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RICHMOND, Va. | During the last four years, Richmond International Raceway has used the slogan “One Last Chance to Make the Chase” to plug its fall Nextel Cup Race. This year, Richmond officials might have considered modifying their slogan.
Had they known how things would shake out heading into tonight’s Rock & Roll 400, they may have given some thought to these:
•“Junior Will Be Driving for Mr. H the Next Time He Rocks and Rolls at Richmond”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the only driver in tonight’s race who has a chance to claw his way in. Thing is, three-toed sloths don’t have claws big enough to do what Earnhardt needs to do.
Earnhardt is 128 points in arrears of the 12th and final Chase berth. He can finish no worse than fifth tonight if he wants to head to New Hampshire next week as anything other than NASCAR’s most popular driver. And that is if he leads a lap and leads the most laps to pick up 10 bonus points. All that is dependent on 12th-place Kevin Harvick finishing dead last.
At least Earnhardt won’t suffer a letdown late tonight. He said Friday that his goal for the rest of the season is to enjoy himself before he switches to Rick Hendrick’s team next season.
•“The Rock & Roll 400, the Boulevard of Broken Dreams”
Shocked that Earnhardt is out while his teammate, Martin Truex Jr. is in? Then you are in star-studded company. Earnhardt sounded at a loss to explain what went wrong during his final year at the company his father founded and his stepmother runs.
“You set all kinds of goals, and obviously making the Chase was one of the ones I felt was an easier goal for my team this year,” Earnhardt said. “I though we would make the Chase without any doubt.”
•“Happy Harvick Would Have to Fall in Shower and Break Very Important Bones to Not Make Chase IV”
Chances are, Harvick is not going to finish last. He won at Richmond a year ago and he holds the top spot in NASCAR’s driver-rating system at Richmond.
In 13 starts, his average finish is 12th.
Were Earnhardt to win the race and collect every single bonus point available, Harvick could still get the final Chase berth by finishing 32nd.
•“More Might Not Be Merrier When it Comes to Rock & Roll”
Excitement is not at record levels at Richmond. Some think that expanding the Chase field to 12 drivers may have put a drain on the chances for excitement. NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter has heard the talk.
Asked whether he thought the expanded field has diluted the excitement, Hunter said, “When you look at what’s happened this year, you’d probably agree that that might be the case. But this is one year with 12 drivers. I think it’s just like when we started the Chase, it’s too early to tell.”
•“Rock & Roll 400 ’07 — Rockier and Rollier Than Ever”
There is a line of thought that is making the rounds that says, because the Chase lineup is basically settled, tonight’s race could be wonderful.
Several drivers spent Friday telling people just that.
“I guess if there were a tie at the end of the year, second place (tonight) could be pretty important,” driver Carl Edwards said Friday. “But other than that, there’s nothing to do (tonight) for the top guys in points but to go out and win the race.”
•“Cheaters Never Win When It’s Time to Rock & Roll”
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