It seems only fitting that a "Rock and Roll" race should be the final one before the Chase for the Cup actually begins. Much like a great concert, the second race of the season at Richmond should be a terrific show. Only two drivers (New points leader Matt Kenseth and second-place Jimmie Johnson) are securely locked in the Chase field, and only one driver (Kasey Kahne) still has a shot to crack the field from outside the top 10.
It's also the final week of the first segment of the Stock Car Challenge. If you're looking to wrap up or make a final move into first place, the key to victory might be the non-Chase drivers who perform well for you.
VICTORY LANE SPECIAL
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Value: 22.0): There's no better place for Junior than Richmond to officially lock up his place in the Chase. Junior earned his third career victory at the site back in May, and he has never had a DNF (Did Not Finish) at Richmond. He has seven career top-five finishes and nine top-10s at what is clearly his favorite short track.
PRIME PICKS
Tony Stewart (24.9): Stewart has won three times at Richmond. He has led 764 laps at the site in his career and has managed two top-10 finishes and a second-place showing in his past three races at the site. He has finished in the top 10 a total of 10 times in 15 career starts.
Denny Hamlin (21.9): Nothing seems to be standing in the way of the impressive rookie as he readies to officially earn his place in Chase. Hamlin led for 19 laps in the first race at Richmond this year en route to a second-place finish.
Kasey Kahne (20.5): His fifth win of the season, last week at Fontana, has propelled him into position to join the Chase field in dramatic fashion. Kahne won the first race at Richmond in 2005, as he led for 242 laps. He also finished eighth in the second race of 2005.
OUT OF THE CHASE, IN YOUR LINEUP
Elliott Sadler (19.0): He finished 13th at Richmond earlier this year, and Sadler has finished in the top 13 in two of three races since hopping into the No. 19 Evernham car. The No. 19 was in victory lane under Jeremy Mayfield in 2004, and finished sixth in the second race of 2005.
Clint Bowyer (16.5): He continues to look like a solid driver for the price. Bowyer managed a third-place finish at Fontana, his best showing of the season. He managed a 10th-place finish in the first Richmond race of 2005.
J.J. Yeley (14.4): If you choose to go top-heavy with superstar drivers, Yeley, another good-looking rookie, can be the low-priced driver you need to balance out your lineup properly. Yeley finished 19th last week at Fontana and 22nd at Richmond earlier this year, so a top-20 finish for the price should be nice.
PIT POINTS
Three drivers to avoid this week: Carl Edwards (24.1) has never finished in the top five at Richmond; Dale Jarrett (17.6) actually pulled off a 10th place finish last week, but has been a major disappointment overall; and Ryan Newman (20.8) is overpriced right now. ... Sterling Marlin (14.1) finished ninth at Richmond earlier this year. ... Scott Riggs (17.6) finished 14th at Richmond in May.