Where: Richmond Int'l Raceway Time: Saturday night 7:30pm/EDT TV/Radio: ESPN, Motor Racing Network Twitter: Updates @ FanHouseRacing Forecast: Mid-60s, Partly Cloudy Distance: 400 laps (300 miles) Pole Winner:Mark Martin 2008 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
The Storylines
25 races and 9,706 miles of racing in 2009 boils down to a 400-lap shootout Saturday night that will make the season for the 12 guys who secure a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. And for the guys that don't, well, just consider it to be the wrong end of a make-or-break scenario.
Four drivers have clinched an entry prior to the green flag, while 8 spots and 11 eligible drivers will steal the show Saturday night in Richmond. A scramble it will be.
Bill Elliott was probably the happiest guy in Indianapolis Saturday afternoon when the skies cleared and, most importantly, NASCAR chose to avoid canceling qualifying.
Where:Daytona Int'l Speedway Time: Saturday 8:00pm/EDT TV/Radio: TNT, MRN Radio Twitter: Updates at FanHouseRacing Forecast: 74 degrees, Partly Cloudy Distance: 160 laps (400 miles) Pole Winner:Tony Stewart 2008 Winner:Kyle Busch
The Storylines
Harking back to the DEI days of old, it's not hard to assume why Dale Earnhardt Jr. is finally coming to a track in 2009 where he'll have a legitimate shot to win.
You may have heard or seensome reports this morning connecting Danica Patrick to NASCAR in a very big way, that also heavily impacts the sport's most popular driver. But here's one word of advice: don't read into it quite yet.
Where:Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, Calif. Time: Sunday 5:00pm/EDT TV/Radio: TNT, MRN Radio Twitter: At-track updates at FanHouseRacing Forecast: 78 degrees, Mostly Sunny Distance: 110 laps (218.9 miles) Pole Winner:Brian Vickers 2008 Winner:Kyle Busch
The Storylines
NASCAR's annual trip to wine countryis a highlight of the Sprint Cup season because its one of two trips the series takes to a track that turns right. And as FH's Holly Cain argued earlier in the week, they 'oughta be doing this more.
Where:Lowe's Motor Speedway Time: Sunday 5:45 p.m./EDT TV/Radio: FOX Sports, PRN Radio Twitter: In-race updates at FanHouseRacing Forecast: 64 degrees, 80% chance of rain Distance: 400 laps (600 miles) Pole Winner:Ryan Newman 2008 Winner:Kasey Kahne
Where: Phoenix Int'l Raceway Time: Saturday 8:46 p.m./EDT TV/Radio: FOX Sports, MRN Radio Forecast: Clear, Lows in the 50s Distance: 312 laps (312 miles, 500k) Pole Winner:Mark Martin 2008 Winner:Jimmie Johnson
The Storylines
Mark Martin has gotten awful good at starting Sprint Cup races from the front in 2009 in his new Hendrick Motorsports ride, but its the whole finishing part that hasn't gone as planned.
Where:Texas Motor Speedway Time: Sunday 2 p.m./EDT TV/Radio: FOX Sports, PRN Radio Forecast: Sunny, 62 degrees Distance: 334 laps (501 miles) Pole Winner:David Reutimann 2008 Winner:Carl Edwards
The Storylines
For the sake of racing in general let's hope that Saturday's Nationwide Series race at TMS will have been nothing like Sunday's Samsung 500. Missed that race? Well, here's all you need to know: Kyle Busch, Kyle Busch and, yep, more Kyle freakin' Busch.
Race: Chevy Rock & Roll 400
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