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A NASCAR BLOG BY Jeff Owens
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Fantasy Week 10: Crown Royal 400
May
1
Here is perhaps the most significant stat so far this season: Joe Gibbs Racing 3, Hendrick Motorsports 1.
Or, Kyle Busch 2, Jimmie Johnson 1.
Or, Kyle Busch 2, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. 0.
In a season in which Hendrick Motorsports was expected to dominate, Joe Gibbs Racing suddenly has the edge, with Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin leading the Toyota-backed team.
The next act of the Gibbs-Hendrick showdown should come this weekend at Richmond.
Group A
Hendrick’s Jimmie Johnson won both races at Richmond last year and could be a force again given his victory on the flat track at Phoenix April 12.
Look for Busch to pose a strong challenge, though. He has finished second in two of the past three races at Richmond and has momentum after his win last week at Talladega. Teammate Tony Stewart also has three wins at the .75-mile short track.
Also keep an eye on Richard Childress Racing teammates Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer. Harvick is usually a contender at Richmond and won there in 2006.
Group B
It has now been exactly two years since Dale Earnhardt Jr. won a race, his last victory coming in 2006 at Richmond. He has won three times at Richmond and should be a contender for his first win with Hendrick.
His good friend, Denny Hamlin, could stand in the way, though. Hamlin is as good as any driver on the flat tracks, winning earlier this year at Martinsville, and carries extra incentive at his home state track.
Points leader Jeff Burton, Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman are also former Richmond winners and worth considering.
Group C
No one in this group finished in the top 10 last year or produced anything noteworthy.
The best bet is probably Juan Pablo Montoya, whose runnerup finish at Talladega should give his team a big boost. Others to consider are Jamie McMurray, Bobby Labonte and David Gilliland.
Group D
David Ragan turned some heads last week with his fourth-place finish at Richmond, and he could do it again at Richmond, where he finished third last September.
Brian Vickers also continues to impress, finishing fifth at Talladega, while Paul Menard is also coming off a strong run.
Group E
David Reutimann’s best race of the season last year came at Richmond, where he finished 13th.
Also keep an eye on Johnny Sauter, who was a surprising fifth for Haas CNC Racing at Richmond last year and returns to that car this weekend.
Or, Kyle Busch 2, Jimmie Johnson 1.
Or, Kyle Busch 2, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. 0.
In a season in which Hendrick Motorsports was expected to dominate, Joe Gibbs Racing suddenly has the edge, with Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin leading the Toyota-backed team.
The next act of the Gibbs-Hendrick showdown should come this weekend at Richmond.
Group A
Hendrick’s Jimmie Johnson won both races at Richmond last year and could be a force again given his victory on the flat track at Phoenix April 12.
Look for Busch to pose a strong challenge, though. He has finished second in two of the past three races at Richmond and has momentum after his win last week at Talladega. Teammate Tony Stewart also has three wins at the .75-mile short track.
Also keep an eye on Richard Childress Racing teammates Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer. Harvick is usually a contender at Richmond and won there in 2006.
Group B
It has now been exactly two years since Dale Earnhardt Jr. won a race, his last victory coming in 2006 at Richmond. He has won three times at Richmond and should be a contender for his first win with Hendrick.
His good friend, Denny Hamlin, could stand in the way, though. Hamlin is as good as any driver on the flat tracks, winning earlier this year at Martinsville, and carries extra incentive at his home state track.
Points leader Jeff Burton, Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman are also former Richmond winners and worth considering.
Group C
No one in this group finished in the top 10 last year or produced anything noteworthy.
The best bet is probably Juan Pablo Montoya, whose runnerup finish at Talladega should give his team a big boost. Others to consider are Jamie McMurray, Bobby Labonte and David Gilliland.
Group D
David Ragan turned some heads last week with his fourth-place finish at Richmond, and he could do it again at Richmond, where he finished third last September.
Brian Vickers also continues to impress, finishing fifth at Talladega, while Paul Menard is also coming off a strong run.
Group E
David Reutimann’s best race of the season last year came at Richmond, where he finished 13th.
Also keep an eye on Johnny Sauter, who was a surprising fifth for Haas CNC Racing at Richmond last year and returns to that car this weekend.
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