NASCAR - Richmond

Richmond Saturday night - All races should be night races, always so unpredictable and the track is constantly changing, forcing the teams to keep up with the changing temperatures through out the race. To top it off tonight it was a full moon and the wolves were howling tonight.  A couple of late race incidents, resulted in a couple of hot heads. Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth both had an issue with Kurt Busch's aggressive driving moves. 10 cautions littered the race tonight. The last one coming with just 8 laps to go as Juan Pablo Montoya watch his opportunity to win his first oval race go out the window. Kevin Harvick living up to his reputation of "Where did he come from", was coming fast catching Juan, but it would of been a close finish, but we will never know now. Kevin Harvick drove his way from 7th after the late caution restart, straight to the front.
Matt Kenseth last weeks winner in Kansas was handed down a pretty severe plenty after a connecting rod in his engine did not meet the minimum weight requirement. NASCAR fined him 50 driver points. Along with monetary fines, he also lost his Crew Chief for 6 weeks. Matt fell out of the top 12 to 14th in the Race for the Chase, gaining 1 position with 7th place finish today. As of now he would make the Chase in the 11th position with his 2 wins.
Joe Gibbs Racing was fined even more severely, their license has been suspended and they not only lost 50 owner points for Kansas, but cannot receive any points at all for the next 6 weeks.

Congratulations Kevin Harvick!!! "Where did he come from" is back. Getting your first win of the season and climbing 2 positions in the Race for the Chase into the 10 in 9th. Keeping you nose clean and missing all the wrecks, just driving around, no one notices you until you have already climbed into the top 5 and are moving fast. Sneaking up not only on first place, but all the announcers also. Way to go!!!

Top Ten Recap:
1. Kevin Harvick - started 17 - up 2 positions to 9th
2. Clint Bowyer - started 5 - up 3 positions to 5th
3. Joey Lagano - started 7 - up 3 positions to 17th
4. Juan Pablo Montoya - started 6 - up 3 positions to 24th
5. Jeff Burton - started 16 - up 4 positions to 19th
6. Carl Edwards - started 28 - up 4 positions to 2ne
7. Matt Kenseth - started 1 - up 1 position to 13th
8. Aric Almirola - started 34 - up 1 position to 11th
9. Kurt Busch - started 14 - up 3 positions to 20
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - started 19 - up 1 position to 4th

Race for the Chase:
1. Jimmie Johnson - finished 12th
2. Carl Edwards - finished 6th - up 4 positions
3. Kasey Kahne - finished 21st - down 1 position
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - finished 10th - up 1 position
5. Clint Bowyer - finished 2nd - up 3 positions
6. Brad Keslowski - finished 33rd - down 3 positions
7. Kyle Busch - finished 24th
8. Greg Biffle - finished 36th - down 4 positions
9. Kevin Harvick - WINNER - up 2 positions
10. Paul Menard - finished 13th - down 1 position
11. Aric Almirola - finished 8th - up 1 position
12. Jamie McMurray - finished 26th - down 2 positions

Matt Kenseth in 13th position would be the 11th place wild card with 2 wins so far the is year, Aric Almirola would move into the 12th position and Jamie McMurray would be eliminated.

Next race: Talladega Motor Speedway - Aarons 499 - Sunday - May 5, 2013 - 1pm est

Have a Wonderful Week!!!
Take Care
Barbara