The Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway is set to go off on Saturday, September 10th at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Matt Kenseth drove his car to Victory Lane on the .75 mile-oval in the spring. This edition at the hallowed venue will be the 26th race of the 2016 season.
The last chance for the drivers on the outside looking in for the NASCAR Chase will occur when the green flag waves in the Federated Auto Parts 400. All the hard work that goes into the entire season is on the line for some teams this weekend.
This will be their last chance to claim a coveted spot into the playoffs for the Sprint Cup championship. The battle for the final places in the Chase could give enthusiasts some of the most intense racing we have seen thus far.
Hot-rods that are quick in the practice and qualifying rounds have fared well at Richmond International Raceway. Therefore, a lot of attention to early sessions will be important in picking your fantasy line-up. The last four contests have all been won by racers that were positioned in the front two rows.
The past has shown us that it’s never too late to pull a clutch performance when it matters the most. Brian Vickers did just that in 2009 when he drove on to victory and sealed his spot in the Chase field.
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick should be strong once again in the Federated Auto Parts 400. The feisty driver wants redemption after last week’s debacle on pit road. Harvick clearly had the fastest machine at Darlington and was in the top three at Michigan two weeks earlier.
The experienced driver’s will to win could be the difference this weekend but will his team assist the talented racer. I fully expect less mistakes than what they experienced in last weeks event. Apparently the racing experts do as well. As a result, Las Vegas insiders have the 2014 Sprint Cup champion as a 5/1 favorite to take the checkered flag in the Federated Auto Parts 400.
Brad Keselowski is as strong as ever as the Chase approaches. He has three top five’s and four top 10’s in the last five races. The Penske Racing phenom was the closest speedster to Kevin Harvick at Darlington. Keselowski has three top 10’s in the last four races at Richmond.
The Penske Racing juggernaut has been the best this season whether they practice well or not. Furthermore, Joey Logano, Keselowski’s teammate, has been a qualifying wiz in 2016. Either of the two drivers would be a solid pick to drive on to victory. Odds-makers have slotted Keselowski at 6/1 and Logano at 8/1, to win the Federated auto Parts 400.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin has been one of the top racers at Richmond international Raceway. Hamlin’s teammate Carl Edwards, dominated the event at this venue earlier this season.
The old-school competitor tallied a respectable sixth place finish. In fact, he has back-to-back sixth-place finishes at the .75 mile oval.Carl Edwards also has accumulated seven straight top 10’s. Line-setters have Edwards at 8/1 to drive his Arris Toyota to the Winner’s Circle in the Federated Auto Parts 400.
Kurt Busch would have been in the Winner’s Circle if not for a late race caution in the earlier version at Richmond. The aggressive veteran had well over a second lead with 40 laps to go.
Unfortunately, when he came into the pits, he exited out in fifth and couldn’t recover. Kurt Busch also dominated in April of 2015. He led 291 laps and took home his second-career win at Richmond. Odds gurus have Busch at a very playable 20/1 to win for his third time at this venue.
Chase Elliott is getting close to capturing his first career Sprint Cup victory. If his Xfinity Series history is any indication, he might just get it this week. Elliott has four top five’s in four Xfinity Series races including two runner-ups and a victory.
Odds to Win the Federated Auto Parts 400:
| Kevin Harvick | 5/1 |
| Kyle Busch | 6/1 |
| Brad Keselowski | 6/1 |
| Joey Logano | 8/1 |
| Matt Kenseth | 8/1 |
| Carl Edwards | 8/1 |
| Denny Hamlin | 8/1 |
| Jimmie Johnson | 12/1 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 12/1 |
| Kurt Busch | 20/1 |
| Kyle Larson | 20/1 |
| Jeff Gordon | 20/1 |
| Chase Elliott | 20/1 |
| Tony Stewart | 30/1 |
| Ryan Newman | 40/1 |
| Kasey Kahne | 40/1 |
| Austin Dollon | 80/1 |
| Ryan Blaney | 80/1 |
| Jamie McMurray | 100/1 |
| Paul Menard | 100/1 |
| Greg Biffle | 100/1 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 200/1 |
| AJ Allmendinger | 300/1 |
| Trevor Bayne | 300/1 |
| Aric Almirola | 500/1 |
| Chris Buescher | 500/1 |
| Clint Bowyer | 500/1 |
| Danica Patrick | 500/1 |
| Casey Mears | 1000/1 |
| Field | 500/1 |
