h. |
| 2004 -- Kyle Busch (1st) -- Chevrolet -- 85.023 m.p.h. |
| 2003 -- Kevin Harvick (15th) -- Chevrolet -- 74.652 m.p.h. |
| 2002 -- Jason Keller (2nd) -- Ford -- 80.138 m.p.h. |
| 2001 -- Jimmy Spencer (3rd) -- Chevrolet -- 84.028 m.p.h. |
| 2000 -- Jeff Green (1st) -- Chevrolet -- 81.023 m.p.h. |
| 1999 -- Mark Martin (2nd) -- Ford -- 90.060 m.p.h. |
| 1998 -- Jeff Burton (8th) -- Ford -- 95.799 m.p.h. |
| 1997 -- Mark Martin (18th) -- Ford -- 86.450 m.p.h. |
| 1996 -- Jeff Purvis (1st) -- Chevrolet -- 98.168 m.p.h. |
| 1995 -- Kenny Wallace (21st) -- Ford -- 96.291 m.p.h. |
| 1994 -- Joe Nemechek (3rd) -- Chevrolet -- 91.253 m.p.h. |
| 1993 -- Mark Martin (2nd) -- Ford -- 103.766 m.p.h. |
| 1992 -- Harry Gant (28th) -- Buick -- 97.561 m.p.h. |
| 1991 -- Harry Gant (11th) -- Buick -- 92.156 m.p.h. |
| 1990 -- Michael Waltrip (1st) -- Pontiac -- 88.091 m.p.h. |
| 1989 -- No race held -- Weather |
| 1988 -- No race held |
| 1987 -- No race held |
| 1986 -- No race held |
| 1985 -- No race held |
| 1984 -- Sam Ard (3rd) -- Oldsmobile -- 75.084 m.p.h. |
| 1983 -- Sam Ard (1st) -- Oldsmobile -- 73.639 m.p.h. |
| 1982 -- Tommy Houston (15th) -- Pontiac -- 57.667 m.p.h. |
| NOTE: Formerly called Eastern 150 (1982-83), Wrangler 150 (1984), Pontiac 200 |
| (1990-91), Hardee's 200 (1992-93), Hardee's 250 (1994-2003), Funai 250 |
| (2004-05), Circuit City 250 (2006-07), Lipton Tea 250 (2008-09), BUBBA |
| Burger 250 (2010-11). |
| Past Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Pole Winners (Finish) |
| 2011 -- Carl Edwards -- 25th |
| 2010 -- Kyle Busch -- 4th |
| 2009 -- Matt Kenseth -- 3rd |
| 2008 -- Kasey Kahne -- 14th |
| 2007 -- Denny Hamlin -- 41st |
| 2006 -- Jason Leffler -- 24th |
| 2005 -- Kasey Kahne -- 4th |
| 2004 -- Kyle Busch -- 1st |
| 2003 -- Michael Waltrip -- 4th |
| 2002 -- None -- Weather |
| 2001 -- Matt Kenseth -- 4th |
| 2000 -- Jeff Green -- 1st |
| 1999 -- Jason Keller -- 30th |
| 1998 -- Wayne Grubb -- 4th |
| 1997 -- None -- Weather |
| 1996 -- Jeff Purvis -- 1st |
| 1995 -- None -- Weather |
| 1994 -- David Green -- 16th |
| 1993 -- Rick Mast -- 8th |
| 1992 -- Jeff Gordon -- 8th |
| 1991 -- Jeff Burton -- 31st |
| 1990 -- Michael Waltrip -- 1st |
| 1989 -- No Race -- Weather |
| 1988 -- No Spring Race |
| 1987 -- No Spring Race |
| 1986 -- No Spring Race |
| 1985 -- No Spring Race |
| 1984 -- Tommy Ellis -- 15th |
| 1983 -- Sam Ard -- 1st |
| 1982 -- Geoffrey Bodine -- 20th |
| Last Race Results |
| RACE: O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 (April 13th) |
| SITE: Texas Motor Speedway -- Fort Worth, Texas |
| MILES: 300 |
| LAPS: 200 |
| WINNER: Ricky Stenhouse Jr |
| RUNNER-UP: Paul Menard |
| THIRD: Kasey Kahne |
| FOURTH: Denny Hamlin |
| FIFTH: Austin Dillon |
| POLE WINNER: Paul Menard (Finished 2nd) |
| TIME OF RACE: 2 hours, 22 minutes, 31 seconds |
| AVERAGE SPEED: 126.301 m.p.h. |
| MARGIN OF VICTORY: 1.434 seconds |
| CAUTION FLAGS: 5 for 33 laps |
| LEAD CHANGES: 14 among 7 drivers |
| LAP LEADERS: Menard 1-3, Stenhouse Jr 4-48, Menard 49-52, Kahne 53, Menard |
| 54-94, Hamlin 95-103, Sadler 104-107, Menard 108-146, Hamlin |
| 147-148, Ragan 149-150, Menard 151-163, Dillon 164-176, Stenhouse |
| Jr 177-194, Hamlin 195, Stenhouse Jr 196-200. |
| Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Entry List |
| Car | Driver, Hometown | Car/Name |
| 01 | Mike Wallace (St. Louis, MO) | Chevrolet/G&K Services |
| 2 | Elliott Sadler (Emporia, VA) | Chevrolet/One Main Financial |
| 3 | Austin Dillon (Lewisville, NC) | Chevrolet/Advocare |
| 4 | Steve Wallace (Charlotte, NC) | Chevrolet/TBA |
| 6 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr (Olive Brnch,MS) | Ford/Cargill |
| 7 | Danica Patrick (Roscoe, IL) | Chevrolet/GoDaddy.com |
| 08 | Casey Roderick (Lawrenceville, GA) | Ford/West Virginia Miners |
| 10 | Jeff Green (Owensboro, KY) | Toyota/TBA |
| 11 | Brian Scott (Boise, ID) | Toyota/Dollar General |
| 12 | Sam Hornish Jr. (Defiance, OH) | Dodge/Wurth |
| 14 | Eric McClure (Chilhowie, VA) | Toyota/Hefty/Reynolds Wrap |
| 15 | Blake Koch (West Palm Beach, FL) | Ford/Rise Up and Register |
| 17 | J.J. Yeley (Phoenix, AZ) | Toyota/americashadvance.com |
| 18 * | Denny Hamlin (Chesterfield, VA) | Toyota/Z-Line Designs |
| 19 | Tayler Malsam (Seattle WA) | Toyota/G-Oil |
| 20 | Joey Logano (Middletown, CT) | Toyota/Dollar General |
| 22 | Brad Keselowski (Rochester Hls, MI) | Dodge/Discount Tire/SKF |
| 23 | Robert Richardson Jr (McKinney, TX) | Chevrolet/North Texas Pipe |
| 24 | Tanner Berryhill (Bixby, OK) | Chevrolet/New Gulf Resources |
| 30 | James Buescher (Plano, TX) | Chevrolet//Accudoc Solutions |
| 31 | Justin Allgaier (Riverton, IL) | Chevrolet/Brandt |
| 33 | Kevin Harvick (Bakersfield, CA) | Chevrolet/Fast Fixin' |
| 36 | Ryan Blaney (High Point, NC) | Chevrolet/Seal Wrap |
| 38 | Kasey Kahne (Enumclaw, WA) | Chevrolet/Great Clips |
| 39 | Matt Frahm (North Salem, NH | Ford/New Lifestyle Diet |
| 40 | Erik Darnell (Beach Park, FL) | Chevrolet/TBA |
| 41 | Timmy Hill (Port Tobacco, MD) | Ford/poynt.com |
| 42 | Josh Wise (Riverside, CA) | Chevrolet/TBA |
| 43 | Michael Annett (Des Moines, IA) | Ford/Pilot Flying J |
| 44 | Mike Bliss (Milwaukie, OR) | Toyota/TBA |
| 46 | Chase Miller (Denver, NC) | Chevrolet/TBA |
| 47 | Scott Speed (Manteca, CA) | Chevrolet/TBA |
| 50 | T.J. Bell (Reno, VA) | Chevrolet/TBA |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements (Spartanburg, SC) | Chevrolet/Clements Automotive |
| 52 | Kevin Lepage (Shelburne, VA) | Chevrolet/Victory Precision Valves |
| 54 | Kurt Busch (Las Vegas, NV) | Toyota/Monster Energy |
| 70 | Johanna Long (Pensacola, FL) | Chevrolet/Foretravel |
| 74 | To Be Announced | Chevrolet/Koma Unwind |
| 75 | Scott Riggs (Bahama, NC) | Chevrolet/Rick Ware Racing |
| 81 | Jason Bowles (Ontario, CA) | Toyota/American Majority |
| 87 | Joe Nemechek (Lakeland, FL) | Toyota/AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet |
| 88 | Cole Whitt (Alpine, CA) | Chevrolet/taxslayer.com |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd (Conover, NC) | Chevrolet/TBA |
| 99 | Travis Pastrana (Annapolis, MD) | Toyota/TBA |
| Leading Contenders (Finish the last nine years) |
| Driver | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Denny Hamlin | --- | --- | 13th | 10th | 41st | Won | --- | --- | Won |
| Justin Allgaier | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 38th | 15th | 3rd |
| Elliott Sadler | --- | --- | 2nd | 18th | --- | --- | --- | --- | 4th |
| Brad Keselowski | --- | --- | --- | --- | 35th | 11th | 4th | Won | 5th |
| Sam Hornish Jr. | --- | --- | --- | --- | 43rd | 15th | --- | --- | 7th |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 20th | 21st |
| James Buescher | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 12th | 22nd |
| Kevin Harvick | Won | 3rd | 12th | Won | 4th | 2nd | 5th | 7th | --- |
| Joey Logano | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 6th | 6th | --- |
| Kasey Kahne | 18th | 10th | 4th | 40th | --- | 14th | --- | --- | --- |
| Danica Patrick | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Kurt Busch | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Austin Dillon | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mover of the Week |
| David Ragan - Started in the 30th position and finished 6th |
| Sports Network Selections |
| Pick to Win - Brad Keselowski |
| Darkhorse - Kevin Harvick |
| Last Week's Pick to Win (Ricky Stenhouse Jr) - Finished 1st |
| Last Week's Darkhorse (Paul Menard) - Finished 2nd |
| NOTES: |
|
Denny Hamlin returned to the winner's circle at his "home track" after
capturing the 2011 running of the Richmond 250.
Hamlin, who hails from nearby Chesterfield, VA, dominated the race, leading
199 of the 251 laps despite starting 11th on the grid.
Hamilton did have to hold off a hard-charging Paul Menard in a green-white-
checkered finish. Hamlin held a slim lead over Menard when the race ended
under caution for an incident involving Derrike Cope on the final lap.
It was Hamlin's 11th career Nationwide win. He also gave crew chief Adam
Stevens his first victory in the series. Stevens took over crew chief duties
for the No.20 Joe Gibbs Racing team at the start of that season.
Back in 2010, Brad Keselowski benefited from a four-tire pit stop just before
a two-lap overtime finish to pull out the win for his eighth of 17 career
Nationwide Series titles.
Keselowski, who had won the previous week at Talladega, dominated the race
by leading 189 of 252 laps. He held a sizeable lead in the closing laps before
Paul Menard cut a right-front tire and made contact with the wall to force the
green-white-checkered finish. During the caution, Keselowski gave up the lead
to Kyle Busch when he opted to hit pit road at the last second. Busch, Justin
Allgaier and Jamie McMurray remained on the track, while the others on the
lead lap also came in for a final stop. Keselowski charged from fourth to
first in the final two laps for his second victory of the that season.
Kyle Busch won for the 24th time in his Nationwide Series career in 2009, as
he edged Carl Edwards by less than one second. Busch, whose win total now
stands at 51, led four times for a race-high 115 laps, including the final 22.
Edwards led a total of 71 laps. He grabbed the lead from Busch on lap 158, but
Busch came storming back in the late stages. He made several attempts to pull
ahead of Edwards, but could not make the pass before a caution came for an
incident involving Ken Butler on lap 219. When the race resumed on lap 228,
Busch quickly darted past Edwards to reclaim the lead for good. The win came
on the eve of his 24th birthday.
In 2008, Denny Hamlin led the final 12 laps, as he outraced Kevin Harvick to
the finish line for his sixth career Nationwide title. Edwards, who dominated
the race, leading for 126 laps, placed seventh, while pole sitter Kasey Kahne
finished 14th. Hamlin, who won four times in 2008, finished 0.789 of a second
ahead of Harvick.
Clint Bowyer won the fifth of his eight Nationwide titles at Richmond in May
2007. Bowyer, who started eighth, crossed the finish line 1.483 seconds ahead
of Matt Kenseth. He led a total of 29 laps. Jeff Burton, who finished third,
put on a dominating performance for most of the race with 136 laps led. Pole
sitter Denny Hamlin led the opening 20 laps, but finished 41st.
Starting from the 10th position in 2006, Kevin Harvick, raced to victory, as
he defeated Jeff Burton by less than one second. Harvick led twice during the
race for 49 laps, as he won for the 20th time in his Nationwide career. He now
ranks third on the all-time Nationwide wins list with 37. Pole sitter Jason
Leffler, who led for a total of 66 laps, finished 24th.
When Carl Edwards won in 2005, he led just one lap, but it was the last, as he
raced past Elliott Sadler in turn three of the final lap for 0.144-second
victory. The win for Edwards was the second of five 2005 victories and the
second of his Nationwide career. His win total now stands at 37.
The pole sitter has fared well in this race, posting wins five times. Kyle
Busch was the last driver in this race to accomplish the feat back in 2004.
Overall, the pole winner has gone on to win 11 of the 56 Nationwide events at
Richmond. Of the 11 pole winners, Busch is the only two-time winner from the
top spot (2004, 2007). The most winners (11) have come from the first and
third (10) starting positions. Since 2004, a top-10 starting position has won
in Richmond, except the fall 2009 event (39th position) and last year's spring
race (11th).
Mark Martin and Harvick are five-time winners at RIR, followed closely by
Harry Gant with four. The last four margin of victories at RIR on the
Nationwide Series have been won by less than a second, with Hamlin's victory
under caution. Harvick has finished out of the top-10 only twice in the last
14 Sprint Cup races at Richmond and just three times in his last 17 Nationwide
starts.
The next Nationwide Series race is the May 5 Aaron's 312 at Talladega
Superspeedway. Kyle Busch is the defending race winner.
04/25 09:30:40 ET
|
As of April 25, 2012, at 09:30 AM ET
|
|
|
|
