The NASCAR Cup Sequence returns to the brief monitor circuit this weekend. NASCAR runs by way of Richmond for a reasonably technical brief monitor. William Byron received final week’s race at COTA for his second win of the 12 months. Nevertheless, the primary street course race was lacking lots of pleasure. The sphere was unfold out. There weren’t many cautions. Byron received with arguably the fourth-best automotive. His crew helped him keep monitor place with nice technique and pit stops. Monitor place might be large this week for Richmond. We now have a 0.75-mile brief monitor with above-average tire put on. With 400 laps for this race, we’re again to focusing on drivers who can run up entrance and take house the checkered flag. Right here is that this week’s Toyota House owners 400 preview for Sunday’s motion from Richmond Raceway.
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He received simply a few weeks in the past on a brief monitor. So why not return to the effectively? It’s the Toyota House owners 400 preview, so we’ve to kick it off with a Toyota. Richmond is one among Hamlin’s finest tracks. In his profession, Hamlin has four wins at Richmond along with three runner-up finishes in his final six races right here. In eight races at Richmond, he’s managed to guide over 100 laps. And we all know these laps led and monitor place might be important this week. I’m not overthinking it. This can be a massive race yearly for Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin is initially from Virginia. And Joe Gibbs has deep ties to this a part of the nation. I anticipate the 11-car to be aggressive Sunday evening.
We roll proper together with one other JGR driver in Christopher Bell. I used to be tempted to go together with Martin Truex Jr., however I simply really feel like Bell is extra constant and has extra win fairness at the moment. In seven profession races at Richmond, Bell doesn’t have a win however he’s completed sixth or higher in 5 of them. Furthermore, he’s proven the power to maneuver up on this monitor. And that isn’t straightforward. Tire put on comes into play and it isn’t the best monitor to move at. Actually, the laps tick off rapidly. Drivers will get lapped. Bell has began outdoors the highest 20 in three straight Richmond races. He’s gained at the least 9 spots of place differential in every of these races, together with a pair of top-five finishes. That’s wildly spectacular however it’s a testomony to JGR’s focus for Richmond and his capability as a driver.
It at all times appears like a cheat code when Larson seems within the preview article. However it’s a great match this week for the driving force of the 5-car. Has he received right here earlier than? Sure, on two events really. Larson can win on any form of monitor. Actually, he received this very race a 12 months in the past main 93 laps. The summer season race didn’t go as effectively, however I’m assuming they’ll match the setup from this race final spring. Moreover, we’ve to be aware of the tire put on. Richmond does have an older floor. Whereas this can be a brief monitor, we do see tire technique come into play. Larson is among the finest within the area at managing tires. Anytime we get a monitor that options tire put on, Larson might be in play.
The day he logs his first win is the day he can transfer as much as the highest performs part. Gibbs continues to flirt with a win. He has three top-five finishes in his final 4 races coming into Richmond and even in that span the place he completed ninth at Bristol, he did lead 137 laps. Gibbs, like Hamlin and Bell, drives for JGR. This group sometimes nails the setup for brief, flat tracks. Gibbs received right here within the Xfinity Sequence again in 2022 main 114 laps from the pole. It ought to come as no shock the 4 favorites to win this race on DraftKings Sportsbook are all 4 JGR drivers. Even Gibbs, who rounds out the group, is +850 to win. There isn’t a ton of worth there, however the books know a win is coming for this child.
Consider it or not, each RCR drivers made the Toyota House owners 400 preview this week. It baffles me as effectively. Most of Busch’s success at Richmond got here throughout his time with Joe Gibbs Racing. He has six wins in his profession on the motion monitor, however he has a number of top-five finishes and loads of top-10s. What I do like about him with RCR is that he began on the entrance row for each Richmond races final 12 months within the 8-car. Even in the summertime race, he did end third. He acquired right into a scuffle final week with former teammate, Christopher Bell. Don’t let Busch get offended with momentum at a monitor he’s carried out effectively at up to now.
Logano really has a stable resume at Richmond. This isn’t a monitor we usually affiliate with Workforce Penske. Nevertheless, Logano has completed fourth, seventh, and sixth in his final three races right here. It’s extra spectacular when you think about he hasn’t began within the high 15 in any of these races. He does have a pair of wins right here, however there’s largely some top-five fairness with this play. He had a good run at COTA final week and he would be the first to inform you he isn’t a great street course driver. However at the least he can head to a monitor the place he’s had success. The cooler temps Sunday evening could even profit him on this race.
We’ll must see how he seems to be in apply and qualifying, however there’s some logic right here. Gragson does have a win right here from the Xfinity Sequence again in 2021. Moreover, that is the 10-car for Stewart-Haas Racing. This was once the journey for Aric Almirola. Almirola was probably the greatest drivers on shorter, flat tracks. Over his final three races within the Cup Sequence at Richmond, Almirola began P24 or worse in every however recorded finishes of 8th, 13th, and eightth within the NextGen period. After ending 6th and 12th at Vegas and Phoenix, Gragson has completed outdoors the highest 30 in back-to-back races. If the crew can match the setup they as soon as supplied for Almirola, it may very well be an enormous week for the 10-car.
Nemechek isn’t in a JGR automotive. He’s not even in a 23XI Racing automotive. However it’s nonetheless a Toyota and JHN does have a stable resume on this monitor. Within the Truck Sequence, he has a win right here from 2021 and a runner-up end in 2022. Within the Xfinity Sequence in 2021, he completed third with Sam Hunt Racing and adopted that up with a pair of runner-up finishes in 2022 and 2023 with Joe Gibbs Racing. The Cup Sequence is a complete completely different monster, nonetheless. The competitors is stiffer and it’s clear he isn’t in one of many extra elite rides. He did end sixth two weeks in the past at Bristol. Whereas Bristol and Richmond don’t evaluate, maybe he does really feel extra at house on shorter tracks.
This isn’t a play that I like by any means. He doesn’t have a single top-15 end this 12 months. On high of that, he’s hardly made any strikes from his qualifying efforts. And but, surprisingly sufficient, the Richmond outcomes haven’t been too unhealthy. Final summer season he completed ninth and in his final 10 races at this monitor, he has six finishes within the high 10, with one other 11th place end again in 2021. We could change our tune on Dillon come Sunday, however he’s a driver that we should always control throughout Saturday’s apply and qualifying periods.
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By no means performed Fantasy NASCAR? Head on over to Fantrax and provides one among our public leagues a go. Leagues are nonetheless filling up! There’s no higher time than now to offer it a strive!
Toyota House owners 400 Preview: The High Performs
Denny Hamlin (#11 Toyota)
He received simply a few weeks in the past on a brief monitor. So why not return to the effectively? It’s the Toyota House owners 400 preview, so we’ve to kick it off with a Toyota. Richmond is one among Hamlin’s finest tracks. In his profession, Hamlin has four wins at Richmond along with three runner-up finishes in his final six races right here. In eight races at Richmond, he’s managed to guide over 100 laps. And we all know these laps led and monitor place might be important this week. I’m not overthinking it. This can be a massive race yearly for Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin is initially from Virginia. And Joe Gibbs has deep ties to this a part of the nation. I anticipate the 11-car to be aggressive Sunday evening.
Christopher Bell (#20 Toyota)
We roll proper together with one other JGR driver in Christopher Bell. I used to be tempted to go together with Martin Truex Jr., however I simply really feel like Bell is extra constant and has extra win fairness at the moment. In seven profession races at Richmond, Bell doesn’t have a win however he’s completed sixth or higher in 5 of them. Furthermore, he’s proven the power to maneuver up on this monitor. And that isn’t straightforward. Tire put on comes into play and it isn’t the best monitor to move at. Actually, the laps tick off rapidly. Drivers will get lapped. Bell has began outdoors the highest 20 in three straight Richmond races. He’s gained at the least 9 spots of place differential in every of these races, together with a pair of top-five finishes. That’s wildly spectacular however it’s a testomony to JGR’s focus for Richmond and his capability as a driver.
Kyle Larson (#5 Chevrolet)
It at all times appears like a cheat code when Larson seems within the preview article. However it’s a great match this week for the driving force of the 5-car. Has he received right here earlier than? Sure, on two events really. Larson can win on any form of monitor. Actually, he received this very race a 12 months in the past main 93 laps. The summer season race didn’t go as effectively, however I’m assuming they’ll match the setup from this race final spring. Moreover, we’ve to be aware of the tire put on. Richmond does have an older floor. Whereas this can be a brief monitor, we do see tire technique come into play. Larson is among the finest within the area at managing tires. Anytime we get a monitor that options tire put on, Larson might be in play.
Toyota House owners 400 Preview: Wouldn’t Wager In opposition to Them
Ty Gibbs (#54 Toyota)
The day he logs his first win is the day he can transfer as much as the highest performs part. Gibbs continues to flirt with a win. He has three top-five finishes in his final 4 races coming into Richmond and even in that span the place he completed ninth at Bristol, he did lead 137 laps. Gibbs, like Hamlin and Bell, drives for JGR. This group sometimes nails the setup for brief, flat tracks. Gibbs received right here within the Xfinity Sequence again in 2022 main 114 laps from the pole. It ought to come as no shock the 4 favorites to win this race on DraftKings Sportsbook are all 4 JGR drivers. Even Gibbs, who rounds out the group, is +850 to win. There isn’t a ton of worth there, however the books know a win is coming for this child.
Kyle Busch (#8 Chevrolet)
Consider it or not, each RCR drivers made the Toyota House owners 400 preview this week. It baffles me as effectively. Most of Busch’s success at Richmond got here throughout his time with Joe Gibbs Racing. He has six wins in his profession on the motion monitor, however he has a number of top-five finishes and loads of top-10s. What I do like about him with RCR is that he began on the entrance row for each Richmond races final 12 months within the 8-car. Even in the summertime race, he did end third. He acquired right into a scuffle final week with former teammate, Christopher Bell. Don’t let Busch get offended with momentum at a monitor he’s carried out effectively at up to now.
Joey Logano (#22 Ford)
Logano really has a stable resume at Richmond. This isn’t a monitor we usually affiliate with Workforce Penske. Nevertheless, Logano has completed fourth, seventh, and sixth in his final three races right here. It’s extra spectacular when you think about he hasn’t began within the high 15 in any of these races. He does have a pair of wins right here, however there’s largely some top-five fairness with this play. He had a good run at COTA final week and he would be the first to inform you he isn’t a great street course driver. However at the least he can head to a monitor the place he’s had success. The cooler temps Sunday evening could even profit him on this race.
The Sleepers and Values
Noah Gragson (#10 Ford)
We’ll must see how he seems to be in apply and qualifying, however there’s some logic right here. Gragson does have a win right here from the Xfinity Sequence again in 2021. Moreover, that is the 10-car for Stewart-Haas Racing. This was once the journey for Aric Almirola. Almirola was probably the greatest drivers on shorter, flat tracks. Over his final three races within the Cup Sequence at Richmond, Almirola began P24 or worse in every however recorded finishes of 8th, 13th, and eightth within the NextGen period. After ending 6th and 12th at Vegas and Phoenix, Gragson has completed outdoors the highest 30 in back-to-back races. If the crew can match the setup they as soon as supplied for Almirola, it may very well be an enormous week for the 10-car.
John Hunter Nemechek (#42 Toyota)
Nemechek isn’t in a JGR automotive. He’s not even in a 23XI Racing automotive. However it’s nonetheless a Toyota and JHN does have a stable resume on this monitor. Within the Truck Sequence, he has a win right here from 2021 and a runner-up end in 2022. Within the Xfinity Sequence in 2021, he completed third with Sam Hunt Racing and adopted that up with a pair of runner-up finishes in 2022 and 2023 with Joe Gibbs Racing. The Cup Sequence is a complete completely different monster, nonetheless. The competitors is stiffer and it’s clear he isn’t in one of many extra elite rides. He did end sixth two weeks in the past at Bristol. Whereas Bristol and Richmond don’t evaluate, maybe he does really feel extra at house on shorter tracks.
Austin Dillon (#3 Chevrolet)
This isn’t a play that I like by any means. He doesn’t have a single top-15 end this 12 months. On high of that, he’s hardly made any strikes from his qualifying efforts. And but, surprisingly sufficient, the Richmond outcomes haven’t been too unhealthy. Final summer season he completed ninth and in his final 10 races at this monitor, he has six finishes within the high 10, with one other 11th place end again in 2021. We could change our tune on Dillon come Sunday, however he’s a driver that we should always control throughout Saturday’s apply and qualifying periods.
Fantrax is among the fastest-growing fantasy websites within the fantasy sports activities business, and we’re not stopping any time quickly. We’re probably the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform within the business, providing the best fantasy expertise on your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and finest ball leagues. Fantasy sports activities doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons operating twelve months a 12 months. Take your fantasy leagues to the following stage now at Fantrax.com!