Contender Or Pretender: Richmond
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Kevin Harvick (Contender) – The Talladega winner is always a contender at Richmond. When Harvick’s hot and things are going his way he’s nearly as dangerous as Jimmie Johnson. Over the last 5 years at Richmond Harvick has spent more laps racing in the top 15 than any other driver in the series. Drivers don’t spend the most laps in the top 15 and not be competitive. Harvick has also finished in the top 10 at Richmond in 9 out of the last 10 races.
Jimmie Johnson (Pretender) – Jimmie Johnson has won 3 out of the last 6 races at Richmond, but that’s not really telling the full story. Besides those three wins Jimmie Johnson only has one other top ten finish at Richmond. Four top tens in sixteen races is enough to scare me away. If you’re a loop data fan then his 19.9 mid race average, 18.0 average finish, and 17.6 average running position should scare you off.
Kyle Busch (Contender) – Over the last ten Richmond races nobody has outscored Kyle Busch. Every week Kyle Busch is getting closer and closer to victory lane. He’s the defending race champion and he also has the best average finish here (6.0). In eight of the last ten Richmond races Kyle Busch has finished in the top 5.
Greg Biffle (Pretender) – Remember how competitive Greg Biffle was at Phoenix? I don’t remember seeing him in the race so that should tell you something. His 22nd place Phoenix finish should give you enough warning not to use him. For whatever reason this particular type of track is not a good place for Fords. The last time Greg Biffle even finished in the top ten at Richmond was back in 2006.
Denny Hamlin (Contender) – Richmond has always been a good track for Denny Hamlin ever since his rookie year. Before his first career race at Richmond Denny Hamlin injured his hand and 19 stitches were required. Hamlin then went on to finish second in that race. I believe this was really the turning point in his early career. After this incident Hamlin became much more competitive on the track. Also besides this little Hamlin history lesson lets not forget that he won here last fall and had the dominant car in the spring race.
Brian Vickers (Pretender) – Brian Vickers finished in the top ten in his first career race at Richmond and he finished in the top ten the last time the series visited this track. The bad news here is that those are his only top tens here. His average finish excluding his first visit here and his last visit here is …… 30th. Do you think you could stomach using him here?
