Miller's lap around NASCAR

In the Rear Window: Richmond

Jimmie Johnson came on at just the right time, Tony Stewart lambasted his crew’s effort, Dale Earnhardt Jr. got some revenge on Sprint Cup point leader Kyle Busch and the Chase for the Sprint Cup was set.

But in the end, Sunday was just another day at the office for NASCAR’s 41 Sprint Cup drivers at Richmond International Raceway, as they finally completed the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 that was postponed from Saturday night thanks to tropical storm Hanna.
Johnson, fresh off a win in California the week prior, roared to the front of the pack on lap 367 of the 400-lap event. Tony Stewart put forth a tremendous charge in the final 15 laps, as the two had a terrific side-by-side duel for many of the final 10 laps. The action took a toll on Stewart’s tires and allowed Johnson to pull away with three laps to go to take his fourth win of 2008.

Two controversies arose from the event, with the first coming on lap 212 thanks to the bumper of Dale Earnhardt Jr. As the veteran driver attempted to pass Kyle Busch for the lead going into turn one, the two made contact, sending Busch spinning toward and into the outside wall. A move Earnhardt Jr. deemed unintentional was reminiscent of the May race at Richmond in which Busch ruined Earnhardt Jr.’s shot at victory via spinning the No. 88 Chevrolet in the closing laps.

Additionally, Stewart – who was unable to overcome Johnson in the final laps despite leading previously in the race – criticized his crew over the in-car radio following the race, indicating they had given away the race win thanks to poor pit-road performance. Stewart is leaving his seat at Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of 2008.

Chase for the Sprint Cup explained

Following Sunday’s race at Richmond, the 12-driver field for the Chase for the Sprint Cup was set. Over the final 10 races of the season, these 12 drivers are eligible to compete for the Sprint Cup Series championship that will be awarded following the season’s final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida to the driver who has earned the most points.

NASCAR switched to the Chase system in 2004 to create more competition late in the season. The top 12 drivers are back-to-back within striking distance of one another, thanks to a seeding system.

When the green flag falls next Sunday in New Hampshire, Busch – by virtue of eight wins in 2008 – will start with 80 bonus points, Carl Edwards will get a 50-point bonus, Jimmie Johnson a 40-point bonus and Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin each a 10-point bonus.

The remaining five drivers will start at the base of 5,000 points, but could easily catch Busch or Edwards with wins or top-five finishes early in the Chase.

Three drivers – Busch, Edwards and Johnson (he’s won the title two years in a row) – look to be especially strong contenders for the 2008 championship.

Dropping the green flag: New Hampshire

The first race of the Chase takes the NASCAR world to the East Coast at the 1-mile, paperclip-shaped New Hampshire Motor Speedway, just 75 miles from Boston.

The Details:
Race: Sylvania 300
When: 2 p.m. Sunday (TV coverage 1 p.m.)
TV/Radio: ABC/105.1 FM
Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H.
Distance: 317.4 miles (300 laps)
Track Layout: 1.058-mile oval
2007 Winner: Clint Bowyer

Miller’s Preview: New Hampshire likely won’t be the season’s most exciting event, but the race will really set a tone for the 10-race run to the championship. Teams will get aggressive with both setups and strategy, and Chase drivers will be especially ready to find an edge on their opponents, while the non-Chase drivers will be looking to build momentum for 2009. As a result, more controversy and emotion could definitely erupt during the quick 300-lap event.

Miller’s Pick: Jeff Gordon