After Richmond and The Winston, we run Charlotte, Dover, Michigan, Pocono, Sears Point, Daytona and New Hampshire. Those seven races are going to play a big, big role in how everything shakes out as far as the championship is concerned. We want to be in a position to take full advantage of those races. That means a strong Richmond run is going to be important. I'd say anybody in the top 16 of the points right now who comes away from Richmond with a win, or even a top five, is going to be in really great shape for that stretch of races.
Every lap is important at Richmond.
Pit at the wrong time there, and a caution can cost you two or three laps, and definitely will cost you one. Make a little mistake at the wrong place, and you can drop five or six positions in a heartbeat. The second turn is the key to the whole track. The track is more of a D-shape than an oval and the hardest turn is turn two. You sweep into the first turn and then have to cut it pretty good to the left to get through two.