Friday, September 11, 2015

The Frontstretch Newsletter: Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick Fast At Richmond

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
Sep. 11, 2015
Volume IX, Edition CLXI
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What to Watch: Friday

- It's a busy day at Richmond. Qualifying for the Federated Auto Parts 400 is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. while the XFINITY Series Virginia 529 College Savings 250 will roll off around 8 p.m.  Both qualifying and the race will air on NBCSN.

- Remember, we have a new Frontstretch VIP for a Day contest situated around the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway (adjacent to Charlotte Motor Speedway).  Two winners will receive tickets to the Carolina Nationals, parking and a meet and greet.  Details are here.
 
FOLLOW THE FRONTSTRETCH THIS WEEKEND IN RICHMOND FROM OUR COLLEAGUE:

Zach Catanzareti (@ZachRacingand our own Twitter page, @Frontstretch as well for updates!
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This weekend's TV Schedule can be found in Couch Potato
Tuesday here.
 
Top News
by The Frontstretch Staff

Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick Lead Opening Cup Practices at Richmond

A driver desperate to make the Chase joined the reigning Sprint Cup champion atop the leaderboard during Richmond practices. Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick paced all drivers prior to qualifying for tomorrow night's Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Larson, eliminated from the Chase on points needs a win to secure his spot in the 16-driver playoff field. Read more

Austin Dillon Leads Way at First XFINITY Richmond Practice

Thursday saw XFINITY Series teams take to the track for what was supposed to be two practice sessions ahead of tonight's Virginia 529 College Savings 250.  However, only the first session could be run due to rain.  Austin Dillon was fastest in his No. 33 Chevrolet, followed by brother Ty Dillon and late model racer Josh Berry, making his season debut for JR Motorsports.  Read more

Have news for The Frontstretch?  Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.

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Frontstretch Folio: Federated Auto Parts 400
by Phil Allaway

The Sprint Cup Series returns to Richmond for their second visit of the season.  The Federated Auto Parts 400 can be seen at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night on NBCSN; the event can also be heard on your local MRN affiliate or SiriusXM Channel 90. Drivers will compete for 400 laps (300 miles) en route to the checkered flag.

Records and facts

Last year, Brad Keselowski dominated the action, leading all but 17 laps on his way to victory.  Jeff Gordon was second, followed by Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick.

All-time, Richard Petty is the winningest driver at Richmond with 13 wins.  All of his victories came on the old .542-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway and one was when the track was still dirt.  Dale Earnhardt, Sr. is the only driver to win on both versions of Richmond's track.

Rusty Wallace has the most victories on the three-quarters of a mile configuration at Richmond with six.  Kyle Busch has the most victories by active drivers with four, while Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart have three each.

Track Facts
Track / Race Length: .750-mile D-Shaped oval, 400 laps (300 miles)
Banking: 14 degrees in turns

Frontstretch: 1,290 ft., banked 8 degrees

Backstretch: 860 ft., banked 2 degrees

Grandstand Seating: 71,000
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Pace Car Speed: 50 mph
Opened: 1946 (first Cup race was in 1953)

Website: http://www.rir.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichmondInternationalRaceway

Twitter: http://twitter.com/RIRInsider

Pre-Race Schedule:

Practice 1: Friday, September 11, 10 a.m. - 11:55 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Happy Hour: Friday, September 11, 1 p.m. - 2:25 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Qualifying: Friday, September 11 at 5:45 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Say What?!

"Richmond is getting a little trickier, it seems like, just with the asphalt kind of getting older and the way the cars are. The tire hasn't really changed there in the last few years – we may be due for an update on that. The consensus at Richmond is, of course, just trying to get your car to turn but also having really good forward bite. You have to be able to get off the corners at Richmond. You have to have good brakes, as well, and be able to turn the center. All of it correlates. Everything you want as a racecar driver, you've got to have most all of it and, if you don't, then you better hope you have more forward bite than the rest of them. That's sort of the equation of Richmond – it's a fun place to race, it's really cool. As a driver, you wish it could widen out and give you more options of being able to run around in different grooves, but it hasn't shown us that the last couple years. We're hoping to get our M&M'S Crispy/American Heritage Chocolate Camry back to form there from a couple of years ago." - Kyle Busch

"Richmond has been pretty good to me. I've got a win in the K&N Series there. I look forward to going back. It's a fun racetrack. It's actually a really tough short track, though. It can be frustrating if your car is off, but if you hit it, it's going to be good. We're aware there will be a few cars going into this race where it's make-or-break to get into the Chase. But for us, it's going to be the same thing we do every week. We're going to use the same aggressiveness, but you do have to be cautious with the leaders around you. You've got to know what's going on and be a little conservative around those cars."- Brett Moffitt

"I've always enjoyed going to Richmond. I had fun racing Indy cars there. I liked driving the Xfinity car there, as well. We didn't have the greatest results, but it was still funWhen you have a good car, it creates opportunities to pass. Turns 1 and 2 are kind of tight, and 3 and 4 are more of a long corner, so it's a challenge to set the car up. We slip and slide there a bunch, anyway. Thank goodness we don't race there in the day. There is more grip at night and I'm thankful for that." - Danica Patrick

Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com.  He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.

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TODAY ON FRONTSTRETCH:
by Matt Stallknecht

by the Frontstretch Staff

as told to Mike Neff

by Amy Henderson

by Kevin Rutherford

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q:
In the 2006 Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond, Kevin Grubb crashed on the frontstretch at the end of the first lap.  This turned out to be his last NASCAR start because he was indefinitely suspended shortly afterwards.  What happened to cause that?

Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!

Thursday's Answer:

Q:  In 2008, NASCAR made absolutely no attempt to qualify or race the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 on-time at Richmond.  Instead, the race was run on Sunday afternoon, ending any chance of Joey Logano making his Sprint Cup Series debut.  Why was this move made?

A: The move was made due to Hurricane Hanna, a Category 1 hurricane that made landfall near Myrtle Beach on the scheduled day of the race.  It was already raining in Richmond early enough that they chose to wipe out qualifying and both races on Friday afternoon.  That resulted in a Sprint Cup/Nationwide Series doubleheader on Sunday.

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COMING MONDAY
In The Frontstretch Newsletter:
We'll have recaps of the Sprint Cup and XFINITY races from Richmond, plus an update on the points and any other news that breaks this weekend.

On Frontstretch.com:
We'll have a series of post-race commentaries breaking down this weekend's action in Richmond and looking forward to Chicagoland, the first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
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