RCR Post Race Report — NNS Richmond International Raceway

Richmond 250
Richmond International Raceway
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Richmond 250
Richmond International Raceway
April 26, 2013

Race Highlights:

Richard Childress Racing teammates finished second (Kevin Harvick), 20th (Brian Scott) and 35th (Austin Dillon).

Scott is third in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, trailing leader Sam Hornish, Jr. by 23 markers, while Dillon is seventh in the standings, 37 points behind Hornish.

The No. 33 Chevrolet team ranks fourth in the Nationwide Series owner championship point standings, with the No. 2 team fifth in the standings and the No. 3 team 10th.

According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Harvick led the field in Average Running Position (1.868), Driver Rating (140.1), Fastest Drivers Early in a Run (121.121 mph), Fastest Drivers Late in a Run (115.568 mph), Fastest Laps Run (61), Fastest on Restarts (119.324 mph), Green Flag Speed (117.863 mph) and Laps Led (96).

Scott posted the Fastest Lap of the Race for five circuits while Dillon did so for two.

Brad Keselowski earned his first victory of the 2013 Nationwide Series season and was followed to the finish line by Harvick, Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers and Regan Smith.

The next Nationwide Series race is the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, May 4. The eighth race of the 2013 season is scheduled to be televised live on ESPN beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Satellite Radio.

Tough Finish to a Strong Run for Brian Scott at Richmond International Raceway

Brian Scott and the No. 2 Shore Lodge team settled for a 20th-place finish after being collected in a late-race incident in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Friday night. The Boise, Idaho native took the green flag from the eighth position for the second night race of the 2013 season.  On lap-11 Scott radioed to crew chief Phil Gould reporting he needed more rear grip.  The evening’s first caution flew on lap 23, which allowed Scott to bring his No. 2 Camaro to the attention of his crew for four fresh tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. He restarted 20th and quickly made his way back inside the top-10 as the field set into a lengthy green-flag run.  The No. 2 team continued to make their Shore Lodge machine stronger as the race wore on.  On lap 211, Scott was collected in a multi-car incident that caused right rear damage to the No. 2 machine. The 25-year old Nationwide Series competitor restarted 20th and continued to make gains back towards the front of the field until he was spun by another competitor late in the race, relegating him to a 20th-place-finish.

Start – 8                       Finish – 20                   Laps Led – 0                            Points – 3rd

BRIAN SCOTT QUOTE:

“We had a good car, but not a great car. We continued to make adjustments throughout the race and we were probably going to get top-10 out of the evening.  We just needed a little bit more speed and continued trying to get it to roll through the corner. Unfortunately, myself and Austin (Dillon) got caught up in an incident with another competitor with about 50 laps to go. After that, we just tried to limp home and salvage what finish we could. Some more things happened and it was an unfortunate night, instead of seventh or eighth we finished 20th.  We have to move on. We’re going to have days like this in the season. How you rebound is everything.”

On-Track Incident Relegates Austin Dillon to 35th-Place Finish at Richmond International Raceway

Austin Dillon and the Danny Stockman-led No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet team earned a disappointing 35th-place finish in Friday evening’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway after the Welcome, N.C. driver was collected in a multi-car incident on lap 212, of 250, ending the team’s night early. It marks Dillon’s first DNF during his tenure of full-time Nationwide Series competition. Starting from the sixth position, the third-generation driver settled into the top-15 during the early and middle stages of the event, as he struggled with a loose-handling condition on his Chevrolet Camaro. Persistent work on pit road by Stockman and the team allowed handling conditions to improve and Dillon worked his way into the top 10 with approximately 50 laps remaining in the race. He was making a pass for the seventh position on lap 212 when the driver in the car on the outside of him cut across the nose of his car, causing a multi-car pile-up, and significant damage to the No. 3 Chevrolet that ended the team’s night early. Dillon settled for a 35th-place finish and is now seventh in the driver championship point standings.

Start – 6           Finish – 35                   Laps Led – 0                            Points – 7 th

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:  “It was definitely a challenging evening for us, but it’s alright because we are the No. 3 team and we are strong. We are coming and we will be in this championship point battle at the end of the season when it counts.”

Kevin Harvick Settles for Second-Place Finish at Richmond International Raceway

Kevin Harvick and the No. 33 Hungry-Man Chevrolet team earned a second-place finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event Friday night under the lights of Richmond International Raceway. The California native started the 250-lap event from the fourth spot and began working his way forward, taking over the lead on lap 88.  Battling a loose-handling Chevrolet, Harvick slipped back to second on lap 89. The crew made an air pressure adjustment, changed four tires and added fuel during a scheduled yellow-flag pit stop on lap 102. As green-flag racing resumed, Harvick regained the top spot and went on to lead an additional 95 laps before falling to third. During the closing laps, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular worked his way into the second position, where he ultimately crossed the finish line.

Start – 4          Finish – 2         Laps Led – 96          Owner Points – 4th

KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:

“Our Hungry-Man Chevrolet was fairly good on the longer runs, but the No. 22 was really good on the short runs. All-in-all it was a fun night, and I enjoyed the back-and-forth racing. I always want to win, but this was an enjoyable race to be part of.”