Bowyer Wins At Richmond, Chase Field Set

The field is set for this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Clint Bowyer won Saturday night’s race at Richmond, but the bigger story was Jeff Gordon who drove himself into the final Chase wild card spot edging out Kyle Busch by three points. Gordon struggled most of the night, but after the final rain delay of the night he rallied back to come in second just a little over one second behind Bowyer. Before that, Busch had the last wild card spot in his pocket, but in the end finds himself out of the running this year. Pit strategy did him in. When a light rain brought out a caution flag he stayed out on the track while others came in for fuel and tires, then later a slow pit stop put him further behind.

Bowyer gambled on fuel to stay on the track and had just enough to pull off his second win of the season, his second at Richmond and the seventh of his career. His tank finally went dry during the victory lap.

With the victory comes the extra three bonus points heading into the Chase championship.

Following Bowyer and Gordon, Mark Martin came in third with Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth completing the Top Five.

The Chase Championship begins next Sunday at Chicago.