The second race in NASCAR’s Round of 16 goes down tonight at Richmond. Here’s what to know:
Where It Is:
I said this. Richmond. Short track—three-quarters of a mile. D-shaped oval. First track you race at in the Whelen Series in NASCAR 06 from EA Sports.
When It Is:
Tonight. Green flag’s expected at 6:48 PM CDT (we use Central Time around here).
What It Is:
A race.
How to Watch:
NBC Sports Network, I believe.
Standings Coming In:
Kevin Harvick won last week, so he’s locked into advancing into the Round of 12. Tonight’s winner will also be locked in, as will next weekend’s winner at Bristol. Beyond those drivers (or just Kevin Karvick, which is very possible), it’s just the top drivers in the standings until we get to 12, and here’s where those standings line up:
1. Kevin Harvick (106 points)
2. Denny Hamlin (87)
3. Joey Logano (60)
4. Brad Keselowski (55)
5. Alex Bowman (52)
6. Martin Truex, Jr (49)
7. Chase Elliott (45)
8. Austin Dillon (43)
9. William Byron (42)
10. Kyle Busch (40)
11. Kurt Busch (37)
12. Aric Almirola (33)
***CUT LINE***
13. Clint Bowyer (33)*
14. Cole Custer (30)
15. Matt DiBenedetto (16)
16. Ryan Blaney (16)
*We’re pretty sure Bowyer’s behind Almirola because he trails him in Playoff Points, those points you get to carry over into the Round of 16, the Round of 12, and the Round of 8.
Who’s Under Pressure:
Basically, everyone not named Kevin Harvick or Denny Hamlin, but Ryan Blaney’s in the worst position when you compare standings with expectations. DiBenedetto’s racing for the lowest-level team (Wood Brothers). Custer’s a rookie. Bowyer and Almirola are solid, veteran drivers, but neither’s had the success Blaney’s had the last few years. So while everyone besides Harvick needs a good result (and Harvick can help pull together some points that’ll carry over by performing well), the most pressure is on Blaney. Everyone else just needs to avoid disaster and keep themselves alive entering Bristol.
Who’s the Favorite:
The latest Vegas Consensus I could find has Hamlin, Harvick, and Truex as co-favorites at 9-to-2 odds. Logano, Kyle Busch, Keselowski, and Elliott are in the next tier, between 7-to-1 and 9-to-1. From there, it’s a mixture of playoff and non-playoff drivers, ranging from Kurt Busch at 22-to-1 to DiBenedetto at 80-to-1.
Any Beef?
Truex and Elliott have some beef after Truex botched a late-race pass for the lead and took them both out last week. There are other beefers, but that’s the only real notable/timely one.
How Should NASCAR Rig It?
If NASCAR were to rig it (and yes, I think NASCAR should rig most races), Elliott and Truex would wreck again down the stretch, preferably on a restart with maybe five or six laps to go. It’d collect some other cars, including Blaney, and it’d be ambiguous whose fault it really was but it’d be clear it happened because Elliott and Truex were racing hard.
In overtime, Hamlin would win to keep himself close to Harvick’s pace. Him or Jimmie Johnson, whom we still love and could get a little if-Jimmie-were-in-the-playoffs narrative going.
