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RICHMOND, Va. – How confident is Denny Hamlin that he’ll advance to the Championship 4 Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Homestead-Miami Speedway?

So much so that he hasn’t even contemplated the prospect of surgery to his injured right knee, if he’s eliminated in one of the earlier rounds of the Chase.

“Actually, had not even thought about being eliminated—that’s how confident I am right now that we’re not going to (be). If we do, I don’t know. You want to finish the year strong and I think the way the points all work out you still can move up to fifth or something like that.

“I think, either way, off-season is going to be the best option (for surgery) as long as I can make it that long.”

Hamlin tore the ACL in his right knee playing basketball on Tuesday night. It’s not the first time his ardent pursuit of hoops has interfered with his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career. In the spring of 2010, Hamlin tore the ACL in his left knee and had surgery during an off week but didn’t miss a race.

This time it’s the right knee, which faces less stress with the gas pedal than the left leg does with the brake. With the Chase looming, Hamlin has chosen to postpone surgery and put up with the discomfort outside the car. He showed up in the media center at Richmond International Raceway on Friday as he prepared for Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 400 (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN), aided by a single crutch.

In a league basketball game, Hamlin hit a driving layup at the end of regulation play to send the contest into overtime. He tore the ACL in the extra period. But the mishap hasn’t quelled his optimism about his chances for a championship, a confidence that extends to the entire Joe Gibbs Racing roster, which also includes Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and last week’s Darlington winner, Carl Edwards.

“I think our cars are obviously very good right now,” Hamlin said. “And, yeah, there’s no reason why… we all said in January that our goal is to have four cars at Homestead with a chance to win, and I don’t see — except for bad luck — anything that can keep that from happening.”

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying – Federated Auto Parts 400
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond, Virginia
Friday, September 11, 2015

1. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 126.470 mph.
2. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 126.357 mph.
3. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 126.351 mph.
4. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 125.950 mph.
5. (55) David Ragan, Toyota, 125.827 mph.
6. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 125.798 mph.
7. (19) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 125.733 mph.
8. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 125.488 mph.
9. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 125.406 mph.
10. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 125.278 mph.
11. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 125.232 mph.
12. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 125.174 mph.
13. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 126.334 mph.
14. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 126.310 mph.
15. (13) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 126.198 mph.
16. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 126.133 mph.
17. (33) Brian Scott(i), Chevrolet, 126.027 mph.
18. (51) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 125.939 mph.
19. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 125.880 mph.
20. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 125.839 mph.
21. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 125.786 mph.
22. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 125.710 mph.
23. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 125.599 mph.
24. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 125.529 mph.
25. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 127.101 mph.
26. (15) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 127.095 mph.
27. (46) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 127.095 mph.
28. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 127.059 mph.
29. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 126.820 mph.
30. (38) David Gilliland, Ford, 126.784 mph.
31. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 126.493 mph.
32. (9) Sam Hornish Jr., Ford, 126.280 mph.
33. (83) Matt DiBenedetto #, Toyota, 126.280 mph.
34. (35) Cole Whitt, Ford, 125.992 mph.
35. (40) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 125.915 mph.
36. (7) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 125.903 mph.
37. (34) Brett Moffitt #, Ford, Owner Points
38. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, Owner Points
39. (95) Michael McDowell, Ford, Owner Points
40. (98) Reed Sorenson, Ford, Owner Points
41. (23) Jeb Burton #, Toyota, Owner Points
42. (32) Jeffrey Earnhardt(i), Ford, Owner Points
43. (26) JJ Yeley(i), Toyota, Owner Points

2 drivers failed to qualify.

44. (30) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, 125.646 mph.
45. (62) Timmy Hill(i), Chevrolet, 117.950 mph.

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during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Virginia529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway on September 11, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia.

Sept. 11, 2015

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

RICHMOND, Va. – Reigning NASCAR XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott was first off pit road under caution on Lap 218 of 250 and held the top spot the rest of the way, breaking a 39-race winless streak on Friday night at Richmond International Raceway.

Elliott’s victory in the Virginia529 College Savings 250 trimmed his standings deficit to 21 points behind series leader Chris Buescher, who finished 10th. Elliott’s first victory of the season was also the first in 24 races for an XFINITY Series regular at RIR.

Yes, Elliott won the race, leading a race-high 83 laps on the way to his first win at Richmond and the fourth of his career. Perhaps, the loudest noise, however, came from late model stock car star and Dale Earnhardt Jr. protégé Josh Berry, who trumpeted his arrival for his maiden XFINITY race at RIR with a seventh-place finish.

During an 81-lap green-flag run from Lap 54 through Lap 134, Berry drove from seventh to second. In the latter half of the run, Berry trimmed a five-second deficit to Brian Scott, the leader, to 2.6 seconds before Jeremy Clements’ wreck in Turn 2 slowed the action for the fourth cation of the race.

Berry repeatedly lost positions on pit road, the last time because egress from his stall was blocked by the No. 6 Ford of Darrell Wallace Jr. He lost five positions under that sixth caution and restarted ninth on Lap 226 before recovering to finish seventh.

Polesitter Kyle Busch came home second, 1.308 seconds behind Elliott. Brian Scott led 63 laps and finished third, followed by Joey Logano, Erik Jones, Regan Smith and Berry.

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The Final Lap Weekly Podcast LogoSHOW #375 – Guest: Kelli Stavast from NBC Sports – We recap the Darlington Weekend, Jimmie Johnson gets recognized, Chip Ganassi falls off bike, Denny Hamlin tears ACL, plus a full Richmond preview. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Toby Christie.

( Roughly 48:00 mins)

Continue reading “The Final Lap Weekly NASCAR Podcast #375 – Kelli Stavast NBC – NASCAR Richmond Preview”

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Clinch Scenarios For Richmond
Jamie McMurray will lock up his first career Chase berth simply by starting the race on Saturday night. For three others, it’s a little tougher – but certainly doable. Ryan Newman clinches by finishing 31st or better; Jeff Gordon by finishing 17th or better; and Paul Menard by finishing ninth or better – and that’s all regardless of who wins the race. If there’s a repeat winner, the scenarios become less daunting. For winless drivers beyond Menard, there will be some frayed nerves. If there’s a repeat winner, Clint Bowyer is in good shape, needing only a finish of 28th or better. For those winless drivers lower in points than Bowyer, a Richmond win is realistically the only path to the Chase.

Here’s a full look at the Chase clinch scenarios for Saturday night’s race:

Regardless of who wins at Richmond…
Jamie McMurray clinches by starting the race.

Ryan Newman clinches by finishing 31st or better; 32nd with at least one lap led; or 33rd with the most laps led.

Jeff Gordon clinches by finishing 17th or better; 18th with at least one lap led; or 19th with the most laps led.

Paul Menard clinches by finishing ninth or better; 10th with at least one lap led; or 11th with the most laps led.

If there is a repeat winner…
Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon will clinch regardless of finish.

Paul Menard clinches by finishing 38th or better; 39th with at least one lap led; or 40th with the most laps led.

Clint Bowyer clinches by finishing 28th or better; 29th with at least one lap led; or 30th with the most laps led.

In summary…
Four drivers control their Chase destiny without a win: Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon and Paul Menard).

Three drivers can clinch without a win, but need help in the form of poor finishes from winless drivers ahead of them in points and/or a repeat winner: Bowyer, Aric Almirola and Kasey Kahne.

Twelve drivers need to win to clinch a Chase spot: Greg Biffle, Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, AJ Allmendinger, Casey Mears, Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart, David Ragan, Sam Hornish Jr., Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Justin Allgaier.

Two other drivers need to win and receive help to clinch a spot: Cole Whitt and David Gilliland.

All other drivers have been eliminated from Chase contention.