For Junior, Logano, it’s ‘do-or-die’ time
POINTS LEADERS
RICHMOND, VA. » Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he hasn’t imagined a fairy tale finish to his last NASCAR regular season.
Retiring at the end of the season, the sport’s most popular driver is one of several racers whose only hope for getting into the 10-race playoffs that begin next weekend is by winning Saturday night at Richmond Raceway.
But even Earnhardt seems to realize the likelihood of his 27th career victory — and fourth on the 0.75-mile oval — isn’t high. It has been 62 races since his last victory, at Phoenix in November 2015, and he said Friday after practice that he has what feels like “a sixth- to 12th-place car.”
He added: “If we could come out of here with a win, it would be quite the surprise, not only for all you guys, but us included.”
Earnhardt’s laid-back attitude contrasts greatly with those of other drivers in his same shoes.
Joey Logano, for example, won the Cup race here in April, but then became the first driver to have a race “encumbered,” NASCAR parlance for being allowed to keep the victory, but without the playoff points or the automatic berth in the postseason because of an infraction discovered after the race. He has struggled ever since. “We are in a do-or-die situation,” Logano said. “Anytime you can win a race in that situation, there is no better feeling than that. Also returning here after our win in the spring and obviously the drama that followed, it would be very nice to be able to get back in victory lane and prove a point. I don’t see any reason why we can’t.”
Logano, who was second to Jimmie Johnson in the final standings last season, also likes the way his team is approaching the challenge.
“This is a time that shows your true character,” he said. “You can be either down on yourself and be beat before you show up to the race track or show up here ready to go and have the right attitude and confidence that we are going to win. That is where the team feels like they are at. I am proud I am with a team like that.”
Kenseth wins pole
RICHMOND, VA. » Matt Kenseth ran a fast lap at 122.421 mph and won the pole at Richmond Raceway.
The pole for the race Saturday night is the 20th of Kenseth’s career and comes in the last race to make the 16-driver NASCAR playoffs that begin next week in Chicago. Kenseth is in a precarious spot in the standings. He will start the race 15th in playoff points, but without the victory that would guarantee him a playoff spot.
Denny Hamlin will start on the outside of the front row after a top speed of 122.277 mph, with Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson in the second row. Martin Truex Jr., who clinched the regular-season title last weekend at Darlington, and Kevin Harvick are in the third row, followed by Kyle Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Elliott and Erik Jones.
Keselowski runs down Busch for Xfinity victory
RICHMOND, VA. » Brad Keselowski ran down Kyle Busch with 16 laps to go and drove away to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway.
Keselowski’s pass came in heavy lapped traffic and marked the third time he’d used a superior car to catch Busch on a long run. Busch had a better short-run machine and had to be wishing for a late caution to give him one last chance for his 92nd career victory in the series.