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| Kevin Manion will be back on top of the pit box at Richmond this week calling the shorts for Martin Truex Jr. His six-race suspension due to infractions at Daytona is over. |
Our View: The damage is done, however, as Truex is not in contention for a Chase spot. Now he needs to concentrate on posting solid finishes and climbing up to 13th.
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| Jeff Gordon needs to finish 24th or better to clinch his spot in the Chase. If he can cross the finish line in the first half of the field, it doesn't matter how any other driver finishes. |
Our View: If you think he's safe, however, think again. Two of Gordon's last three Richmond fall races ended in 30-something results.
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| In the event that qualification is rained out, the following eight drivers will make the Chevy Rock & Roll 400: Bill Elliott, Sam Hornish Jr., Michael McDowell, Patrick Carpentier, Ken Schrader, Kyle Petty, Joe Nemechek and Johnny Sauter. |
Our View: With Hanna off the Atlantic Seaboard that is a distinct possibility and it would send Tony Raines, Sterling Marlin and Joey Logano to the house early.
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| Matt Kenseth can clinch his spot in the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup with a 26th-place finish in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, not matter where the any other driver finishes. |
Our View: The Chase contenders are in their current positions because they have been strong, but Kenseth finish only 38th at Richmond this spring. However, his three previous starts were all top-15s.
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| The National Stock Car Racing Commission has reversed a portion of penalties levied against Joe Gibbs Racing's Tony Stewart and Joey Logano. Point deductions and crew suspensions are intact, but the suspensions against the drivers have been lifted, according to NASCAR.com. |
Our View: That seems only fair. The drivers had nothing to do with the infraction.
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| Tony Stewart should have a relatively easy path to the Chase: he needs to finish only 36th or better in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 to clinch his spot. |
Our View: Six of Stewart's last seven races at Richmond have ended in top-10 finishes and he has not finished worse than 36th since spring 2003.
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