No one is more aware of the Road to Richmond’s stop in Bristol this weekend than Kasey Kahne. But after two consecutive finishes off the lead lap in Bristol, he needs the half-miler to cooperate on Saturday night. With four straight Top 10 finishes from 2012-2014, this is probably his best bet to snag his first win of the season and lock in a fourth straight Chase appearance. Fan girls (and maybe a few guys) are praying to see a flash of “Kase-Lightning” in Thunder Valley this weekend.

Recent history hasn’t been kind to Kasey at RIR. His only win at the track came back in 2005, which was his very first Sprint Cup Series win. But since Kasey joined Team Hendrick, he has found himself finishing in the Top 10 only twice. On the bright side, one of those Top 10s was this past April at the TOYOTA OWNERS 400. A solid warm-up at Bristol might just be what this driver needs to recapture glory in Richmond.

Darlington is a wild card for Kasey. Despite four poles there, his most at any track on the circuit, he’s without a win there in 12 races. If he can throw it back at Darlington all the way to his first CWTS win in 2004, he might stand a chance. Luck needs to be a “Lady in Black” if Kasey hopes to continue his season.

A few other names to keep in mind as the season makes it's way to Bristol this weekend.

8:55 AM

With a Richmond win already on his 2015 resume, Kurt Busch tried to sneak in a a second checkered flag  before the rest of the NASCAR field returns in September. That was, until a couple of kids had something to say about it.

“Man they ambushed me!” said Busch. “It was a fun event, I thought, then it turns into a full-on race and they staged it to where they surrounded me and I couldn’t even get my paddle going.”

No it wasn’t a paddle-powered stock car. Kurt and the kids were out kayaking on the historic James River in advance of RIR’s upcoming race weekend September 10-12.

“It was a perfect ambush,” he chuckled. “They’re like ‘Yeah our plan worked,’ and I’m here thinking 'What plan!'”


Busch and Richmond International Raceway came out to the Passages Rock and River camp on the James, where the defending TOYOTA OWNERS 400 champ made the rounds across Richmond’s famous Belle Isle. In addition to splashing around in a kayak, Busch took to the air with some zip line action across the island's quarry.


“I'd been coming to Richmond for 15 years, and I haven't been able to do something like (kayaking or zip-lining) here,” said Busch. "It's fun to jump in and do some outdoorsy things like that,"

And as much fun as the No. 41 driver had on the river, Kurt is looking forward to coming back to RIR in September for the Last Race to Make the Chase, the 2015 Federated Auto Parts 400.

“There’s some of those races that slip through your fingers and you want them back. Richmond’s done that to me over the years,” said Busch. “I always get excited about coming here, going for that win. It’s a perfect type of cut-off scenario, whether you’re in or you’re out Richmond’s the short track where you gotta let it all hang out.”

5:56 PM
Here's a look at how things stand with just three races left until the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup.


Matt Kenseth’s Michigan victory bumped him up with one more win over Kevin Harvick. Jeff Gordon fell behind Ryan Newman after his lackluster 17th place finish. Clint Bowyer’s day ended with a disappointing wreck on lap 125, but he remains on The Chase bubble, for now.
1:06 PM

Brad Keselowski has racked up 17 wins at 12 different tracks in his NASCAR Sprint Cup career, but a victory at his hometown track has always alluded the Rochester Hills native.

But after stringing together three consecutive Top 10's, including a sixth place showing in the Irish Hills back in June, things might be coming together for Keselowski as he prepares for the Pure Michigan 400 this weekend.

With his lone win on the season coming back in March at Fontana, an inaugural trip to his hometown Victory Lane could give the Penske driver some needed momentum heading into the 2015 Chase.
1:05 PM

Fun fact! Jeff’s made The Chase ten out of eleven times since it began in 2004 (only missing 2005). History alone says he has a solid chance to secure his tenth consecutive Chase appearance, especially since nearly 20% of his career Sprint Cup wins have come from these next four tracks.

Where do you think Jeff has the best chance to secure a win on the Road to Richmond?

2:07 PM
Welcome to the Road To Richmond
The Road to Richmond is winding down, as are the chances for drivers to race their way into The Chase.
Hot off the presses, our brand new blog is your first stop for all things fun AND informative. We’re not a news outlet – and we won’t pretend to be – but we can promise to highlight interesting storylines and exciting content happening NOW in our sport.

Together, we’ll journey the Road to Richmond; each week we’ll take a hard look at the drivers who need a win to lock in their spot in the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Can they make it happen before the checkered flag drops at the Federated Auto Parts 400? They better hope so.


Drivers like Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, and last year’s surprise contender, Ryan Newman, could be relying on a Richmond win to further their 2015 season. Tony Stewart’s last Richmond win came in 2002, but Clint Bowyer might just have what it takes to conquer America’s Premier Short Track. Kasey Kahne’s best bet is probably at Bristol – he holds the qualifying record at Darlington, but has never snagged a win there. And will history help or hurt Jeff Gordon?

Follow along with us as the Road to Richmond unfolds!
5:06 PM
Jeff’s empty win column looms large with only four races to go before The Chase field is set.
It’s no secret – Jeff’s final full season hasn’t gone quite according to plan. With no wins at any of his top tracks so far this year, his fans are starting to bite their nails. Fear not, Gordon Nation, for the future NASCAR Hall of Famer has a history of success at three of the remaining four races on the regular season schedule. First up – Michigan International Speedway. Jeff is the defending Pure Michigan 400 champ, plus his three wins and record Top 10 finishes (27) at MIS make him the clear favorite in the Irish Hills.

Jeff’s got a lot of work to do between now and Richmond. He's not without success at America's Premier Short Track - two career wins and a pair of second place finishes in 2014 - however his last win at the track came 15 years ago this September. In other words, his last Richmond trophy is nearly old enough to get its Learner’s Permit. We all know the "The Kid" responds well to pressure, but there's no doubt that’s a headache he'd like to avoid. Suffice to say, he’s going to be in a tough spot if he waits until the last minute to get on the Grid.

Sandwiched between this weekend's contest in Brooklyn and The Last Race to Make the Chase are Bristol and Darlington. With 12 wins between the two tracks, Jeff seems poised to make a big move over the next three weeks. You can bet all eyes are on Jeff Gordon this weekend as the Road to Richmond races into Pure Michigan.

Here's a look at a few others who need a win to secure their spot in The Chase.

5:22 PM
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