Conversations between drivers and pit crews during NASCAR races usually are interesting, sometimes are colorful and frequently are insightful. Tonight will be a good time to be on the headset listening to those conversations because they might be especially revealing. The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway is the final event before the Chase for Sprint Cup, the 10 races that determine the season championship.

It might not have quite the “cool factor” on the official race logo, but mathematicians everywhere would surely appreciate it. Tonight’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway could easily be called the “Fun With Numbers 400”. To wit: 400: laps remaining in the NASCAR’s regular season before only the top 12 are eligible for the Sprint Cup Championship;

As drivers and crews scramble for top spots going into the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the Richmond region is scrambling to cash in on race weekend when its economic boost is more important than ever. International Speedway Corp. officials announced in July that the Indy Racing League event won’t return to Richmond International Raceway next year, putting more pressure on this weekend’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 to bring in big bucks in the face of a still-slumping economy.

The talk around NASCAR garages this week is all about the final spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Eleven drivers are competing for eight spots, with the “bubble boys,“ Brian Vickers in 13th and Kyle Busch at 14th, needing big performances from their teams and some bad luck from other teams to sneak into the top 12. This week is not much different from a final exam in school.

Doing the difficult—driving a race car in bumper-to-bumper traffic at speeds exceeding 120 mph—is not enough for Tony Stewart. He opted to do the seemingly impossible—not only drive the race car but also own the team. It seemed a recipe for trouble. The last driver/owner to win a race in the top division was Ricky Rudd in 1998. The last owner/driver to win the NASCAR points title was Alan Kulwicki in 1992.

Above: Mark Martin has made 39 trips to victory lane—including this one at Chicagoland Speedway in July—since beginning his Cup career in 1981. Below: Fans at Bristol Motor Speedway commemorate Martin’s 1,000th NASCAR start. The life of a NASCAR driver involves racetrack after racetrack week after week, an exhilarating finish one time, a disappointing finish the next.

The 11 drivers vying for the final eight spots, and how the 8-Ball handicaps the field right now (a maximum of 161 points can be made up in a given race). Cup driverPoints off
13thWins this
yearWins at
RichmondAvg. finish
at RIRForecast for making Chase
5. Carl Edwards+1050019.0You may rely on it. 6. Kasey Kahne+962118.5Yes.

David Ragan and his sponsor, UPS, keep fans posted through their Twitter feeds. Social media’s various incarnations—Twitter, Facebook and the like—serve different purposes, but the results are largely the same: They bring groups of people closer together through what often amounts to simple, informal conversation. NASCAR and many of its teams and drivers have wasted little time delving into this phenomenon.

NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin helps kids prepare for emergencies by assembling first-aid kits. Hamlin appeared at St. Joseph’s Villa in Henrico County Thursday morning.

Kasey Kahne celebrated in victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday night after claiming his second victory of the season and 11th of his career. HAMPTON, Ga. Four drivers are in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Ten others are sweating it out. On to Richmond! Kasey Kahne greatly improved his chances of making the season-ending Chase with a victory Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway, pulling away from Kevin Harvick after a fortunate yellow flag late in the race.

RACE STATISTICS
  A vg. speed: 134.033 mph T ime: 3 hours, 44 minutes, 3 seconds C aution flags: 9 for 42 laps Margin of victory: 1.766 seconds Lead changes: 31 among 13 drivers Lap leaders: Truex Jr. 1-38; Kahne 39-41; Truex Jr. 42-61; Ky.Busch 62-71; Johnson 72-83; Kenseth 84; Ky.Busch 85-95; Truex Jr. 96-105; Waltrip 106; Ky.Busch 107-109; Hamlin 110-127; Johnson 128-132; Gordon 133-135; Hamlin 136-138; Gordon 139-165; Hamlin 166-167; Harvick 168-188; Vickers 189-190; Harvick 191-202; Newman 203; Harvick 204-207; Kahne 208-227; Harvick 228-229; Kahne 230; Harvick 231-247; Biffle 248; Kahne 249-269; Montoya 270; Kahne 271-274; Montoya 275-304; Harvick 305-314; Kahne 315-325

Sprint CupRace: Chevy Rock & Roll 400 When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Where: Richmond International Raceway Qualifying: Friday, 5:30 p.m., ESPN2 Track length: .75 miles Race distance: 300 miles (400 laps) Last year’s winner: Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet Qualifying record: Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 129.983 mph (May 14, 2004) Race record: Dale Jarrett, Ford, 109.047 mph (Sept. 6, 1997) On the air: TV—ESPN; radio—WRVA (1140) Nationwide Race: Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Where: Richmond International Raceway When: Friday TV: ESPN2, 7:30 p.m. Camping World Truck Race: Copart 200 Where: Gateway International Raceway When: Saturday TV: SPEED, 2:30 p.m.

Sprint Cup Race: Pep Boys Auto 500 When: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway Qualifying: Saturday, 4:30 p.m., SPEED Track length: 1.54 miles Race distance: 500 miles (325 laps) Last year’s winner: Carl Edwards Qualifying record: Geoffrey Bodine, Ford, 197.478 mph (Nov. 15, 1997) Race record: Bobby Labonte, Pontiac, 159.904 mph (Nov. 16, 1997) On the air: TV - ESPN; radio - WRVA (1140) Nationwide Race: Degree V12 300 Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway When: Saturday TV: ESPN2, 7 p.m. Camping World Truck Race: Lucas Oil 200 Where: Iowa Speedway When: Saturday TV: SPEED, 9:45 p.m.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Kyle Busch deviated from his traditional victory celebration when he spotted a crying fan in the grandstands and tried to hand her the checkered flag through the fence at Bristol Motor Speedway. He was at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville the next day for a Late Model race sponsored by the Kyle Busch Foundation. Handling problems forced him out of the 150-miler, but he still went to victory lane to present the guitar trophy to the winner.

Sprint Cup Race: Pep Boys Auto 500 When: Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway Qualifying: Sept. 5, 430 p.m., SPEED Track length: 1.54 miles Race distance: 500 miles (325 laps) Last year’s winner: Carl Edwards, Ford Qualifying record: Geoffrey Bodine, Ford, 197.478 mph (Nov. 15, 1997) Race record: Bobby Labonte, Pontiac, 159.904 mph (Nov. 16, 1997) On the air: TV—ESPN; radio—WRVA (1140) Nationwide Race: NAPA Auto Parts 200 Where: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal When: Sunday