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Cup Series Notebook... watch for updates all week long
Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, vA (0.75-mile oval)

  • Final Practice: Friday, September 8 (SPEED at 3:30 p.m. AT, 2:30 p.m. ET)
  • Bud Pole Qualifying: Friday, September 8 (TNT at 7:00 p.m. AT, 6:00 p.m. ET) - NOT televised in Canada
  • Race: Saturday, September 9 (TNT/TSN at 8:00 p.m. AT, 7:00 p.m. ET)
Fast Facts
The Race: Chevy Rock ‘n Roll 400
The Place: Richmond International Raceway
The Date: Sept. 91
The Time: 7:40 p.m. (ET) TV: TNT/TSN 7 p.m. (ET)
Track Layout: .75-mile oval
Purse: $4,955,081
2005 Winner: Kurt Busch
2005 Pole: Kevin Harvick
Top 11 in Point Standings: 1. Matt Kenseth 3638; 2. Jimmie Johnson 3629; 3. Kevin Harvick 3296; 4. Jeff Gordon 3251; 5. Kyle Busch 3244; 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3226; 7. Denny Hamlin 3225; 8. Tony Stewart 3194; 9. Mark Martin 3181; 10. Jeff Burton 3179; 11. Kasey Kahne 3149.
Pre-Race On-Track Schedule: Friday—Practice, 11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Qualifying, 6:10 p.m.

Event Stats - underlined when link is activated
  • Practice Results - click here
  • Qualifying Order - click here
  • Qualifying Results - click here
  • Starting Lineup - click here
  • Race Results (unofficial) here
  • Point Standings (post-race, unofficial) here

    Harvick Wins at Richmond; Stewart Loses Bid to Make the Chase

    click for more pictures RICHMOND, VA. (September 9, 2006) -- Kevin Harvick won the race and Tony Stewart lost the battle in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night before a packed house of close to 120,000 screaming spectators.

    Stewart, who had to race a backup car after wrecking during practice, battled all night to get in a position to make the 10-car Chase field but finished, 16 points behind Kasey Kahne.

    Harvick passed Busch on the last lap to nip runner-up Kyle Busch, who finished ahead of third-place Kahne, who needed an outstanding run to make the Chase field. Click here for the rest of the story.

    Event Photo Gallery - click here

    Post-Race Notes
    • Kevin Harvick won the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway, scoring his eighth NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory in his 204th career start.
    • This is his third victory in 2006. Harvick also won at Phoenix and Watkins Glen.
    • Harvick scored a weekend sweep for the second time 2006. He also swept both races at Phoenix in April. Matt Kenseth swept Bristol in August and Kasey Kahne swept California, one race ago.
    • This is first time in NASCAR history that a weekend sweep has occurred on three consecutive weekends since the NASCAR Busch Series ran it’s first race in 1982. Harry Gant was the first driver to post back-to-back weekend sweeps winning at Richmond and Dover in September of 1991.
    • Harvick moved into 56th on NASCAR’s all-time winners list tied with Kyle Petty.
    • Harvick has scored 10 straight top-15 finishes in the last 15 races.
    • Harvick became the 10th different race winner in the last 11 races at Richmond International Raceway. Only Dale Earnhardt Jr. posted two wins in the 11-race period since this race in 2001.
    • Harvick scored his first victory in 12 races at Richmond and second victory in 34 races on a short track.
    • Harvick won the race from the fifth-place starting position.
    • Harvick scored his fourth straight top-10 finish in 12 races at Richmond International Raceway.
    • Harvick remained third in the point standings, and will start the Chase 10 points behind first-place Matt Kenseth.
    • Kyle Busch led the most laps for the second time in 2006. Busch led the most at Loudin.
    • Race winner Harvick led six times for 54 laps including the final two laps in the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
    • This is team owner Richard Chidress’ 80th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory. Childress has scored six victories at Richmond. His last victory at Richmond was scored by Dale Earnhardt in the 1991 Pontiac Excitement 400. Earnhardt also was the last driver to win the September race at Richmond and go on to win the Championship, doing so in 1990.
    • Kevin Harvick extended a 38-race streak of running at the finish that began at California last September, the longest current streak. Harvick has posted 10 straight top-15 finishes.
    • Kyle Busch (second) scored his 15th top-10 finish in 2006. It was his fourth top-five finish in four races at Richmond International Raceway. Busch climbed from fifth to fourth in the point standings.
    • Kasey Kahne (third) scored his 14th top-10 finish in 2006. It marked his third top-10 finish in six races at Richmond.
    • Dave Blaney (fourth) scored his first top-10 finish first since he finished sixth at Homestead last November. It is his first top-five finish since he finished third at Darlington in March 2003. It is his second top-10 finish in 13 races at Richmond International Raceway.
    • Mark Martin (fifth) scored his 12th top-10 finish in 2006. It was his 23rd top-10 finish in 42 races at Richmond International Raceway. It is his 10th straight top-15 finish at Richmond.
    • At least one of the Raybestos Rookie-of-the Year contenders has scored a top-15 finish in all 26 races this season.
    • Matt Kenseth (eighth) scored his 16th top-10 finish in 2006.
    • Clint Bowyer (12th) was the highest finishing rookie for the sixth time in 2006.
    • Four rookies finished in the top-15 for the fourth time in 2006.
    • Jimmie Johnson has been ranked among the top 10 for 95 consecutive races. Johnson has been running at the finish in all 26 races in 2006.
    Qualifying Notes
    • Denny Hamlin won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Bud Pole for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, lapping Richmond International Raceway in 21.096 seconds at 127.986 mph. Brian Vickers holds the track-qualifying record of 20.772 seconds, 129.983 mph - set May 14, 2004.
    • This is Hamlin’s fourth career Bud Pole in 33 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races.
    • This is his third Bud Pole and 17th top-10 start in 2006.
    • Kurt Busch (five), Kasey Kahne (four), Jeff Burton (four), Greg Biffle (two) and Ryan Newman (two) are the other multiple Bud Pole winners this season.
    • This is Hamlin’s first Bud Pole and second top-10 start in two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway. He started seventh and finished second here in May.
    • Hamlin became the 13th consecutive different Bud Pole winner at Richmond International Raceway.
    • Jeff Burton posted the second-quickest qualifying lap of 21.126 seconds, 127.805 mph – and will join Hamlin on the front row for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Burton has started from the top-10 in nine of his 25 races at Richmond. This is his 12th top-10 start this season, including six from the front row in the last nine races
    • This is the ninth Bud Pole for Chevrolet in 2006. Dodge has 12 Bud Poles and Ford has four. Qualifying was canceled at Bristol.
    • Jeff Gordon (third) has started from the top-10 in 21 of his 27 races at Richmond..
    • Mark Martin (fourth) has posted 23 top-10 starts in 42 races at Richmond, including top-fives in seven of the past 12.
    • Kevin Harvick (fifth) has started from the four of his 12 races at Richmond – all in the past four races here.
    • Six of the 11 drivers still eligible for the Chase qualified in the top 10: Hamlin, Burton, Gordon, Martin, Harvick and Matt Kenseth (10th).
    • Scott Wimmer (sixth) was the fastest of the drivers that were required to qualify on time. It is Wimmer’s first start better than 17th this season.
    • Morgan Shepherd (43rd) qualified for his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race since New Hampshire last July. Shepherd had failed to qualify 21 times in the interim
    • Five drivers failed to qualify for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400: Derrike Cope, Mike Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Hermie Sadler and Ted Christopher.
    Who's Hot Heading to Richmond
    • Jimmie Johnson has scored a top-15 finish in 22 of the 25 races in 2006, the most of all drivers.
    • Jimmie Johnson has finished on the lead lap in the last 20 races, since Martinsville in April.
    • Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to score 18 top-10 finishes in the first 25 races of 2006, three more than any other driver.
    • Kasey Kahne has won five races in 2006, the most of all drivers.
    • Matt Kenseth has posted 13 top-five finishes in 2006 and ranks first in the point standings. After 25 races one year ago, he ranked ninth.
    • Denny Hamlin has scored top-15 finishes in 15 of the last 16 races. He has scored seven straight top-10 finishes.
    • Kevin Harvick has posted nine straight top-15 finishes. Harvick has been running at the finish in the last 37 races, the longest current streak.
    • Jeff Gordon has climbed from ninth to fourth in the point standings in the last three races. Gordon has scored top-five finishes in the last three races.
    • Dale Earnhardt Jr. has climbed from 10th to sixth in the point standings in the last three races. Earnhardt Jr. has scored top-10 finishes in the last three races.
    • Casey Mears has climbed from 19th to 15th in the point standings in the last three races.
    Richmond Nuggets

      Richmond Milestones
    • Kyle Petty is expected to make his 775th career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Richmond International Raceway.
    • Dave Blaney and Robby Gordon are each expected to make their 225th career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Richmond.
      Richmond Bud Pole Winners Galore
    • There have been 13 different Bud Pole winners in the last 13 races at Richmond.
      Many Race Winners Too
    • There have been nine different race winners in the last 10 races at Richmond International Raceway. Dale Earnhardt Jr., is the only repeat winner during the 10-race period. Earnhardt Jr. posted his only victory in 2006 at Richmond in May. Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart lead all active drivers, each with three victories at Richmond.
      Starting Up Front is Important at Richmond
    • Ten of the last 11 races at Richmond have been won from a top-10 starting position, including two from the front row and six from the top five.
      Richmond Streaks
    • Greg Biffle has started in the top 10 in the last six straight races at Richmond.
    • Ryan Newman has posted nine top-15 starts in all nine of his races at Richmond.
    • Greg Biffle has posted four straight top-10 finishes at Richmond, the longest current streak.
    • Kyle Busch has scored three straight top-five finishes in three races at Richmond. His average finish of 4.3 is the best of all active drivers.
    • Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart have each scored three straight top-10 finishes at Richmond.
      Recent Dominance at Richmond
    • Kyle Busch has finished in the top five in all three of his races at Richmond International Raceway.
      Owner Wins at Richmond International Raceway
    • Petty Enterprises scored 15 wins at Richmond International Raceway, the most of any car owner. Rick Hendrick has seven victories at Richmond.
      Leading The Way at Richmond International Raceway
    • Richard Petty led 5,128 laps in 63 races at Richmond, the most of all drivers. Petty led just one lap in eight races on the current 3/4-mile configuration.
    • Rusty Wallace led 2,933 laps on the 3/4-mile track - more than three times the total of any other driver.
    • Jeff Burton leads all active drivers, leading 874 laps at Richmond. Burton is second to Rusty Wallace in laps led on the 3/4-mile configuration.
      Richmond Standouts
    • Four drivers have started all 36 races on the 3/4-mile configuration at Richmond International Raceway: Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin and Ken Schrader.
    • Jeff Gordon scored four Bud Poles in his 27 races at Richmond International Raceway, the most of all drivers on the 3/4-mile configuration.
    • Rusty Wallace scored six victories at Richmond International Raceway on the 3/4-mile configuration. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart have each scored three victories on the current configuration, the most among active drivers. Terry Labonte also has three victories on the 3/4-mile track.
    • Mark Martin leads all active drivers with 12 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes at Richmond International Raceway.
    • Ryan Newman leads all drivers with a 5.4 starting average in nine races on the 3/4-mile configuration at Richmond.
    • Kyle Busch leads all drivers with a 4.3 finishing average in three races on the 3/4-mile configuration at Richmond.
      Season Nuggets
    • Any driver that is 191 or more points behind 10th-place will not be in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.
    • Any driver leading the 11th-place driver by 191 or more points following California is guaranteed a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Only Kenseth and Johnson have clinched.
    • Any driver leading the 11th-place driver by 157 points following California must only start the race at Richmond to be guaranteed a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Third to 11th in the point standings is separated by 147 points which means nine drivers have a chance to race for a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup at Richmond. No driver can clinch by just starting at Richmond.
    • Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson are the only drivers to clinch a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.
    • Third-place Kevin Harvick will clinch a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by starting the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway and finishing 39th or better, regardless of where 11th-place Kasey Kahne finishes at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.)
    • Fourth-place Jeff Gordon will clinch a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by starting the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway and finishing 24th or better, regardless of where 11th-place Kasey Kahne finishes at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.)
    • Fifth-place Kyle Busch will clinch a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by starting the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway and finishing 22nd or better, regardless of where 11th-place Kasey Kahne finishes at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.)
    • Sixth-place Dale Earnhardt Jr. will clinch a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by starting the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway and finishing 16th or better, regardless of where 11th-place Kasey Kahne finishes at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.)
    • Seventh-place Denny Hamlin will clinch a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by starting the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway and finishing 16th or better, regardless of where 11th-place Kasey Kahne finishes at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.)
    • Eighth-place Tony Stewart will clinch a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by starting the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway and finishing seventh or better, regardless of where 11th-place Kasey Kahne finishes at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.)
    • Ninth-place Mark Martin will clinch a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by starting the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway and finishing fourth or better, regardless of where 11th-place Kasey Kahne finishes at Richmond. (Lap leader points are not included.)
    • Tenth-place Jeff Burton will clinch a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup if he finishes third or better, regardless of where 11th-place Kasey Kahne finishes at Richmond.
    • Eleventh-place Kasey Kahne trails 10th place Jeff Burton in the point standings by 30 points.
    • Only one driver that ranked in the top-10 after Race No. 25 in 2005 failed to make the Chase. Jamie McMurray was 10th but dropped to 13th in the final race to the Chase at Richmond. He was overtaken by Ryan Newman who ranked 11th at this point one year ago and finished the Chase sixth in final points.
    • After 25 races in 2006, five drivers are within the 400-point window. One year ago there were four drivers within the 400-point window.
    • In 2005 nine of the top-10 drivers were separated by 35 or more points. However, 10th-place Jamie McMurray was just 10 points behind ninth-place Kenseth and just one point ahead of 11th-place Ryan Newman and 30 ahead of 12th-place Jeff Gordon.
    • After 25 races in 2006 and one race remaining in the race to the Chase, nine of the top-11 drivers are separated by 31 points or less.
    • Third-place Kevin Harvick is 147 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne.
    • Second-place Jimmie Johnson has scored 18 top-10 finishes in 25 races in 2006. That is three more top-10 finishes than any other driver.
    • All 25 victories in 2006 have been scored by drivers ranked in the top-14 in the point standings. Mark Martin (ninth) and Jeff Burton (10th) are the only two drivers among the top 10 yet to score a victory in 2006.
    • Jeff Gordon leads all drivers scoring 105 lap leader bonus points, 10 more than point leader Matt Kenseth who has 95. Gordon is the only driver to lead in 18 of the 25 races this season.
    • Denny Hamlin has posted four straight top-10 starts, the longest current streak. Hamlin has posted nine straight top-15 starts, also the longest current streak. Kevin Harvick has posted eight straight top-15 starts.
    • After winning only three races in all of 2005, Dodge has won six of the 25 races in 2006. Chevrolet has 14 victories while Ford has just five. One year ago Ford had 10 victories at this point of the season.
    • Three of the top-10 in driver points have been running at the finish in every race in 2006: Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Mark Martin.
    • Jeff Gordon has posted four DNFs - the most of any driver ranked in among the top 20.
    • NASCAR Rookie-of-the-Year contender Denny Hamlin has scored top-10 finishes in 13 of the 25 races in 2006 (52 percent). He has scored 16 top-10s in 32 career races - 50 percent. Hamlin has scored top-10 finishes in each of the last seven races and 15 top-15 finishes in the last 16. He has been the highest finishing rookie in 13 of the 25 races in 2006 (52 percent).
    • At least one rookie has scored a top-15 finish in every race this season. In 20 of the 25 races a rookie finished in the top 10 (80 percent). In eight of the 25 races, two or more rookies finished in the top 10.
    • Eight of the top 10 and 18 of the top-25 drivers changed point positions at California Speedway.


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