September 9, 2016

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

Because he has a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in his pocket, Chris Buescher’s path to a Chase spot is much more clearly defined than Austin Dillon’s is.

Buescher needs merely to stay in the top 30 in the series standings, and for practical purposes, that involves staying ahead of or tied with 31st-place David Ragan, who trails Buescher by 11 points entering the final event of the 26-race regular-season.

“I think we pretty much know what we have to do here at Richmond,” said Buescher, who finished 34th in April in his only Sprint Cup start at the track . “It’s really pretty obvious. We’re going to control what we can control and do our best to have a good, clean race. Stay out of trouble. All the normal things you try to do. Go out here and try to have a good run at Richmond.

“This is historically not one of my better tracks, but we’ve been making progress. Throughout practice (in hot temperatures on Friday), we were better than earlier in the spring. I’m happy about that. I wish it was a little cooler so we knew what we would have when it comes around to race time, but at the end of the day, we’re all in the same boat and we will all figure it out together.”

September 9, 2016

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

RICHMOND, Va. – Though Austin Dillon is likely to secure a career-first spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN), the list of variables that could make his life more difficult is no small matter.

Certainly, it would ease Dillon’s path to the Chase if Saturday’s race produces a repeat winner. Under that scenario, Dillon would simply have to maintain any part of the 31-point edge he currently holds over Richard Childress Racing teammate Ryan Newman.

Even with a first-time 2016 winner, other than Chase Elliott (who is one spot ahead of Dillon on the Chase grid), Dillon can make the 10-race playoff by keeping Jamie McMurray at bay. Dillon currently leads McMurray by nine points.

And if Chris Buescher, who won at Pocono in August, happens to drop out of the top 30 in points, Dillon is in the Chase 1) if there’s a repeat winner or 2) if he keeps Newman behind him in the standings in the event of a new winner.

Obviously, Dillon also would clinch if he wins the race.

Given the permutations, Dillon has to balance offense and defense in his approach to the race. But the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet knows there’s a danger inherent in trying to modify his strategy based on the external framework of competition for Chase spots.

Dillon thinks the experience he gained in winning a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title in 2011 and an XFINITY Series championship in 2013 will help him negotiate the labyrinth of possibilities.

“I’ve had to do it before in my career with championship runs and stuff,” Dillon said. “It’s just you’ve got to stay focused and race like you would normally race. When you start really changing the vibe of things, it really gets hard that way.

“Things are going to happen that you don’t plan for. How you react to them is kind of how it is going to end up. Just reacting the right way to everything that goes on (Saturday) night and knowing what we have to do to make it in the Chase—having that in our head and just being smart about the choices we make.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Next Race: Federated Auto Parts 400
The Place: Richmond International Raceway
The Date: Saturday, Sept. 10
The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 5 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 300 miles (400 laps)

NASCAR XFINITY Series
Next Race: Virginia529 College Savings 250
The Place: Richmond International Raceway
The Date: Friday, Sept. 9
The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 250 miles (187.5 laps)

Statement from Richard Childress Racing Regarding NASCAR Penalty Issued to the
No. 31 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team

“We do not plan to appeal the penalty issued today to the No. 31 team. Our rear toe settings were well within specs during pre-race inspection. The car made contact with the outside wall during the race and there was clear damage to the right rear fender and tire. NASCAR has told us that the LIS standard is clear and the car must pass post-race inspection even if damage has been sustained.”