Q – What does it take to run well at a track the size of Richmond?

Wallace: “You have to drive it like a short track and you have to treat it like a short track. There’s going to be a lot of bumping and banging and it’s hard on brakes. Drivers that do well in Martinsville and Bristol are generally the people that run well at Richmond. It takes that same kind of aggressive driving to get around there well.”

Q - What should ESPN viewers watch for during the Richmond telecast?

Wallace: “It’s the final race that determines who will race for the championship and look for those drivers who will get locked in. Clint Bowyer in 9th and Kevin Harvick in 12th are ones to watch. The pressure is on Kevin to finish 32nd or better so he is a big one. Dale Earnhardt Jr. can make it in the race if Harvick and Bowyer blow an engine and Jr. has the race of his life. It’s not impossible. Can Jr. get in and can Kevin hold on? – that would be what to watch for.”

Q - How tough is a 400-lap race at Richmond International Raceway on engines and cars?

Brewer: “It’s not too bad on engines but the toughest thing teams are going to encounter is managing the brakes. The brakes – especially on the Car of Tomorrow – don’t stop well and don’t allow the car to turn in the corner well. Viewers will see the front rotors glowing red all night. To make the car turn, you have to get off of the brake pedal, drive the car extremely hard and slide the nose into the corner because it doesn’t have as much downforce as the Busch Series cars or the regular Cup car. It’s a very delicate and trusting situation.

“The biggest thing to watch for are those guys locked into the points. They only thing they’re after are those 10 additional bonus points. They’re going to beat, bang, push and shove to win the race.”

[ESPN]

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