Richmond Toyota Owners 400 Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings

Jimmie Johnson – Last fall Jimmie Johnson’s weekend at Richmond was a complete debacle. In retrospect he would’ve been better served not showing up. He didn’t practice or qualify his car due to the birth of his daughter. In the race he started in the back and his car was extremely tight. By lap 70 he was already a lap down. Then later in the event he had battery issues. With 58 laps to go he had a flat tire and nailed the wall hard. When the checkered flag waved he finished 40th. In spring 2013 at Richmond he finished 12th. In that race he started in 26th but it only took him 100 laps to crack the top ten. Once he reached the top ten he remained there until he was involved in an accident shortly after a restart with 74 laps to go. If he didn’t have that problem I think he likely would’ve finished around 5th. In 2012 Jimmie Johnson was good in both Richmond races. In the fall he finished 13th but his car was better than that. That result is largely influenced by the non-traditional manner the race played out. In spring 2012 he had a top three car but had a late pit penalty. He still managed to rally up to a 6th place finish though. Excluding the race last fall at Richmond he’s performed well here over a fairly long stretch. Since 2007 excluding last falls race he’s won three times, finished in the top ten 54% percent of the time, has a 11.2 average running position and a 12.5 average finish. Only three times over this stretch did he finish lower than 13th. This spring at Phoenix Johnson performed well. He finished 6th, had a 6th place average running position and earned the 6th best driver rating. (Yahoo A Driver)

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Ryan Newman – Last fall at Richmond Ryan Newman almost had the “clutch” moment of the season but he came up short after Clint Bowyer spun. In the race he was told with 40 laps to go while he was in 4th that he had to win the race to make the Chase. Over that green flag run he reeled in the cars that were ahead of him and with 10 laps to go he passed Carl Edwards for the lead. Unfortunately then with 8 laps to go Bowyer’s arm got itchy and he spun. That brought out the caution and a few drivers elected not to pit and others simply had quicker pit stops. During that restart Newman was back in 5th. He did manage to drive up to third though and that’s where he finished. In the spring race at Richmond in 2013 Newman had a sub-par day. He started 15th, finished 15th and earned the 15th best driver rating. In fall 2012 at Richmond he finished 8th. From a career perspective Richmond has been a good track for him. He has 1 win and has finished in the top ten 58% percent of the time. The only tracks where his top ten finish percentage is higher are Chicagoland, Darlington and New Hampshire. Last fall at Richmond RCR cars were strong. Both Harvick and Burton were top 5 contenders until they got burned by a caution with 58 laps to go. Paul Menard who wasn’t affected by that caution finished 5th. At Phoenix earlier this season Newman used some pit strategy and finished 3rd. Also in that race he had a 10th place average running position and earned the 8th best driver rating. (Yahoo B Driver)

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