NASCAR
Stratta’s Six: Who Can Be Crowned Short Track King at Richmond?
Not only does NASCAR return in full swing this weekend, but Sunday marks 2024’s first repeat track. Richmond Raceway is the next stop for the Cup Series, with the regular season quickly winding down. This race will have an all new variable thrown into its strategy as well, with Goodyear option tires. Here are a few drivers who may just have the right directions for victory lane.
Denny Hamlin
Richmond Raceway’s hometown hero may as well have a key to the city. Denny Hamlin has five wins on the bullring, including a clutch victory in March. Only boasting one Richmond result worse than fourth since 2021, an argument can be made for Hamlin being this track’s current master. The veteran is cautiously optimistic about how the new tire choices may impact his domination here.
“For me, I think it’s a good thing, but we’ve been so good at Richmond that it could be something that takes away that advantage we’ve had there as a company,” Hamlin said. “I am glad to see Goodyear and NASCAR trying something else to maybe mix up the racing a little bit. It’ll be interesting how it plays out with who manages their tires the best and how much of an advantage the option tire may be.”
Hesitant or not, Hamlin has performed very well in recent tire strategy races. He was runner-up on the option tire’s debut at North Wilkesboro, only a few weeks after winning Bristol. Should a long green flag run to the checkers come on Sunday, the 11 may just earn a season sweep at home.
Kyle Larson
Just about in lockstep with Hamlin all season long has been Kyle Larson. The Hendrick No. 5 Chevrolet was Richmond’s March polesitter, but fell short of defending his spring 2023 win. Larson has been very hot or cold at Richmond in the Next Gen era, with three top-10s in five races. NASCAR’s most recent winner three weeks ago at Indianapolis, Larson spent his break relishing in some rare off time. The points leader is all in on now chasing another win.
“We got to enjoy some time off after the Brickyard win,” Larson said. “But it was good to get back into (sprint car) racing last weekend and we’re looking forward to Knoxville and Richmond this weekend. We had a good run at Richmond earlier this year and want to continue that this weekend. We’ve got four races left in the regular season and we want to make the most of them prior to the Playoff stretch.”
Richmond is a race that should be circled on the Hendrick 5 team’s calendar. This flat, short oval has similar characteristics to Phoenix Raceway, where Larson hopes to be racing for a championship in three months. A potential season finale precursor is on deck for Sunday, with team 5 having some of the best winning odds.
Brad Keselowski
If not for a late pit stop error, 2023’s Richmond summer race may have been won by Brad Keselowski. The RFK Racing co-owner still went to victory lane that day however with teammate Chris Buescher. A year removed from this strong day and now a Playoff lock, Keselowski eyes another checkered flag.
The 2012 Cup champion has a pair of Richmond Raceway triumphs, most recently in 2020. BK does enter Sunday with three-straight top-10s here too, wanting to pad his bonus points cushion. Keselowski is also far from a stranger to success in tire conservation or strategy-driven races. It is not out of the question to see RFK earn back-to-back Commonwealth wins with both drivers.
Martin Truex Jr
If not Denny Hamlin, then Martin Truex Jr has a fair shot at being named king of Richmond. Dating back to 2019, driver 19 has three wins here and hundreds of laps led. No day appeared more dominant than March though, the 19 spent 228 circuits out front. If not for a late yellow, Truex likely takes that win by a country mile. In what may be his final trip ever to Richmond, Truex is very optimistic at leaving with another trophy.
“I love the track, it’s great,” Truex said. “Been very successful there, especially lately with our Bass Pro Shops Camry. Been lucky enough to win some races there. I really enjoy the track because it’s kind of unique. It’s a short track, but it races like a bigger track than it is. You can really move around there the way the tires wear out and the track is really slippery, and that makes it fun and a challenge, and it’s always a good race for the fans.”
“The wins stick out as usual. Everywhere, the wins are huge. That place has been really, really good for us. And also very frustrating with the amount of times when we’ve dominated and came up short, including this season. It’s a very unique track, very old school track. Tire wear, you have to manage your stuff and that really plays into my strengths. It’s going to be different this time around with the tire combination from what we had in the spring. Going to have to figure out how to recapture it and hopefully come up with something that worked like it has in the past.”
MTJ still has yet to find victory lane in his swan song season, but his consistency hasn’t lost a step. Truex enters Richmond seventh in points, more than 100 points clear of the Playoff cut line. If Richmond is to be any driver’s breakout first win of 2024, don’t overlook Truex’s chance at the spotlight.
Joey Logano
One driver has won on the new Goodyear option tires and he was runner-up at Richmond–Joey Logano. The Penske driver has said in recent weeks flat short ovals are his team’s current specialty, making Richmond a must-perform day for this crew.
Logano may be a Playoff lock, but his lone win only has the 22 with six bonus points. He is likely out of reach for top-10 in the regular season championship. Logano should likewise see Richmond as a prime opportunity to build up Playoff points. If the 22 fails to perform at Richmond, they will see a steeper Playoff hill ahead starting in such a deep points hole.
Christopher Bell
One of 2024’s breakout stars over the summer months has been Christopher Bell. Despite Toyota’s recent Richmond stranglehold though, Bell is still 0-8 here. His best result was second however, and he boasts four top-fives in those eight Richmond starts. Bell is already eager to get on track, and start gathering data that could put the No. 20 back on top.
“Richmond is going to be a little bit different this time around with the option tire being introduced to points racing,” Bell said. “Nobody is quite sure how it’s going to go. But I’m sure we will learn a lot in our practice session on Saturday.”
Speed should not be a question in the No. 20 camp on Sunday, but execution and luck are two bigger unknowns. With crew chief Adam Stevens sidelined by injury, it will be fun to watch this team adapt under interim leadership. Bell will likely have to race a few of his Toyota brethren for Sunday’s win.
Richmond’s typical strategy-heavy winning calls will only be exemplified with limited option tires. Who has the right playbook and decides to use the preferred rubber when remains to be seen. An all-important win and possible Playoff berth each hang in the balance. The Cook Out 400 goes green Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on USA, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Only four regular season races are left; crunch time is now for many hoping to gain an upper hand in the Playoffs.
Written by Peter Stratta
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