Austin Dillon hopes a strong run in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway will give him his first career spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images
Though Austin Dillon is likely to secure a career-first spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway, the list of variables that could make his life more difficult is no small matter.
Certainly, it would ease Dillon’s path to the Chase if Saturday’s race produces a repeat winner. Under that scenario, Dillon would simply have to maintain any part of the 31-point edge he currently holds over Richard Childress Racing teammate Ryan Newman.
Even with a first-time 2016 winner, other than Chase Elliott (who is one spot ahead of Dillon on the Chase grid), Dillon can make the 10-race playoff by keeping Jamie McMurray at bay. Dillon currently leads McMurray by nine points.
And if Chris Buescher, who won at Pocono in August, happens to drop out of the top 30 in points, Dillon is in the Chase 1) if there’s a repeat winner or 2) if he keeps Newman behind him in the standings in the event of a new winner.
Obviously, Dillon also would clinch if he wins the race.
Given the permutations, Dillon has to balance offense and defense in his approach to the race. But the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet knows there’s a danger inherent in trying to modify his strategy based on the external framework of competition for Chase spots.
Dillon thinks the experience he gained in winning a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title in 2011 and an Xfinity Series championship in 2013 will help him negotiate the labyrinth of possibilities.
“I’ve had to do it before in my career with championship runs and stuff,” Dillon said. “It’s just you’ve got to stay focused and race like you would normally race. When you start really changing the vibe of things, it really gets hard that way.
“Things are going to happen that you don’t plan for. How you react to them is kind of how it is going to end up. Just reacting the right way to everything that goes on (Saturday) night and knowing what we have to do to make it in the Chase—having that in our head and just being smart about the choices we make.”
Chris Buescher’s Road To Chase Is Clearly Marked
Because he has a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in his pocket, Chris Buescher’s path to a Chase spot is much more clearly defined than Austin Dillon’s is.
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Buescher needs merely to stay in the top 30 in the series standings, and for practical purposes, that involves staying ahead of or tied with 31st-place David Ragan, who trails Buescher by 11 points entering the final event of the 26-race regular-season.
“I think we pretty much know what we have to do here at Richmond,” said Buescher, who finished 34th in April in his only Sprint Cup start at the track. “It’s really pretty obvious. We’re going to control what we can control and do our best to have a good, clean race. Stay out of trouble. All the normal things you try to do. Go out here and try to have a good run at Richmond.
“This is historically not one of my better tracks, but we’ve been making progress. Throughout practice (in hot temperatures on Friday), we were better than earlier in the spring. I’m happy about that. I wish it was a little cooler so we knew what we would have when it comes around to race time, but at the end of the day, we’re all in the same boat and we will all figure it out together.”
NASCAR And Mars Chocolate Make Another Sweet Deal
In the midst of a year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of the iconic M&M’S brand, NASCAR and Mars Chocolate North America announced this week a renewed agreement that will extend their Official Partnership through 2019.
As part of the renewed relationship, Mars Chocolate will continue its designation as the Official Chocolate of NASCAR, ensuring its various brands remain a race day staple for millions of fans.
Since entering NASCAR as a team sponsor more than 25 years ago, Mars Chocolate has steadily increased its level of participation in the sport. In 2000, the company expanded its sponsorship by becoming the “Official Chocolate of NASCAR.”
In the spirit of thanking its loyal NASCAR fans, M&M’S will celebrate race fans during Richmond International Raceway’s inaugural Fan Appreciation Weekend. To help honor its 75th Anniversary, the brand will roll out the red carpet and give fans a VIP welcome at the Front Stretch Gate on Saturday.
“Our association with NASCAR has proven to be a true win-win partnership and we’re excited to continue the relationship for the next several years,” said William Clements, vice president, sponsorships and sports marketing, Mars Chocolate North America.
“From helping M&M’S celebrate their 75th anniversary to energizing the thousands of Mars Chocolate Associates coast to coast, NASCAR is the perfect platform to fuel our business.”
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