RICHMOND RACE REVIEW

Who Would Have Thought?

Date: 8-14-2022.
Name of the race: Federated Auto Parts 400.
Track: Richmond Raceway.
Laps: 400.
Pole winner: Kyle Larson.
Outside pole: Ross Chastain.
Stage 1 winner: Ross Chastain.
Stage 2 winner: Joey Logano.
Stage 3 winner (won the race): Kevin Harvick. 
Top 5: Kevin Harvick, Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott.
FYI: Oh Richmond, you are one of NASCAR's premier short tracks marking three races to the playoffs. Once again Ty Gibbs is still filling in for Kurt Busch, who knows if he will return in time for the playoffs or if he will return at all? Now this race review is going to be a little different because for the first time ever I was able to attend a NASCAR weekend at the Action Track. I was at the track both days and had a blast, I was able to get up close and personal with the drivers and was able to access the garage area for the first time ever. Now back to the race, I was so excited that my favorite driver aka Kyle Larson was on the pole, I thought this was what it would take for him to finally earn his second victory of the season. Drivers like Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano were threats to Larson and any of them looked like they could win the race, but Joey stole the show for most of the race until an unexpected driver crept in on his victory chances. His name is Kevin Harvick. He passed Joey since his car was fading after the sun hid behind the clouds, and never looked back. Until the underdog, Chris Buescher was every so trying to catch up to Happy and possibly punch his ticket to the playoffs. Then another driver moved up to possibly contend with Harvick and his name is Christopher Bell, and if given the chance for an overtime finish or more laps he could have easily contended for the win and possibly stole it away. Going into the race no one really thought of Harvick as a contender for the win since that is a track he has struggled at, but that was not the case Sunday because he not only earned his second victory of the season, a back-to-back win, but he ties Kyle Busch on the all-time wins list. Now the series rolls into Watkins Glen International for the second to last road course of the season, time to turn left and right boys and girls!
Next race: Watkins Glen International on Sunday afternoon (8-21-2022).