Austin Cindric and his No. 2 team prepare for Sunday’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond. (Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
While it’s the first time since 1990 that the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond is a Sunday afternoon race, it’s likely to be an action packed regular season race.
With three regular season races remaining, the likes of Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. are in desperate need of a win. Then again, Kurt Busch, who’s on the sidelines observing concussion protocols after his qualifying accident at Pocono, and Austin Cindric hope that things don’t change before the regular season finale at Daytona.
Earlier this year, Truex, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson were competitive and earned strong results at Richmond. As teams have more notes and data with the current Cup car, Richmond’s summer race may have more pop and competition on the track than in the spring.
This weekend, Cody Shoppe, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler, Nathan Solomon, Taylor Kitchen and yours truly consider the next new winner of 2022 and the prospects of Kyle Busch’s title chances.
Podium Preview: Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond
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Question 1
Can Martin Truex Jr. tally his first win before the 2022 Playoffs? (Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
With three races left in the regular season, only one Playoff spot remains open. What are the chances of another new race winner in 2022, a caveat that may greatly impact the Playoff field?
Tiongson : In this case, Martin Truex Jr. stands out to me as the next new winner of 2022 during the regular season. He’s great at Richmond and we know he’s a solid road course racer. However, his weakness may be Daytona but that is not due to a lack of effort.
I look for Truex to make his way into the Playoffs but it’ll put Ryan Blaney in a very precarious position, especially if it happens before the regular season finale at Daytona. The perfect storm situation would be Truex and Blaney winning before Daytona as that may put some of the lower ranked winners of 2022 into a very dangerous position.
Solomon : I think there’s a great chance that we not just see one more winner, but maybe two more winners. Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. are both top five in points and can easily break out with victories. Truex Jr. is really strong at Richmond while Blaney has had success at Daytona. Both drivers are the defending winners of the upcoming races at the respective tracks.
Plus, I wouldn’t count of someone like Bubba Wallace winning at Daytona, or even a road course expert like Michael McDowell winning at Watkins Glen. And, McDowell has proven he’s pretty good at Daytona, too.
Shoppe : There is a really good chance Bubba Wallace could win either here or in Daytona with the roll he’s on! Martin Truex Jr. could get the win in Richmond today as well to get himself locked in. When it comes to Daytona, anyone has a chance. Unlike any other year, this battle for the last Playoff spot is anyone’s race!
Lambeth : I think the chances of getting at least one new race winner in the last three races of the regular season are very high. Entering Richmond, Ryan Blaney holds the 16th and final playoff spot while Martin Truex Jr. is the first one out. MTJ is really good at Richmond so he should be one of the favorites to win. Either one of those drivers can score a much needed victory in Virginia. Both can’t be counted out next weekend at Watkins Glen either.
While we’re on the subject of road courses, with the way Michael McDowell and Front Row Motorsports have been running on those type of tracks this season, it wouldn’t be a major surprise if the No. 34 Ford Mustang ends up in victory lane at The Glen. Then, almost anyone can win at Daytona in what should be a crazy wildcard regular season finale!
Question 2
Will Kyle Busch turn things around in time for the Playoffs? (Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
Kyle Busch has been mired in a struggle for the past two months. Can Busch and his No. 18 team turn things around before the Playoffs?
Kitchen : Richmond, Watkins Glen, and Daytona are the three tracks left before the playoffs begin.
When reviewing Kyle Busch’s Richmond history, a “turnaround” looks promising. He has the best average finishing position amongst the active drivers and has captured six wins at the track. His last Richmond win came in 2018 when he swept both Richmond events of the season.
Previewing Rowdy’s stats at Watkins Glen, he has the fourth-best average finishing position amongst the active drivers and two wins at the track (the last coming in 2013). So, his chances at a comeback look less promising compared to his Richmond stats, but not impossible.
Finally, the point of no return for the No.18 team is at Daytona. To put it simply, Daytona International Speedway and Kyle Busch are not best friends. His average finishing position for the superspeedway is 13th amongst the active drivers, and his last points-paying race win came in 2008 for the Coke Zero 400.
All this to say, each race we complete, the worse Rowdy’s chances get at turning it around before the playoffs. But, who knows! Maybe the team can turn it around in time and go back to victory lane at one of the remaining tracks in the regular season.
Sisoler : He can, but he needs to get good runs that don’t get ruined by pit errors, or mistakes on track, or his team getting disqualified post-race. This is probably his best shot this weekend, as Busch has had some solid runs at Richmond, regardless of the type of car. He has six wins, 18 top fives and 26 top 10s in 33 starts there in Cup, so this would be his best shot, not to take away from his chances at the Glen or at Daytona, but those are more wild card races.
Not to mention that, while he is an extremely valuable veteran, outside of the Bristol dirt win, he’s not looked the strongest on a contract year, and another victory right now this season would really help his standing both going into the playoffs and his standing in negotiations with whomever he’s trying to go with for next season.
Sharpe : In this case, I think the main key to snagging a win is quite an easy one. Attitude. This year has been a tough one for Kyle, with the time ticking away and still no agreement on a contract with JGR, that type of stress definitely plays a role on the team.
That is the type of thing that can take a hold of a group and make them crumble. It reminds me of Erik Jones back in 2020 when JGR announced they were parting ways. His performance took a hit and the team overall was struggling.
As much as I’m not a Kyle Busch fan, I really do hope the team can take this situation and use it to their best. Show the other teams why you should stay with JGR, or even show potential future employers why you’re the best to get the job done. Do not allow pain to cause weakness.
That’s two laps around Richmond Raceway which is not as humid and hot as a Texas afternoon! Next, let’s rewind to last Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan, round 23 of 36 of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season!
Michelle Raynor reigned supreme at Michigan.
Meanwhile, Solomon and Shoppe look to duke it out for the most Playoff points.
Now, here’s a look at the top 10 starters for Sunday’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway.
Row 1
Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain (Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
Row 2
Denny Hamlin and William Byron (Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
Row 3
Alex Bowman and Martin Truex Jr. (Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
Row 4
Cole Custer and Brad Keselowski (Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
Row 5
Erik Jones and Ryan Blaney (Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
Last but not least, here’s our picks for Sunday’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway!
It’s anyone’s guess for Sunday’s race at Richmond! (Photo: Kevin Ritchie and Logan Skidan | The Podium Finish)
Shoppe : Kyle Busch has had a horrible run of luck lately. No top ten finishes in months for the first time in his career. Lately, however, it hasn’t been for a lack of speed. Toyotas are so fast at the moment and Kyle Busch has had strong runs going so I think it’s time for them to turn it around at a track he’s so good at.
Sisoler : Whenever you go to Richmond, you have to keep an eye out for Kyle Busch. While he is starting 29th, that is not indicative of the speed he showed, as he was second fastest in practice. Not to mention, of all active NASCAR drivers, he has the most wins at Richmond (six), and remember, he did come from 32nd back in 2018 to win the spring race. If he keeps it clean, that 18 is gonna be a threat to take the checkered flag come the end of the race.
Kitchen : This will be Martin Truex Jr.’s best chance to win his way into the playoffs. I think he will get it done this weekend.
Solomon : Martin Truex Jr. has had bad luck that is due to change. He’s fighting for a spot in the playoffs and he’s ran well at Richmond the last few years. Expect Truex Jr. to head to victory lane on Sunday.
Tiongson : The chance to win the regular season championship may be unrealistic for Kyle Larson and his No. 5 team. However, the chance to rank second or third is not out of the question. A win at Richmond will do wonders for the defending Cup champion as he hopes to return to Richmond with a Knoxville Nationals win.
Sharpe : After scoring two wins this season, the RCR driver is on a roll. His aggression will shoot him out to the front, and as long as he doesn’t let other things occupy his mind, Tyler Reddick has the win in the bag.
Lambeth : I think today’s race at Richmond will be a memorable. Not necessarily for the on-track action, but I feel the race winner is going to surprise everyone. In just his fourth career Cup start, which wasn’t a part of the plans at the start of the 2022 season, Ty Gibbs will stun the NASCAR world and take 23XI Racing to victory lane!
We’re ready for some racing. How about you? What do you think are the biggest storylines heading into the race? Who are your favorites to win? Tweet us now @ThePodiumFinish and tell us now!
Thanks as always to the TPF team for their amazing efforts this week! While we progress toward a new kind of normal, please do your part to curb the impacts of the pandemic by washing your hands and getting your COVID-19 vaccine or booster.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in Podium Preview are solely of the authors. They do not reflect any organizations affiliated with the participants and author outside of TPF. This weekly feature is strictly for entertainment purposes. Ultimately, they are not indicative of TPF, the organization and its staff.
This preview and the remainder of our content for the 2022 season will be dedicated in memory of Perfecto “Perry” Francisco (1952-2022). You will always be remembered and loved by family and friends.
