CONCORD, N.C. – Many racetracks have a variety of lines for drivers to choose from in order to complete the fastest laps and make solid passes. This weekend at Richmond International Raceway, however, most drivers will be battling for the preferred bottom line.
Tune in Saturday night to FOX at 7 p.m. ET to see who can keep their left-front tire running the most inner line at the track. It might just be the deciding factor in who reaches Victory Lane this weekend under the Virginia lights.
But before the green flag waves tomorrow night, here is what you should know:
THIS WEEK’S PAINT SCHEMES: This weekend, Kasey Kahne will return to the No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet SS for the first race at Richmond International Raceway this season. Jeff Gordon will pilot the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS, while Chase Elliott makes his second Sprint Cup Series start driving the No. 25 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet SS. Remaining Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will compete in the No. 48 Lowe’s ProServices Chevrolet SS and No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS, respectively.
QUALIFYING: Qualifying for Richmond International Raceway will take place tonight, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Two practice sessions will also be held today at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AT RICHMOND: Richmond International Raceway is one of 10 tracks where Hendrick Motorsports has earned double-digit wins. The organization has recorded 10 wins, 17 pole positions, 53 top-five finishes and 94 top-10s at the Virginia track. Tim Richmond earned Hendrick Motorsports' first win at Richmond in 1986, and Johnson most recently visited Victory Lane for the organization there in September 2008.
KAHNE AT RICHMOND: According to NASCAR loop data during the last 20 Sprint Cup Series races at Richmond, Kahne ranks sixth in fastest laps run (358), seventh in green-flag passes (983), ninth in fastest drivers early in a run (118.690 mph), ninth in green-flag speed (116.060 mph), ninth in speed in traffic (115.586 mph) and 10th in fastest drivers late in a run (114.405 mph).
GORDON AT RICHMOND: Driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet SS leads active drivers in pole positions, top-five finishes, top-10 finishes and laps led at Richmond International Raceway. In the last 11 events at the three-quarter mile track, Gordon has finished in the top-three six times (55 percent).
TRIPLE-HEADER AGENDA: Elliott will kick things off Thursday, April 23, during the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at South Boston Speedway before arriving in Richmond, Virginia. Friday, April 24, will mark Elliott’s eighth XFINITY Series race of the 2015 season, as he looks to make up ground in the championship points standings. He is currently sitting third, just 12 points behind first place. To cap off an eventful week of racing, Elliott will look to compete in Saturday night’s Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond. NAPA AUTO PARTS will serve as primary sponsor on each of Elliott’s three Chevrolet race cars this week.
ELLIOTT AT RICHMOND: Elliott is all too familiar with Richmond International Raceway. The 19-year-old Dawsonville, Georgia, native has completed 703 of 703 total laps run at the 0.75-mile oval in a total of four starts. Elliott competed in two K&N Pro Series East Starts between 2011 and 2012, finishing second in the 2012 race. In two starts last season at JR Motorsports in the XFINITY Series, Elliott had an average starting position of 3.5 with an average finishing position of second.
JOHNSON AT RICHMOND: Johnson has 26 starts at the 0.75-mile track in Richmond, and his most recent of three wins at Richmond came in September of 2008. Johnson has an average start of 12.1 and an average finish of 17.5 at the track. Johnson finished eighth last fall. For this weekend’s event, crew chief Chad Knaus has selected chassis No. 48-804, with which Johnson raced at the track most recently.
EARNHARDT AT RICHMOND: Among active competitors, Earnhardt is one of four drivers ranked tied for second with three Cup victories at Richmond. Earnhardt most recently went to Victory Lane at Richmond on May 6, 2006, after leading 47 laps. This weekend, crew chief Greg Ives will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-932. This is a brand new chassis that has not been raced.